Editorial
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2017.
World J Biol Chem. Feb 26, 2017; 8(1): 4-12
Published online Feb 26, 2017. doi: 10.4331/wjbc.v8.i1.4
Table 1 The application of nanomaterials in venom research
NanomaterialToxin/VenomApplication
Polyethylenimine-coated hexagonal-phase NaYF(4):Yb,Er/Ce NPsCTX from Leiurus quinquestriatus scorpion’s venomGlioma visualization by laser scanning upconversion fluorescence microscopy
Highly stable iron oxide NPs conjugated to CTX and Cy5.5 fluorescent dyeCTXNear-infrared fluorescence imaging
Amine-functionalized polysilane and supermagnetic iron oxide NPsCTXAntitumor drug retarding tumor invasiveness and deactivating membrane-bound MMP2
Supermagnetic iron oxide conjugated with methotrexate and CTXCTXAntitumor drug with high cytotoxicity against glioma cells in vitro
Streptavidin-conjugated QDsBiotinylated alpha-bungarotoxin from Bungarus multicinctus krait’s venomVisualization of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in the myocytes
Gold NPsSnake venom toxin NKCT1Potential anticancer agent
Polyethylene glycol-grafted distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine NPs conjugated with ImI and loaded with paclitaxelAlpha-conotoxin ImI from the cone snail Conus imperialisTargeted antitumor drug
Perfluorocarbon NPsThe cytolytic peptide melittin, derived from bee venomAntitumor drug with reduced acute toxicity
Gold NPs with radioisotope labelBombesin from the frog Bombina bombinaIncrease in uptake of the drug by tumor cells
Biodegradable poly(D,L-Lactide-co-glycolide) NPsBee venomProlonged analgesic effect of the venom
Silica NPsWalterinnesia aegyptia cobra’s venomSignificantly increased antitumor effects of the venom
Poly(D,L-Lactide)-based NPsToxic fractions obtained from Androctonus australis hector and Buthusoccitanus tunetanus scorpions’ venomsEnhanced immune response to weakly immunogenic toxins
Chitosan NPsCobra Naja naja oxiana venomAlternative to the currently used adjuvants