Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

One of the major challenges in current medicine is drug delivery through intelligent systems, a field where nanotechnology has a key impact, given its capacity to produce materials that are commensurable with those in cell and tissue structures. Various nanoparticulate systems have been proposed for drug delivery, with mesoporous silica being one of the most promising ones. Of inorganic nature, mesoporous silica represents an alternative of high biocompatibility and versatility: texture properties, such as shape, dimensions and pore size may be easily modulated, as well as its surface chemistry, allowing the encapsulation of very distinct drugs. The technologies associated with mesoporous silica production are low-cost, with no requirements for sophisticated infrastructure, and the processes for drug encapsulation can be performed under conditions compatible with the preservation of any biological activities, including those from biological macromolecules, such as proteins and nucleic acids. Herein we describe mesoporous silica as a material for drug delivery, highlighting its potential for the release of biological macromolecules. Strategies for modifying the surface chemistry of mesoporous silica are presented. Finally, progresses about biocompatibility, biodegradation and clinical studies are discussed.

In both developed and developing countries, food and consumption habits have led us to a dead end where most of the population suffers alterations in metabolism, which leads to diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), high blood pressure and chronic inflammation. DM can increase the risk of having some skin problems, such as bacterial and fungal infections that lead to ulcers that are very difficult to heal, and a large percentage of patients even lose their lower extremities. A proposal for the care of ulcer wounds, diabetic foot, burns, among others, is to implement patches and/or bandages with a silver nanoparticle gel used as an antiseptic, as an alternative administration system to antibiotics to control and inhibit the colonization of microorganisms such as super bacteria. Since silver nanoparticles have great potential in biomedical applications such as bactericidal, fungicidal, antiviral or agent healing, among others. Of all its uses, one of the most important is his employment as an agent antiseptic for hygienic and medical purposes. In this work we prepared a hydrogel with a concentration of 1000 μg/mL of Ag NPs, and stability studies were carried out: pH study of the final formulation and physical study to corroborate that the hydrogel maintains its appearance, color, odor and pH for 30 days at 25 °C and 40 °C. Its antimicrobial activity was evaluated and compared against a commercial cream containing silver sulfadiazine. From the Kirby-Bauer test, an average diameter of the inhibition zones for our hydrogel was obtained that was greater than that of the inhibition zones for the commercial cream. Ttherefore, the hydrogel prepared with AgNPs has good antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Chitosan is a versatile biopolymer with applications in nanotechnology, of broad interest in the synthesis of nanoparticles for drug delivery. Its degree of deacetylation (DD) is a key parameter that influences nanoparticle properties such as surface charge, size, and colloidal stability. However, its impact on nanoparticle functionality still requires detailed analysis. The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between chitosan’s DD and its physicochemical properties in nanoparticle synthesis, as well as its implications for pharmaceutical applications. To this end, a literature review was conducted in the PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect databases, using the keywords chitosan, deacetylation, and nanoparticles, in both English and Spanish. These keywords are identified in the titles and abstracts of research articles. Studies published between 2000 and 2025 that addressed the synthesis, modification, or characterization of chitosan nanoparticles were included. Studies that did not explicitly report DD and its relationship to functional properties or biomedical applications, as well as duplicate publications, were excluded. The results show that a medium DD (70-85%) promotes adequate interaction with cell membranes, common in pharmaceutical applications. A low DD (< 70%) implies less interaction with biological membranes, making them of limited use in delivery systems. Although a high DD (86-95%) could promote greater adhesion to cell surfaces and greater encapsulation efficiency, it can also promote high reactivity and possible cytotoxicity due to its density of free amino groups. However, a very high DD (> 95%) could cause toxicity, in addition to reducing viscosity, affecting the stability of the formulations. These findings underscore the need to tailor the DD to the specific application, optimizing the functionality of chitosan nanoparticles. In conclusion, precise control of DD is essential to maximize chitosan’s potential for the preparation of nanoparticles for drug delivery. Furthermore, future studies should focus on standardizing chitosan production methods with specific deacetylation levels and on their application in novel nanotechnological therapies.

Green chemistry, based on the principles of Paul Anastas and John Warner, promotes the sustainable synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) by reducing the use of toxic substances and minimizing hazardous waste. Traditional methods, which employ reducing agents such as sodium borohydride (NaBH4), generate harmful by-products, while green approaches use natural agents such as plant extracts and microorganisms that act as reductants and stabilizers, without generating toxic waste. These methods are not only safer, but also improve the biocompatibility of AuNPs, making them much more suitable for biomedical applications, notably drug delivery, targeted therapies and molecular diagnostics. The use of natural sources and biocatalysts, such as enzymes or microorganisms, facilitates synthesis under mild conditions, allowing greater control over the shape and size of AuNPs. These nanoparticles can be designed to specifically target cells, improving the efficacy of cancer treatments and reducing adverse effects. In this article we present the main features and advantages of green synthesis of AuNPs for a promising alternative with significant applications in nanomedicine and other technological areas.  

El advenimiento de la nanomedicina representa una nueva frontera en las ciencias de la salud. La capacidad de la nanomedicina para mejorar la selectividad, eficacia y perfil de seguridad de las terapias convencionales ofrece esperanzas de abordar necesidades médicas insatisfechas en diferentes padecimientos. Hoy disponemos de un cúmulo de conocimientos y experiencia mucho mayor que hace 20 años, lo cual aumenta la probabilidad de éxito de las nanoterapias de nueva generación. Se espera entonces que la nanomedicina se consolide como una herramienta generadora de estrategias terapéuticas superiores en un gran espectro de padecimientos, así como la acogida de nuevas tecnologías en la mejora de la salud de la población.

Como en cada entrega, Mundo Nano. Revista Interdisciplinaria en Nanociencias y Nanotecnología presenta una selección de temas apasionantes en el campo de la nanotecnología. El tema ahora está dedicado en aplicaciones en la salud y la medicina, en particular a los nanomateriales como sistemas de liberación de fármacos y biomoléculas. Uno de los mayores desafíos en medicina es lograr que los medicamentos lleguen con precisión al sitio donde se necesitan. Diversos tipos de nanopartículas, como las poliméricas, inorgánicas, liposomales y dendriméricas, permiten transportar compuestos terapéuticos directamente a las células o tejidos objetivo, aumentando su eficacia y reduciendo los efectos secundarios.

The following article presents the results of an interdisciplinary teaching intervention that incorporated music and movement as strategies to facilitate literacy instruction in first-grade students, based on the integration of Language and Communication and Music subjects from the national curriculum. A teaching sequence was implemented based on aspects of the integrated model for teaching literacy and some of the components of Carl Orff's music teaching method. This was an action research project developed using a mixed method that gathered quantitative and qualitative information from observation and analysis of the results of diagnostic assessments and final evaluations administered to the class group.

En esta ocasión, Marta Vela realiza una comparación entre la situación de España y Zaragoza de entonces y la Europa cosmopolita del siglo XIX. Las guerras carlistas y su descarnada realidad en contraste con los florecientes salones de París. Permite al lector seguir la pista de la jota desde su país autóctono por un intrincado desfile de personajes y vidas de grandes creadores hasta su clara preferencia en importantes obras y autores musicales como tema de sus obras.

This article seeks to reintegrate the theological dimension into the musicalizations of the mass, in order to help musicians interpret them more faithfully to the context in which they were born: the liturgical celebration of the paschal mystery. These works correspond to a way of celebrating certain rites of the liturgy, and their main purpose is the glory of God and the sanctification of the faithful. The article then reviews the doctrinal foundations that support these works, and places them in their proper liturgical context.

This exploratory and descriptive research and innovation in university teaching was carried out between August and December 2024 in theoretical-procedural subjects from 4 departments of the University of La Serena (ULS): Mathematics, Construction Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Music. Data was collected on students' perceptions regarding the implementation of a methodological innovation designed to enhance the teaching-learning process of theoretical-procedural content, which has the following objectives: 1) Increase the ability to remember and recognize elements and concepts in less time; 2) Improve the ability to solve theoretical-procedural problems in less time; 3) Develop the ability to integrate content and generalize concepts; 4) Enhance student commitment and autonomy. The initial stage of the research project, described in this article, focused on music theory. It laid the groundwork for a longer-term research proposal that will corroborate the usefulness and benefits of the proposed methodological innovation. This article presents the results obtained in the area of music theory teaching, where theoretical and procedural content from music literacy courses in the Bachelor of Music Program at the University of La Serena, Chile, was taught.