Core-shell micro/nanocapsules: from encapsulation to applications.

Encapsulation is the way to wrap or coat one substance as a core inside another tiny substance known as a shell at micro and nano scale for protecting the active ingredients from the exterior environment. A lot of active substances, such as flavours, enzymes, drugs, pesticides, vitamins, in addition to catalysts being effectively encapsulated within capsules consisting of different natural as well as synthetic polymers comprising poly(methacrylate), poly(ethylene glycol), cellulose, poly(lactide), poly(styrene), gelatine, poly(lactide-co-glycolide)s, and acacia. The developed capsules release the enclosed substance conveniently and in time through numerous mechanisms, reliant on the ultimate use of final products. Such technology is important for several fields counting food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, agriculture, and textile industries. The present review focuses on the most important and high-efficiency methods for manufacturing micro/nanocapsules and their several applications in our life.

Cyclodextrins permeabilize DPPC liposome membranes: a focus on cholesterol content, cyclodextrin type, and concentration.

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are known for their ability to extract lipid components from synthetic and biological membranes and therefore to induce an increase of membrane permeability. However, the effect of cholesterol (CHOL) content in the membrane on the CD permeabilizing effect was not considered yet. Given that an increase in CHOL content reduces the membrane permeability, the aim of this work was to reveal how CHOL would modulate the CDs effect on the membrane. Hence, liposomes made of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and various CHOL contents (DPPC/CHOL 100:10, 100:25, 100:50, and 100:100) encapsulating the hydrophilic fluorophore, sulforhodamine B (SRB), were prepared and exposed to the native CDs (α-CD, ß-CD, γ-CD) and four ß-CD derivatives: the randomly methylated-ß-CD (RAMEB), the low methylated-ß-CD (CRYSMEB), the hydroxypropyl-ß-CD (HP-ß-CD) and the sulfobutyl ether-ß-CD (SBE-ß-CD) at different CD/DPPC molar ratios (1:1, 10:1, and 100:1). The membrane permeability was monitored following the release of SRB with time. The results demonstrated that the CDs effect on the membrane depends on the CD type, CD concentration, and membrane CHOL content. The investigated CDs exhibited an instantaneous permeabilizing effect promoting vesicle leakage of SRB from the various membranes; this effect increased with CDs concentration. Among the studied CDs, α-CD, ß-CD, and RAMEB were the most permeabilizing CDs on the different membranes. Similar modifications of SRB release from the various liposomal formulations were obtained with HP-ß-CD, CRYSMEB, and SBE-ß-CD. γ-CD was the less potent CD in affecting the membrane permeability. The CDs effect also depended on the CHOL content: at the CD/DPPC molar ratio (100:1), RAMEB and ß-CD considerably permeabilized the membrane of high CHOL content (50%, 100%) while the remaining CDs showed a decreasing permeabilizing effect upon CHOL content membrane increase.

Microfluidic-based nanoparticle synthesis and their potential applications.

A lot of substantial innovation in advancement of microfluidic field in recent years to produce nanoparticle reveals a number of distinctive characteristics, for instance, compactness, controllability, fineness in process, and stability along with minimal reaction amount. Recently, a prompt development, as well as realization in the production of nanoparticles in microfluidic environment having dimension of micro to nanometers and constituents extending from metals, semiconductors to polymers, has been made. Microfluidics technology integrates fluid mechanics for the production of nanoparticles having exclusive with homogenous sizes, shapes, and morphology, which are utilized in several bioapplications such as biosciences, drug delivery, and healthcare including food engineering. Nanoparticles are usually well-known for having fine and rough morphology because of their small dimensions including exceptional physical, biological, chemical, and optical properties. Though the orthodox procedures need huge instruments, costly autoclaves, use extra power, extraordinary heat loss, as well as take surplus time for synthesis. Additionally, this is fascinating to systematize, assimilate, in addition, to reduce traditional tools onto one platform to produce micro and nanoparticles. The synthesis of nanoparticles by microfluidics permits fast handling besides better efficacy of method utilizing the smallest components for process. Herein, we will focus on synthesis of nanoparticles by means of microfluidic devices intended for different bioapplications.

Understanding of the key factors influencing the properties of emulsions stabilized by sodium caseinate.

Emulsions can be easily destabilized under various conditions during preparation and storage. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the factors that influence the stability of emulsions, which is essential for their subsequent studies. Sodium caseinate (CAS) is a well-used nutritional and functional ingredient in emulsion preparation due to its good solubility and emulsifying properties. CAS-stabilized emulsions can be considered good food emulsion delivery systems, but their applications are still limited under certain conditions due to their instability to creaming and aggregation. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to provide a complete overview of how different environmental stresses and processing conditions affect the stability of CAS-stabilized emulsions and how to improve their stability. Initially, the general properties of CAS as emulsifiers and the characterization of CAS-stabilized oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions were summarized. Second, the major instability mechanisms that operate in CAS-stabilized emulsions were presented. Furthermore, the general factors such as pH, emulsifier concentration, ionic strength, oxidation, and processing conditions, affecting the stability of CAS-stabilized O/W emulsion, were discussed. On this basis, the commonly used methods for evaluating emulsion stability are introduced. Finally, state-of-the-art strategies to improve CAS-based emulsion stability are also described and summarized. This review is expected to provide a theoretical basis for the future applications of CAS in food emulsions.

Liposome Permeability to Essential Oil Components: A Focus on Cholesterol Content.

Encapsulation in liposomes has been an efficient strategy to improve the stability of sensitive bioactive compounds such as essential oils (EOs). However, the stability of liposomal formulations remains a key parameter controlling the delivery of encapsulated ingredients. Cholesterol (Chol) modulates the membrane properties conferring stability to the lipid bilayer. Thus, the Chol content in the liposome formulations encapsulating EO components should be carefully chosen. In this work, various liposome formulations differing by Chol content (DPPC:Chol 100:10; 100:25; 100:50; 100:75; 100:100) were exposed to a series of 22 EO components at DPPC/EO 100/25. The formulations were characterized for their final composition and their permeability to the hydrophilic fluorophore, sulforhodamine B (SRB), was monitored. Results showed that the Chol content experimentally determined for the various formulations (above 10% Chol) was below the theoretical weighed Chol. Among the tested components, 13 molecules displayed a significant permeabilizing effect on 10% Chol membranes. Most of these possess a hydroxyl group. The EO induced permeability was dependent on the Chol content which affects the membrane phase: their effect was reduced upon increasing Chol content keeping five EOs components effective at 40% Chol. The EO's effect was also linked to the hydrophobicity of the molecule. Hence, the DPPC:Chol ratio of the formulation is chosen considering the structure of the compound, its hydrophobicity and its effect on the permeability at different Chol content: a formulation comprising 40% Chol is suggested for highly hydrophobic molecules whereas a formulation with higher Chol content could be selected for less hydrophobic compounds.

Polysaccharide Chemistry in Drug Delivery, Endocrinology, and Vaccines.

Polysaccharides, due to their outstanding properties, have attracted the attention of researchers, working in the biomedical field and especially of those working in drug delivery. Modified/functionalized polysaccharides further increase the importance for various applications. Delivery of therapeutics for diverse ailments in different endocrine glands and hormones safely, is a focal point of researchers working in the field. Among the routes followed, the transdermal route is preferred due to non-exposure of active moieties to the harsh gastric environment and first-pass metabolism. This review starts with the overview of polysaccharides used for the delivery of various therapeutic agents. Advantages of polysaccharides used in the transdermal route are addressed in detail. Types of polysaccharides will be elaborated through examples, and in this context, special emphasis will be on the polysaccharides being used for synthesis of the membranes/films. Techniques employed for their modification to design novel carriers for therapeutics delivery will also be discussed. The review will end with a brief discussion on recent developments and future perspectives for delivery of therapeutic agents, and vaccine development.

Sensor Based on a Poly[2-(Dimethylamino)ethyl Methacrylate-Co-Styrene], Gold Nanoparticles, and Methylene Blue-Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode for Melamine Detection.

Melamine has been used as a non-protein nitrogenous additive in food products to artificially increase the apparent "false" protein content. Melamine is known as a dangerous and poisonous substance for human health and it causes diverse diseases. An electrochemical sensor for melamine detection has been developed by modification of a glassy carbon electrode using copolymer poly[DMAEMA-co-styrene], gold nanoparticles, and methylene blue. The characterization of the modified electrode was conducted using several analysis techniques including cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), chronoamperometry (CA), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The electrochemical detection of melamine was performed by impedance spectroscopy. Obtained results revealed that the developed sensor has a large detection range from 5.0 × 10-13 to 3.8 × 10-8 M with a low detection limit of 1.8 × 10-12 M (at S/N = 3). Various interfering species such as phenol, hydroquinone, and bisphenol A have been used and their behavior on modified electrode has been studied.

Encapsulation of α-Pinene in Delivery Systems Based on Liposomes and Cyclodextrins.

The essential oil component α-pinene has multiple biological activities. However, its application is limited owing to its volatility, low aqueous solubility, and chemical instability. For the aim of improving its physicochemical properties, α-pinene was encapsulated in conventional liposomes (CLs) and drug-in-cyclodextrin-in-liposomes (DCLs). Hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin/α-pinene (HP-ß-CD/α-pinene) inclusion complexes were prepared in aqueous solution, and the optimal solubilization of α-pinene occurred at HP-ß-CD:α-pinene molar ratio of 7.5:1. The ethanol-injection method was applied to produce different formulations using saturated (Phospholipon 90H) or unsaturated (Lipoid S100) phospholipids in combination with cholesterol. The size, the phospholipid and cholesterol incorporation rates, the encapsulation efficiency (EE), and the loading rate (LR) of α-pinene were determined, and the storage stability of liposomes was assessed. The results showed that α-pinene was efficiently entrapped in CLs and DCLs with high EE values. Moreover, Lipoid S100 CLs displayed the highest LR (22.9 ± 2.2%) of α-pinene compared to the other formulations. Both carrier systems HP-ß-CD/α-pinene inclusion complex and Lipoid S100 CLs presented a gradual release of α-pinene. Furthermore, the DPPH radical scavenging activity of α-pinene was maintained upon encapsulation in Lipoid S100 CLs. Finally, it was found that all formulations were stable after three months of storage at 4 °C.

Magnetic nanoparticles in microfluidic and sensing: From transport to detection.

Superparamagnetic nanoparticles are attracting significant attention. Therefore, being explored in microsystems for a wide range of applications. Typical examples include lab-on-a-chip and microfluidics for synthesis, detection, separation, and transportation of different bioanalytes, such as biomolecules, cells, and viruses to develop portable, sensitive, and cost-effective biosensing systems. Particularly, microfluidic systems incorporated with magnetic nanoparticles and, in combination with magnetoresistive sensors, shift diagnostic and analytical methods to a microscale level. In this context, nanotechnology enables the miniaturization and integration of a variety of analytical functions in a single chip for manipulation, detection, and recognition of bioanalytes reliably and flexibly. In consideration of the above, recent development and benefits are elaborated herein to discuss the role of magnetic nanoparticles inside the microchannels to design highly efficient disposable point-of-care applications from transportation to the detection of bioanalytes.

Poly(ethyl acrylate-co-methyl Methacrylate-co-trimethylammoniethyl methacrylate chloride) (Eudragit RS100) Nanocapsules as Nanovector Carriers for Phoenix dactylifera L. Seeds Oil: a Versatile Antidiabetic Agent.

Food waste valorization practices have gained considerable attention focusing on the conversion of the waste into valuable products. In this context, the present study provides an insight into a new Eudragit RS100 based nanosystem as a carrier of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) seeds oil known for its an antidiabetic activity. A priori systematic study was carried out in order to understand the individual impact of all contributing factors considered by the nanoprecipitation method. Then, date seeds oil nanoparticles were prepared, characterized and analyzed for their in vitro inhibition activity against: α-amylase and α-glucosidase. The results showed that the developed nanoparticles had an average diameter around 207 nm, a ζ-potential of +59 mV, and an encapsulation efficiency equal to 97 ± 1% with a loading capacity of 0.48 mg·mg-1. The α-amylase and α-glucosidase IC50 were found to be 87.6 and 155.3 µg·mL-1, respectively. Therefore, this study may surely open new perspectives for the development of novel health-promoting plant oils loaded-nanocarriers for several purposes.

Magnetic Nanoparticles Fishing for Biomarkers in Artificial Saliva.

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were synthesized using the colloidal co-precipitation method and further coated with silica using the Stöber process. These were functionalized with carboxylic and amine functionalities for further covalent immobilization of antibodies on these MNPs. The procedure for covalent immobilization of antibodies on MNPs was developed using 1-ethyl-3-(dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). The evaluation of the efficiency of the coupling reaction was carried out by UV-vis spectrophotometry. The developed antibodies coupled to MNPs were tested for the pre-concentration of two biomarkers tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and Interleukin-10 (IL-10). Both biomarkers were assessed in the matrix based on phosphate-buffered saline solution (PBS) and artificial saliva (AS) to carry out the demonstration of the format assay. Supernatants were used to determine the number of free biomarkers for both studies. Reduction of the nonspecific saliva protein adsorption on the surface of the complex antibodies-MNPs to levels low enough to allow the detection of biomarkers in complex media has been achieved.

Ultrasensitive Immunosensor Array for TNF-α Detection in Artificial Saliva using Polymer-Coated Magnetic Microparticles onto Screen-Printed Gold Electrode.

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a biomarker of inflammation that occurs in patients suffering from heart failure (HF). Saliva can be sampled in a non-invasive way, and it is currently gaining importance as matrix alternative to blood in diagnostic and therapy monitoring. This work presents the development of an immunosensor array based on eight screen-printed gold electrodes to detect TNF-α in saliva samples. Two different functionalization strategies of electrodes were compared. In the first, anti-TNF-α antibodies were chemically bonded onto the electrode by functionalization with 4-carboxymethylaniline. The other functionalization procedure involved the binding of antibodies onto polymer-coated magnetic microparticles, which were then deposited onto the electrode by pulsed chronoamperometry. Finally, the chronoamperometry technique was applied to characterize the modified SPEAu. The use of a secondary antibody anti-TNF-α (Ab-TNF-α-HRP) labelled with horseradish peroxidase (HRP, 2 µg·mL-1) was investigated using tetramethylbenzidine (TMB, pH = 3.75) as electrochemical substrate containing 0.2 mM of H2O2. A sandwich-type detection strategy with a secondary antibody anti-TNF-α provided chronoamperometric analyses in 10 s for each sample. Linearity, precision, limit of detection, and selectivity of devices were investigated. Interferences were evaluated by analyzing solutions containing other cytokine produced during the acute stage of inflammation. The immunosensor showed good performance within the clinically relevant concentration range, with a precision of 8%, and a limit of detection of 0.3 pg/mL. Therefore, it may represent a promising tool for monitoring HF in a non-invasive way.

Biodegradable Ingredient-Based Emulgel Loaded with Ketoprofen Nanoparticles.

Biodegradable materials are extensively employed to design nanocarriers that mimic extracellular environment in arthritis. The aim of this study was to formulate and characterize biocompatible, biodegradable ketoprofen-loaded chitosan-chondroitin sulfate (CHS-CS) nanoparticles with natural ingredients for transdermal applications. Polymers used in the design of nanocarriers are biodegradable and produce synergistic anti-inflammatory effect for the treatment of arthritis. For transdermal application, argan oil-based emulgel is utilized to impart viscosity to the formulation. Furthermore, naturally occurring argan oil synergizes anti-inflammatory effect of formulation and promotes skin penetration. CHS and CS form nanoparticles by polyelectrolyte complex formation or complex coacervation at pH 5.0. These particles were loaded into argan oil-based emulgel. Employing this method, nanoparticles were formulated with particle size in the range of 300-500 nm. These nanocarriers entrapped ketoprofen and showed more than 76% encapsulation efficiency and 77% release of the ketoprofen at pH 7.4 within 72 h. Drug releases from CHS-CS nanoparticles by mechanism of simple diffusion. Nanoparticle-loaded argan oil emulgel significantly enhanced skin penetration of ketoprofen as compared to marketed gel (p < 0.05). Nanocarriers prepared successfully delivered drug through transdermal route using natural ingredients. Graphical abstract ᅟ.

Polycaprolactone Based Nanoparticles Loaded with Indomethacin for Anti-Inflammatory Therapy: From Preparation to Ex Vivo Study.

PURPOSE: This work focused on the preparation of polycaprolactone based nanoparticles containing indomethacin to provide topical analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect for symptomatic treatment of inflammatory diseases. Indomethacin loaded nanoparticles are prepared for topical application to decrease indomethacin side effects and administration frequency. Oppositely to already reported works, in this research non-invasive method has been used for the enhancement of indomethacin dermal drug penetration. Ex-vivo skin penetration study was carried out on fresh human skin. METHODS: Nanoprecipitation was used to prepare nanoparticles. Nanoparticles were characterized using numerous techniques; dynamic light scattering, SEM, TEM, DSC and FTIR. Regarding ex-vivo skin penetration of nanoparticles, confocal laser scanning microscopy has been used. RESULTS: The results showed that NPs hydrodynamic size was between 220 to 245 nm and the zeta potential value ranges from -19 to -13 mV at pH 5 and 1 mM NaCl. The encapsulation efficiency was around 70% and the drug loading was about 14 to 17%. SEM and TEM images confirmed that the obtained nanoparticles were spherical with smooth surface. The prepared nanoparticles dispersions were stable for a period of 30 days under three temperatures of 4°C, 25°C and 40°C. In addition, CLSM images proved that obtained NPs can penetrate the skin as well. CONCLUSION: The prepared nanoparticles are submicron in nature, with good colloidal stability and penetrate the stratum corneum layer of the skin. This formulation potentiates IND skin penetration and as a promising strategy would be able to decline the side effects of IND.

Enhancing leptospirosis control with nanosensing technology: A critical analysis.

Leptospirosis is a serious health problem in tropical areas; thus, animals shed leptospires in the environment. Humans are accidental hosts infected through exposure to contaminating bacteria in the environment. One health strategy can be applied to protect and eliminate leptospirosis because this cooperates and coordinates activities between doctors, veterinarians, and ecologists. However, conventional methods still have limitations. Therefore, the main challenges of leptospirosis control are the high sensing of detection methods to screen and control the pathogens. Interestingly, nano sensing combined with a leptospirosis detection approach can increase the sensitivity and eliminate some limitations. This article reviews nanomaterial development for an advanced leptospirosis detection method, e.g., latex beads-based agglutination test, magnetic nanoparticles enrichment, and gold-nanoparticles-based immunochromatographic assay. Thus, nanomaterials can be functionalized with biomolecules or sensing molecules utilized in various mechanisms such as biosensors. Over the last decade, many biosensors have been developed for Leptospira spp. pathogen and others. The evolution of biosensors for leptospirosis detection was designed for high efficiency and might be an alternative tool. In addition, the high-sensing fabrications are useful for leptospires screening in very low levels, for example, soil or water from the environment.

Upcycling of post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate bottles into aluminum-based metal-organic framework adsorbents for efficient orthophosphate removal.

2-Phosphonobutane-1,2,4,-tricarboxylic acid (PBTC) is an orthophosphate compound widely used as an antiscalant chemical and corrosion inhibitor in manufacturing. However, PBTC poses persistent environmental concerns due to its stability and resistance to conventional water treatment. In addressing the issues of PBTC in aquatic systems, Al-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been developed and applied as sustainable adsorbents. The materials are synthesized from terephthalic acid (TPA) linkers derived from upcycling products of post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. The PET-derived linker was prepared using alkaline hydrolysis followed by acidification and employed in forming MIL-53 (Al), with a comparative assessment against the corresponding MOFs made from commercial-grade TPA. The structures and properties of the materials were characterized with microscopic and spectroscopic methods. The synthesized adsorbents achieved a phosphate adsorption capacity of 826 mg/g at pH 5, with kinetics fitting a pseudo-second-order model and isotherm patterns aligning with Langmuir, Freundlich, and Sips models, indicative of diverse adsorption on heterogeneous surfaces. The results highlight the role of electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding mechanisms in PBTC adsorption. The eco-friendly materials with high adsorption performance offer an innovative route for sustainable waste management and water purification.

An ImmunoFET Coupled with an Immunomagnetic Preconcentration Technique for the Sensitive EIS Detection of HF Biomarkers.

We propose a new strategy using a sandwich approach for the detection of two HF biomarkers: tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-10 (IL-10). For this purpose, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) (MNPs@aminodextran) were biofunctionalized with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) using bis (sulfosuccinimidyl) suberate (BS3) as a cross-linker for the pre-concentration of two biomarkers (TNF-α and IL-10). In addition, our ISFETs were biofunctionalized with polyclonal antibodies (pAbs) (TNF-α and IL-10). The biorecognition between pAbs immobilized on the ISFET and the pre-concentrate antigen (Ag) on MNPs was monitored using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Our developed ImmunoFET showed a low detection limit (0.03 pg/mL) toward our target analyte when compared to previously published electrochemical immunosensors. It showed a higher sensitivity than for other HF biomarkers. Finally, the standard addition method was used to determine the unknown concentration in artificial saliva. The results matched with the expected values well.

Surface charge of polymer particles in water: the role of ionic end-groups.

Polymer particles, containing macromolecules made by the polymerization of nonionic monomers, can be ionized in water thanks to the end-groups of the macromolecules. We show that poly(methylmethacrylate) particles with ionic end-groups can acquire colloidal properties such as dispersion metastability and electrokinetic mobility. We demonstrate that the variation of these colloidal properties according to solution pH is uniquely determined by the chemical nature of the end-groups and therefore by the nature of the initiator used in the polymerization reaction. We compare polymer dispersions in which the polymer particles were made by different processes (e.g., surfactant-free emulsion polymerization or precipitation of the macromolecules induced by solvent shifting). For each colloidal dispersion, we determine the number of end-groups that are actually located at the surfaces of the particles, and we show that this number is a trace of the process by which the macromolecules were self-assembled into colloidal particles. We propose that it is possible to recover mechanistic details of this self-assembly process through measurements of the distribution of end-groups within the particles.

Effect of trans-cinnamaldehyde or citral on sodium caseinate: Interfacial rheology and fluorescence quenching properties.

The interactions between sodium caseinate (CAS) and two natural aldehydes (trans-cinnamaldehyde (TC) and citral) were studied by evaluating oil/water (O/W) interfacial and fluorescence quenching properties. A small amount of TC in the oily phase resulted in lower O/W interfacial tension (9.12 mN/m). Particularly, the use of TC developed a stronger interface with higher elastic moduli (∼16.21 mN/m). This was supported by the fluorescence measurements: the quenching effect of TC on CAS was more pronounced than that of citral. Kinetic analysis indicated that both dynamic and static quenching occurs. The large binding constant (1.78 × 105 M-1) at 25 °C suggests that TC has strong affinity for CAS. Meanwhile, this binding process seemed to be spontaneous and driven by hydrogen bond formation with unfavorable conformational changes. This work would provide guidance for using the binding properties of natural aldehydes to enhance the interfacial properties of proteins.

Nanotechnology in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment.

Traditional cancer diagnosis has been aided by the application of nanoparticles (NPs), which have made the process easier and faster. NPs possess exceptional properties such as a larger surface area, higher volume proportion, and better targeting capabilities. Additionally, their low toxic effect on healthy cells enhances their bioavailability and t-half by allowing them to functionally penetrate the fenestration of epithelium and tissues. These particles have attracted attention in multidisciplinary areas, making them the most promising materials in many biomedical applications, especially in the treatment and diagnosis of various diseases. Today, many drugs are presented or coated with nanoparticles for the direct targeting of tumors or diseased organs without harming normal tissues/cells. Many types of nanoparticles, such as metallic, magnetic, polymeric, metal oxide, quantum dots, graphene, fullerene, liposomes, carbon nanotubes, and dendrimers, have potential applications in cancer treatment and diagnosis. In many studies, nanoparticles have been reported to show intrinsic anticancer activity due to their antioxidant action and cause an inhibitory effect on the growth of tumors. Moreover, nanoparticles can facilitate the controlled release of drugs and increase drug release efficiency with fewer side effects. Nanomaterials such as microbubbles are used as molecular imaging agents for ultrasound imaging. This review discusses the various types of nanoparticles that are commonly used in cancer diagnosis and treatment.