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Nanoscale anisotropy for biomedical applications

Nature Reviews Bioengineering (2024)Cite this article

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Abstract

Nanoparticles exhibit anisotropy when distinct features can be identified along different axes. Such disruption in shape and/or composition symmetry can change how nanoparticles behave and interact with the surrounding environment compared with their isotropic counterparts. Anisotropic combinations can be limitless and show potential for tackling biological barriers and developing programmable, targeted, and combined delivery of bioactive molecules, mainly when featuring autonomous motion. In this Review, we summarize the main methods for the generation of anisotropic particles at the nanoscale. We further discuss how geometric cues or the incorporation of propulsive agents (chemically or physically driven) improve transport across biological fluids, promote cellular adhesion and internalization, and/or increase tissue penetration. We finally highlight considerations for the design of anisotropic nanoparticles and the precise control over morphology and properties, in addition to the challenges for clinical translation.

Key points

  • Anisotropic systems exhibit specific spatial-dependent properties based on shape, chemical composition and/or physical responsiveness.

  • Precise engineering of anisotropic nanoparticles remains challenging and could benefit from the introduction of biocompatible materials.

  • Introducing a virtually unlimited combination array of anisotropic cues into nanoparticle design expands their applicability for combined drug delivery, targeting and theranostics.

  • Methodologies to assess nanoparticle–biological environment interactions and transport require further standardization for successful clinical translation.

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Fig. 1: Techniques commonly used for the fabrication of different types of anisotropic NPs for biomedical applications.
Fig. 2: Anisotropic NPs designed for improved transport in biorelevant media.
Fig. 3: Selected strategies based on shape anisotropy for tackling biological barriers.
Fig. 4: Examples of anisotropic nanomotors for combinational therapies.

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Acknowledgements

H.A. and J.d.N. gratefully acknowledge Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal, for financial support (2020.06264.BD fellowship and CEECIND/01280/2018 contract under the Individual CEEC Program, respectively).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Helena Almeida, Bruno Sarmento & José das Neves

  2. ICBAS – Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Helena Almeida

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Giovanni Traverso

  4. Division of Gastroenterology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Giovanni Traverso

  5. IUCS – Instituto Universitário de Ciências da Saúde, CESPU, Gandra, Portugal

    Bruno Sarmento & José das Neves

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All authors substantially contributed to the conceptualization of the article, data search and discussion of content. H.A. wrote the initial draft of the manuscript. G.T., B.S. and J.d.N. reviewed and edited the manuscript before submission.

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Correspondence to Giovanni Traverso, Bruno Sarmento or José das Neves.

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Financial competing interests for G.T. that may be interpreted as related to the current manuscript include current and prior funding (Supplementary Tables 2 and 3) from Novo Nordisk, CSL Vifor, Hoffman La Roche, Oracle, Draper Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Lincoln Laboratory, National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Cancer Institute, Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, Karl van Tassel (1925) Career Development Professor, MIT and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, as well as employment by the MIT and Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Supplementary Table 1). Personal financial interests include equity/stock (Lyndra Therapeutics, Suono Bio, Vivtex, Celero Systems, Syntis Bio), board of directors membership and/or consulting (Lyndra Therapeutics, Novo Nordisk, Suono Bio, Vivtex, Celero Systems, Syntis Bio) and royalties (past and potentially in the future) from licensed and/or optioned intellectual property (Lyndra Therapeutics, Novo Nordisk, Suono Bio, Vivtex, Celero Systems, Syntis Bio, Johns Hopkins, MIT, and Mass General Brigham Innovation). Complete details of all relationships for-profit and not-for-profit for G.T. can be found in the Supplementary Information. The other authors declare no competing interests.

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Almeida, H., Traverso, G., Sarmento, B. et al. Nanoscale anisotropy for biomedical applications. Nat Rev Bioeng (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44222-024-00169-2

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