Issue 4, 2022

The Yin and Yang of epigenetics in the field of nanoparticles

Abstract

Nanoparticles (NPs) have become a very exciting research avenue, with multitudinous applications in various fields, including the biomedical one, whereby they have been gaining considerable interest as drug carriers able to increase bioavailability, therapeutic efficiency and specificity of drugs. Epigenetics, a complex network of molecular mechanisms involved in gene expression regulation, play a key role in mediating the effect of environmental factors on organisms and in the etiology of several diseases (e.g., cancers, neurological disorders and cardiovascular diseases). For many of these diseases, epigenetic therapies have been proposed, whose application is however limited by the toxicity of epigenetic drugs. In this review, we will analyze two aspects of epigenetics in the field of NPs: the first is the role that epigenetics play in mediating nanotoxicity, and the second is the possibility of using NPs for delivery of “epi-drugs” to overcome their limitations. We aim to stimulate discussion among specialists, specifically on the potential contribution of epigenetics to the field of NPs, and to inspire newcomers to this exciting technology.

Graphical abstract: The Yin and Yang of epigenetics in the field of nanoparticles

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
13 9 2021
Accepted
30 12 2021
First published
10 1 2022
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Nanoscale Adv., 2022,4, 979-994

The Yin and Yang of epigenetics in the field of nanoparticles

E. Musolino, C. Pagiatakis, S. Serio, M. Borgese, F. Gamberoni, R. Gornati, G. Bernardini and R. Papait, Nanoscale Adv., 2022, 4, 979 DOI: 10.1039/D1NA00682G

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