The nanoscale properties of nanomaterials, especially nanoparticles, including size, shape, and surface charge, have been extensively studied for their impact on nanomedicine. Given the inherent chiral nature of biological systems and their high enantiomeric selectivity, there is rising interest to manipulate the chirality of nanomaterials to enhance their biomolecular interactions and improve nanotherapeutics. Chiral nanostructures are currently more prevalently used in biosensing and diagnostic applications owing to their distinctive physical and optical properties, but they hold great promise for use in nanomedicine. In this Review, we first discuss stereospecific interactions between chiral nanomaterials and biomolecules before comparing the synthesis and characterization methods of chiral nanoparticles and nanoassemblies. Finally, we examine the applications of chiral nanotherapeutics in cancer, immunomodulation, and neurodegenerative diseases and propose plausible mechanisms in which chiral nanomaterials interact with cells for biological manipulation. This Review on chirality is a timely reminder of the arsenal of nanoscale modifications to boost research in nanotherapeutics.
Keyphrases
- capillary electrophoresis
- ionic liquid
- mass spectrometry
- induced apoptosis
- multidrug resistant
- mental health
- young adults
- oxidative stress
- atomic force microscopy
- squamous cell carcinoma
- drug delivery
- cell death
- cell cycle arrest
- big data
- childhood cancer
- walled carbon nanotubes
- cancer therapy
- cell proliferation
- endoplasmic reticulum stress
- artificial intelligence
- solid state
- high speed