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Topic Review
Oxygen Reduction Reaction Catalysts Derived from Biopolymers
Due to the limited reaction rate of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), it is considered as a limiting factor in the performance of fuel cells and metal-air batteries. Platinum is considered the benchmark catalyst for ORR; however, the scarcity of platinum, its high price, the drift phenomenon, its insufficient durability, and its susceptibility to gas poisoning are the reasons for the constant search for new ORR catalysts. Carbon-based catalysts show exceptional promise in this respect considering economic profitability and activity, and, in addition, they have favorable conductivity and often a large specific surface area.
  • 1.4K
  • 13 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Electrospun Nanofibers for Skin Tissue Engineering
Surface modification of electrospun products has been an attractive method for increasing multifunctionality and biocompatibility properties. 
  • 1.4K
  • 29 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Enzymes in/on Metal-Organic Framework Materials
The industrial use of enzymes generally necessitates their immobilization onto solid supports. The well-known high affinity of enzymes for metal-organic framework (MOF) materials, together with the great versatility of MOFs in terms of structure, composition, functionalization and synthetic approaches, has led the scientific community to develop very different strategies for the immobilization of enzymes in/on MOFs. This review focuses on one of these strategies, namely, the one-pot enzyme immobilization within sustainable MOFs, which is particularly enticing as the resultant biocomposite Enzyme@MOFs have the potential to be: (i) prepared in situ, that is, in just one step; (ii) may be synthesized under sustainable conditions: with water as the sole solvent at room temperature with moderate pHs, etc.; (iii) are able to retain high enzyme loading; (iv) have negligibleprotein leaching; and (v) give enzymatic activities approaching that given by the corresponding free enzymes. Moreover, this methodology seems to be near-universal, as success has been achieved with different MOFs, with different enzymes and for different applications. So far, the metal ions forming the MOF materials have been chosen according to their low price, low toxicity and, of course, their possibility for generating MOFs at room temperature in water, in order to close the cycle of economic, environmental and energy sustainability in the synthesis, application and disposal life cycle.
  • 1.4K
  • 16 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Zirconia
Zirconia is one of the indirect metal-free restorations used in dental medicine.
  • 1.4K
  • 01 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Keratin Biomembranes
Difficulties in obtaining human nails that are large enough for examining the penetration of drug formulations led to produce keratin films regenerated from human hair. The structure, surface morphology, chemical characterization and thermal stability of the films were characterized and were compared to those of human nail, hair and bovine hoof samples using SDS-electrophoresis, SEM, XRD, FTIR and TGA. The structure of the obtained films was found to be closer to human nails than to hair or bovine hooves. The keratin films were infected with Trichophyton rubrum and were proven to be appropriate for serving as a model for studying onychomycosis.
  • 1.4K
  • 30 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Safe Applications of Aerogels
An increasing number of aerogels as nanostructured highly porous materials are entering the market in every day products, with an attractive portfolio of properties for emerging applications ranging from health care and leisure to electronics, cosmetics, energy, agriculture, food and environmental.
  • 1.4K
  • 03 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Microneedles in Drug Delivery
In recent years, an innovative transdermal delivery technology has attracted great interest for its ability to distribute therapeutics and cosmeceuticals for several applications, including vaccines, drugs, and biomolecules for skin-related problems. The advantages of microneedle patch technology have been extensively evaluated in the latest literature; hence, the academic publications in this area are rising exponentially. 
  • 1.4K
  • 29 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Biopolymers Produced by Lactic Acid Bacteria
A severe and well-known threat to the environment, the non-biodegradability of plastics obliges different stakeholders to find legislative and technical solutions for producing valuable polymers which are biodegradable and also exhibit better characteristics for packaging products. Microorganisms are recognized as exciting sources for the production of biopolymers with applications in the food industry, package production, and several other fields. Ubiquitous organisms, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are well studied for the production of exopolysaccharides (EPS), but much less as producers of polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). Based on their good biodegradability feature, as well as the possibility to be obtained from cheap biomass, PLA and PHAs polymers currently receive increased attention from both research and industry.
  • 1.4K
  • 12 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Natural Antiviral Polymers
Natural polymers or biopolymers are classified into polysaccharides, polypeptides (proteins), and nucleic acid polymers (polynucleotides). Natural polymers as components of living systems are derived from plants, animals, and microorganisms.
  • 1.4K
  • 05 May 2022
Topic Review
Calcium Silicate-Based Materials - Antimicrobial
Endodontic materials have significantly improved dental treatment techniques in several aspects as they can be used for vital pulp treatments, as temporary root canal medication, in definitive fillings, in apical surgeries, and for regenerative procedures. Calcium silicate-based cement is a class of dental material that is used in Endodontics in direct contact with the dental structures, connective tissue, and bone. Because the material interacts with biological tissues and stimulates biomineralization processes, its properties are of major importance. The main challenge in endodontic treatments is the elimination of biofilms that are present in the root canal system anatomical complexities, as it remains even after chemical-mechanical preparation and disinfection procedures. Thus, an additional challenge for these biomaterials is to exert antimicrobial activity while maintaining their biological properties in parallel.
  • 1.4K
  • 29 Jul 2021
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Biorefinery Based on Multiple Raw Materials and Wastes for the Production of Energy: A Proposal Tailored to Southwestern Europe
In this entry, the possibility of the implementation of a biorefinery based on multiple raw materials (from agricultural wastes, vegetable oils, etc.) is covered, pointing out the available technology to interconnect different processes so that the atom economy of the process is as high as possible, reducing the environmental impact and improving the efficiency of the energy or products obtained. For this purpose, this model is based on previous works published in the literature. The role of biorefineries is becoming more and more important in the current environmental scenario, as there is a global concern about different environmental issues such as climate change due to GHG emissions, among others. In this sense, a biorefinery presents several advantages such as the use of natural raw materials or wastes, with high atom economy values (that is, all the products are valorized and not released to the environment). As a consequence, the concept of a biorefinery perfectly fits with the Sustainable Development Goals, contributing to the sustainable growth of different regions or countries, regardless of their stage of development. The aim of this entry is the proposal of a biorefinery based on multiple raw materials, using different technologies such as transesterification to produce both biodiesel and biolubricants, steam reforming to produce hydrogen from glycerol or biogas, hydrothermal carbonization of sewage sludge to produce hydrochar, etc. As a result, these technologies have potential for the possible implementation of this biorefinery at the industrial scale, with high conversion and efficiency for most processes included in this biorefinery. However, there are some challenges like the requirement of the further technological development of certain processes. In conclusion, the proposed biorefinery offers a wide range of possibilities to enhance the production of energy and materials (hydrogen, biodiesel, biolubricants, different biofuels, hydrochar, etc.) through green technologies, being an alternative for petrol-based refineries.
  • 1.4K
  • 30 Sep 2024
Topic Review
Antibacterial Activity and Applications of Eugenol-Based Polymeric Materials
Eugenol (4-Allyl-2-methoxy phenol) (EUG) is a plant-derived allyl chain-substituted guaiacol, widely known for its antimicrobial and anesthetic properties, as well as the ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species. It is typically used as a mixture with zinc oxide (ZOE) for the preparation of restorative tooth fillings and treatment of root canal infections.
  • 1.4K
  • 08 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Chitosan as a Biomaterial
Chitosan remarkable properties have aroused the interest of applying this material in several biomedical applications, such as tissue engineering, wound dressing, drug delivery, and cancer treatment, what has aroused the interest of this review to gather the state-of-the-art concerning this polysaccharide when used as a biomaterial, providing information about its characteristics, chemical modifications, and applications.
  • 1.4K
  • 25 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Applications of AMPs in Packaging
Antimicrobial Peptides can be defined as the molecules of the innate immune system present in all life forms, ranging from bacteria to human beings. The innate immune system is a defence system working non-specifically against injury or infection in the barrier surface. AMPs are composed of a sequence of amino acid ranging from 5 to 50 chains, usually L-amino acids.
  • 1.4K
  • 13 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Bimetallic Nanomaterials
Bimetallic nanomaterials (BMNs) are one kind of innovative nanomaterials, referring to nano-bimetallic alloy, intermetallic compounds, or the combination of two kinds of metallic nanoparticles. Compared with monometallic nanomaterials, BMNs perform similar or even better physical and chemical properties in the medical field. BMNs possess excellent physical and chemical properties, such as easy surface modification, superior photothermal properties, multiple catalytic properties, delicate sensitivity, and good stability. Synthesis methods of bimetallic nanomaterials. The preparation methods of BMNs commonly used for cancer therapy, such as co-reduction method, hydrothermal method, seed-mediated growth method, and electrodeposition method.
  • 1.4K
  • 21 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Application and Development of Biochar in Ironmaking Production
The concept of green, low-carbon and clean energy consumption has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and countries have actively advocated the use of new energy. In the face of problems such as resource shortage and environmental pollution, scholars began to explore the use of new fuels instead of coal for production. Biomass resources have the characteristics of being renewable and carbon neutral and having large output. As an energy utilization, it is helpful to promote the transformation of the energy structure in various countries. Applying it to ironmaking production is not only conducive to energy conservation and emission reduction in the ironmaking process but also can achieve efficient utilization of crop waste. 
  • 1.4K
  • 12 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Periodontitis Treatment
Fabrication of biomaterial that mimics a suitable biological microenvironment is still a major challenge in the field of periodontitis treatment. Hence, in this report, we presented for the first time the fabrication of a novel biomaterial 3D matrix using collagen combined with sodium alginate and titanium oxide (TiO2) to recreate the in-vivo microenvironment and to act as a platform for the culture of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPLF) towards osteogenic differentiation.
  • 1.4K
  • 29 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Cyclo- and Polyphosphazenes for Biomedical Applications
Cyclic and polyphosphazenes are extremely interesting and versatile substrates characterized by the presence of -P=N- repeating units. The chlorine atoms on the P atoms in the starting materials can be easily substituted with a variety of organic substituents, thus giving rise to a huge number of new materials for industrial applications. A wide variety of new phosphazene systems, either trimeric or polymeric, have been developed as biomaterials in view of different applications. The materials to apply in biomedical applications should be biocompatible.
  • 1.4K
  • 09 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Hydrogel Adhesives for Gastrointestinal Perforation
The gastrointestinal tract (GI) contains all the major organs of the digestive system, including the esophagus, stomach, small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum), and large intestine (cecum, colon, and rectum). It is essential for the transportation, digestion, and absorption of food. Hydrogel adhesives are emerging as an attractive alternative to sutures and staples for treating internal tissue wounds including wounds present in the GI tract. Hydrogels are three-dimensional, hydrophilic, crosslinked polymer networks that absorb and retain large amounts of water to maintain a gel-like swollen state.
  • 1.4K
  • 13 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Skeletal Muscle Gene Delivery
Since Jon A. Wolff found skeletal muscle cells being able to express foreign genes and Russell J. Mumper increased the gene transfection efficiency into the myocytes by adding polymers, skeletal muscles have become a potential gene delivery and expression target. Different methods have been developing to deliver transgene into skeletal muscles. Among them, viral vectors may achieve potent gene delivery efficiency. Therefore, non-viral biomaterial-mediated methods with reliable biocompatibility are promising tools for intramuscular gene delivery in situ. A series of advanced non-viral gene delivery materials and related methods have been reported, such as polymers, liposomes, cell penetrating peptides, as well as physical delivery methods.
  • 1.4K
  • 25 Nov 2022
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