Fluorinated Polymers and Fluorescent Graphene as Innovative Nanotheranostic Materials

Nowadays the development of nanoscale devices with multifunctional properties (such as specific cell targeting, therapeutic agent’s delivering, and medical imaging), represents a significant step forward in nanomedicine. [1] These systems showed unique properties compared to the corresponding bulk ones. In particular, the design of all-in-one nanosystems can lead to an enhancement of the biocompatibility and colloidal stability, resulting in well-tuned therapeutic and diagnostic actions. In this context we developed and characterized a new generation of 19F MRI nanotheranostic devices based on poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and hyperbranched polyether copolymers [2,3]. Such systems showed promising results as 19F MRI contrast agents, while preserving good cytocompatibility and drug nanocarrier ability. In the field of nanomedicine we additionally designed and studied the behavior of a new fluorescently labeled cationic cyclodextrin− graphene nanoplatform (GCD@Ada-Rhod), by investigating its intracellular trafficking and ability to deliver plasmid DNA and microRNA [4]. Moreover, the changes in the expression of genes involved in angiogenesis processes, extracellular matrix (ECM) modification and tumor metastasis were examined [5]. [1] B. Ankamwar, S. Gharpure, A. Akash Multifunctional Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications in Nanohybrids in Environmental & Biomedical Applications, CRC Press 2019. [2] W. Celentano, G. Neri, F. Distante, M. Li, P. Messa, C. Chirizzi, L. Chaabane, F. De Campo, P. Metrangolo, F. Baldelli Bombelli, F. Cellesi, Polym. Chem. 2020, 11, 3951. [3] G. Neri, G. Mion, A. Pizzi, W. Celentano, L. Chaabane, M. R. Chierotti, R. Gobetto, M. Li, P. Messa, F. De Campo, F. Cellesi, P. Metrangolo, F. Baldelli Bombelli, Chem. Eur. J. 2020, 26, 10057. [4] A. Piperno, A. Mazzaglia, A. Scala, R. Pennisi, R. Zagami, G. Neri, S. M. Torcasio, C. Rosmini, P. G. Mineo, M. Potara, M. Focsan, S. Astilean, G. Guoying Zhou, M. T. Sciortino, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2019, 11, 46101. [5] D. Caccamo, M. Currò, R. Ientile, E. AM Verderio, A. Scala, A. Mazzaglia, R. Pennisi, M. Musarra-Pizzo, R. Zagami, G. Neri, C. Rosmini, M. Potara, M. Focsan, S. Astilean, A Piperno, M. T. Sciortino, Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21, 4891.