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Topic Review
Chemical Modification of Cellulose
Cellulose is a widely studied natural polymer due to its availability, biodegradability, non-toxicity, and ease of chemical modification. Currently, cellulose has many applications in science and technology, but it has vast relevance in biomedical applications, such as a protective coating for wound dressing in skin burns, and injuries to avoid bacterial infections. This chapter describes some properties of cellulose such as structure, and biocompatibility. Besides this chapter also describes some methods used to endow cellulose with antimicrobial activity by means of the addition of biocidal groups as N-halamines, quaternary ammonium salts, nanoparticles, enzymes, or through the incorporation of antibiotics for controlled drug delivery.
  • 1.1K
  • 17 Mar 2025
Topic Review
General Synthesis Methods of Poly (ε-caprolactone)-Based Graft Copolymers
Synthetic biopolymers are attractive alternatives to biobased polymers, especially because they rarely induce an immune response in a living organism. Poly ε-caprolactone (PCL) is a well-known synthetic aliphatic polyester universally used for many applications, including biomedical and environmental ones.  To expand the range of applications for PCL, researchers have investigated the possibility of grafting polymer chains onto the PCL backbone. As the PCL backbone is not functionalized, it must be first functionalized in order to be able to graft reactive groups onto the PCL chain. These reactive groups will then allow the grafting of new reagents and especially new polymer chains. Grafting of polymer chains is mainly carried out by “grafting from” or “grafting onto” methods.
  • 1.1K
  • 29 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Titanium Foils
Titanium membranes used as barrier element in guided bone regeneration procedures. These membranes prevent the penetration of epithelial cells and fibroblasts and allow access to the bone defect of osteogenic and stem cells originating from the native bone. They have different formats, from a titanium sheet to be formed intraoperatively to a custom-made occlusive barrier from a previous computed tomography scan of the bone defect.
  • 1.1K
  • 03 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Fluorogenic Aptasensors with Small Molecules
Aptamers are single-stranded DNA or RNA molecules that can be identified through an iterative in vitro selection–amplification process. Among them, fluorogenic aptamers in response to small molecules have been of great interest in biosensing and bioimaging due to their rapid fluorescence turn-on signals with high target specificity and low background noise. 
  • 1.1K
  • 25 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Polymeric Hydrogel Carrier for Nerve Repair
Nerve regeneration and repair still remain a huge challenge for both central nervous and peripheral nervous system. Although some therapeutic substances, including neuroprotective agents,clinical drugs and stem cells, as well as various growth factors, are found to be effective to promote nerve repair, a carrier system that possesses a sustainable release behavior, in order to ensure high on-site concentration during the whole repair and regeneration process, and high bioavailability is still highly desirable. Hydrogel, as an ideal delivery system, has an excellent loading capacity and sustainable release behavior, as well as tunable physical and chemical properties to adapt to various biomedical scenarios; thus, it is thought to be a suitable carrier system for nerve repair. 
  • 1.1K
  • 22 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Functional Polymeric Biomaterials Prepared by RIGC
Functional polymeric biomaterials (FPBMs) represent the most popular usage of natural, synthetic, or hybrid polymeric materials interacting with biological regimes and are used to protect against microbes and regenerate, repair, and treat any type of tissue in the organs, or improve the functions of the human body. FPBMs with bioactive characteristics obtained by radiation-induced graft copolymerisation (RIGC) have been subjected to intensive research and developed into many commercial products. Various studies have reported the development of a variety of radiation-grafted FPBMs.
  • 1.1K
  • 22 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Biomacromolecules for Wound Dressings
Biomacromolecules are particularly promising for the fabrication of novel, more effective antimicrobial wound dressings.
  • 1.1K
  • 31 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Nanotechnology in Viral Respiratory Infections
Viral-associated respiratory infectious diseases are one of the most prominent subsets of respiratory failures, known as viral respiratory infections (VRI). VRIs are proceeded by an infection caused by viruses infecting the respiratory system. Due to their specific physical and biological properties, nanoparticles hold promising opportunities for both anti-viral treatments and vaccines against viral infections.
  • 1.1K
  • 05 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Flake Graphene-Based Nanomaterial in Non-Small Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is a highly aggressive neoplasm that is now a leading cause of cancer death worldwide. One of the major approaches for killing cancer cells is related with activation of apoptotic cell death with anti-cancer drugs. Regarding lung-cancer therapy, graphene was already considered as an attractive material for screening (biosensing) or direct anti-cancer treatment.
  • 1.1K
  • 24 May 2022
Topic Review
Models of the Structure of Humic Substances
Natural organic matter, including humic substances (HS), comprises complex secondary structures with no defined covalent chemical bonds and stabilized by inter- and intra-molecular interactions, such as hydrogen bonding, Van der Waal’s forces, and pi-pi interactions. The latest view describes HS aggregates as a hydrogel-like structure comprised by a hydrophobic core of aromatic residues surrounded by polar and amphiphilic molecules akin a self-assembled soft material. A different view is based on the classification of this material as either mass or surface fractals. The former is intended as made by the clustering of macromolecules generating dendritic networks, while the latter have been modelled in terms of a solvent-impenetrable core surrounded by a layer of lyophilic material. 
  • 1.1K
  • 22 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Titanium and Its Alloys
Metallic materials are widely used in the medical field, in this context, this entry focuses on the relevance of titanium and its alloys for the development of dental implants.
  • 1.1K
  • 12 May 2022
Topic Review
Tumor Microenvironment of Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer (OvCa) is one of the leading causes of gynecologic malignancies. Despite treatment with surgery and chemotherapy, OvCa disseminates and recurs frequently, reducing the survival rate for patients. There is an urgent need to develop more effective treatment options for women diagnosed with OvCa. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a key driver of disease progression, metastasis and resistance to treatment. For this reason, 3D models have been designed to represent this specific niche and allow more realistic cell behaviors compared to conventional 2D approaches. 
  • 1.1K
  • 06 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Advances in Multifunctional Bioactive Coatings
This entry outlines the main materials used for metal implant manufacturing and some general coating techniques. It focuses on recent trends in the design and performance of biomedical coatings for metallic implants used for orthopedic and dental applications. The ways of improving the bioactive coating performance by incorporating bioactive moieties such as growth factors, osteogenic factors, immunomodulatory factors, antibiotics, or other drugs that are locally released in a controlled manner have also been addressed. The influence of the bioactive films on in vitro behavior of cells cultured on coated implants and in vitro/in vivo performance of the implant systems is underlined.
  • 1.1K
  • 04 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Dental Implantology
Dental implants are most similar to natural teeth in their mastication and aesthetics; they are also biocompatible and require biocompatibility, masticatory feature, and aesthetic follow-up. The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons estimated that two million implants are placed per year worldwide. The longevity of the population and the demand for cosmetic dentistry have led to their increasing use.
  • 1.1K
  • 29 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Hydrogels in Wound Healing
Despite the noticeable evolution in wound treatment over the centuries, a functional material that promotes correct and swift wound healing is important, considering the relative weight of chronic wounds in healthcare. Difficult to heal in a fashionable time, chronic wounds are more prone to infections and complications thereof. Hydrogels are highly hydrated cross-linked polymers arranged in a matrix-like fashion that allow significant water retention (over 90% of their dry weight) in their three-dimensional network. 
  • 1.1K
  • 11 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Nanoparticle Constructions to Target Staphylococcus aureus Pathogenesis
The clinical infections by Staphylococcus aureus caused an increase in morbidity and mortality rates and treatment costs, aggravated by the emergence of drug-resistant strains. Different nanotechnology-enabled approaches are being investigated that can improve the paradigm of therapeutics against S. aureus pathogenesis and infections. Nanomaterials provide a suitable platform to address this challenge, with the potential to control biofilm formation, intracellular parasitism and multidrug resistance where conventional therapies show limited efficacy. Herein, the large diversity of nanoparticles and their applications to combat S. aureus pathogenesis, including in combination with antibiotics and phytochemicals, is presented and their specific biological actions are highlighted.
  • 1.1K
  • 22 May 2024
Topic Review
Bone Grafts and Substitutes for Bone Repair
The ideal biomaterials substitute for bone repair should possess the following characteristics: provide osteogenic, osteoinductive and osteoconductive properties; stimulate the neo-angiogenesis process; absence of antigenic, teratogenic or carcinogenic reactions; avoid the systemic toxicity complications; assure satisfactory support and stability from mechanical properties point of view; hydrophilic nature of the surface properties and good interface with human bone; good handling in clinical condition and ability to be easy sterilized; and able to be supplied in sufficient quantities with reduced costs.
  • 1.1K
  • 26 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Polymer Se-Nanocomposites Biofabricated Using Fungi
Nanoparticle-reinforced polymer-based materials effectively combine the functional properties of polymers and unique characteristic features of NPs. Biopolymers have attained great attention, with perspective multifunctional and high-performance nanocomposites exhibiting a low environmental impact with unique properties, being abundantly available, renewable, and eco-friendly. Nanocomposites of biopolymers are termed green biocomposites. Different biocomposites are reported with numerous inorganic nanofillers, which include selenium. Selenium is a micronutrient that can potentially be used in the prevention and treatment of diseases and has been extensively studied for its biological activity. SeNPs have attracted increasing attention due to their high bioavailability, low toxicity, and novel therapeutic properties. One of the best routes to take advantage of SeNPs’ properties is by mixing these NPs with polymers to obtain nanocomposites with functionalities associated with the NPs together with the main characteristics of the polymer matrix. These nanocomposite materials have markedly improved properties achieved at low SeNP concentrations. Composites based on polysaccharides, including fungal beta-glucans, are bioactive, biocompatible, biodegradable, and have exhibited an innovative potential. Mushrooms meet certain obvious requirements for the green entity applied to the SeNP manufacturing. Fungal-matrixed selenium nanoparticles are a new promising biocomposite material. 
  • 1.1K
  • 08 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Click Chemistry in Building Hierarchical Structures
Hierarchical structures are an essential part of numerous types of architecture in nature. They are defined as the presence of different structural elements with different length scales in a single body. This different length scale gives each hierarchical structure its “order, n” and characteristic properties. The higher the (n) the more sophisticated hierarchical structures; where n = 0 refers to continuum materials with only a single length scale. Noteworthy, several composites are considered low-ordered hierarchical structures. The idea of building blocks for hierarchical structures intersects perfectly with the modularity concept in click chemistry. Click chemistry is a powerful tool for constructing nano, micro and macro structures through two different approaches: (A) the first approach: through direct crosslinking of (pico-building blocks) monomers give a final micro/macro structure such as hydrogels; (B) the second approach: through nano-building blocks formation using click chemistry (e.g., dendrimers and dendrons) followed by connecting and crosslinking those formed nano-building blocks again using click chemistry to form bigger structures
  • 1.1K
  • 01 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Autophagy Modulators
Autophagy modulation is considered to be a promising programmed cell death mechanism to prevent and cure a great number of disorders and diseases. The crucial step in designing an effective therapeutic approach is to understand the correct and accurate causes of diseases and to understand whether autophagy plays a cytoprotective or cytotoxic/cytostatic role in the progression and prevention of disease. This knowledge will help scientists find approaches to manipulate tumor and pathologic cells in order to enhance cellular sensitivity to therapeutics and treat them. Although some conventional therapeutics suffer from poor solubility, bioavailability and controlled release mechanisms, it appears that novel nanoplatforms overcome these obstacles and have led to the design of a theranostic-controlled drug release system with high solubility and active targeting and stimuli-responsive potentials.
  • 1.1K
  • 29 Oct 2020
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