Nickel nanomaterials as delivery system in combating diseases

Many people suffer from the aggravation of infections and inflammations initiated by the exposure of virulent microorganisms or other toxicants globally owing to the development of drug resistance accompanied with drug toxicity, insolubility, non-specificity, and the occurrence of biological barriers. Nanotechnology-based nickel nanomaterials (NiNMs) such as nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiONPs) and nickel hydroxide nanoparticles (Ni(OH)2NPs) have attracted attention as nano-medicinal delivery system to inhibit the disease-development and spreading due to their suitable physicochemical characteristics such as nano sizes, effective shapes, high surface to volume ratio, increased reactivity, easy surface-functionalization, and photo-thermal activity. Metallic NiNMs are capable to penetrate cellular membrane causing cellular leakage, and to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) for interaction with cellular molecules to damage DNAs, proteins, and lipids leading to microbial or cellular deaths. Moreover, their surface-functionalization with specific ligands, drugs, and other biomolecules may direct their modulations as suitable targeted delivery system on lowering cytotoxicity, minimizing drug degradation and loss, and increasing bioavailability of drug compounds. This review elucidates chiefly on the synthesis, drug loading and functionalization, mechanisms of action, biomedical applications, toxicity, biodistribution and elimination of NiNMs as delivery system in combating diseases. Keywords: Infections and inflammations; Nickel nanomaterials; Delivery system; Bio-medical applications