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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
Conductive Polymers in Infarction Repair
The function of the heart pump may be impaired by events such as myocardial infarction, the consequence of coronary artery thrombosis due to blood clots or plaques. A whole heart transplant remains the gold standard so far and the current pharmacological approaches tend to stop further myocardium deterioration, but this is not a long-term solution. Electrically conductive, scaffold-based cardiac tissue engineering provides a promising solution to repair the injured myocardium. The non-conductive component of the scaffold provides a biocompatible microenvironment to the cultured cells while the conductive component improves intercellular coupling as well as electrical signal propagation through the scar tissue when implanted at the infarcted site. The in vivo electrical coupling of the cells leads to a better regeneration of the infarcted myocardium, reducing arrhythmias, QRS/QT intervals, and scar size and promoting cardiac cell maturation. 
  • 1.1K
  • 29 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Bioceramic Materials Used in Regenerative Dentistry
To improve the oral and dental health of the population, regenerative dentistry is a very promising approach that aims both to prevent oral–dental deterioration and to restore the anatomy and functionality of diseased teeth. To this end, it draws on new advances in procedures based on cell biology and new biomaterials. Synthetic biomimetic materials, and particularly bioceramics are undoubtedly fundamental elements in the development of these advanced dental therapies, as the calcium phosphate type formulations are the natural bioceramic components of dental and bone tissues. To this must be added the breakthrough achieved with the new silica-based bioactive ceramic compositions, capable of stimulating biological mineralization processes.
  • 1.1K
  • 24 Oct 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
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
Bioactive Keratin and Fibroin Nanoparticles
In recent years, several studies have focused their attention on the preparation of biocompatible and biodegradable nanocarriers of potential interest in the biomedical field, ranging from drug delivery systems to imaging and diagnosis. In this regard, natural biomolecules—such as proteins—represent an attractive alternative to synthetic polymers or inorganic materials, thanks to their numerous advantages, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low immunogenicity. Among the most interesting proteins, keratin extracted from wool and feathers, as well as fibroin extracted from Bombyx mori cocoons, possess all of the abovementioned features required for biomedical applications.
  • 1.1K
  • 28 Apr 2022
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
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
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
Nanomedicine and Brain Tumors
A brain tumor, a tumor that develops within the skull, is an abnormal mass of tissue in which cells grow and multiply out of control. Although more than 150 types of brain tumors have been reported, they are macroscopically divided into primary and metastatic groups. Tumors that arise directly from the brain tissue or surrounding the brain are classified as primary brain tumors.
  • 1.1K
  • 27 Jan 2022
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
Bio-Photonic Cavities
An eco-friendly approach to usual optical cavities, in which an electromagnetic radiation can release energy to matter by interacting with its molecular or atomic structure. Based on bio-inspired and biodegradable meta-surfaces, able to behave as a resonator for light, their optical response can be engineered at will to accomplish a particular optical task.  
  • 1.0K
  • 24 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Poly(α-L-glutamic acid)-Based Nanomaterials for Drug Delivery
Poly(α-L-glutamic acid) (PGA) is a class of synthetic polypeptides composed of the monomeric unit α-L-glutamic acid. Owing to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and non-immunogenicity, PGA-based nanomaterials have been elaborately designed for drug delivery systems.
  • 1.0K
  • 07 May 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. 
  • 1.0K
  • 11 Jul 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.
  • 1.0K
  • 29 Oct 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. 
  • 1.0K
  • 25 Jun 2021
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.
  • 1.0K
  • 26 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Alternative Methods to Retting of Straw
Bast fibers, such as flax and hemp, have been used by humanity for thousands of years. In the case of processes other than dew or field retting, they can also follow field drying. In any case, the fiber plant straw is retted first in order to be able to carry out the subsequent mechanical fiber recovery by decortication, cleaning and, if necessary, opening of the coarse fiber bundles. This can be defined as primary processing of bast fiber straw. The retting process involves the controlled decomposition of those substances that bind the fiber containing tissues to the other components of the stalk as well as the fibers to each other (to form so called bundles). It is described as one of the most important steps in the whole supply chain of fibers from bast fiber plants such as hemp and flax since it affects both the ease of performing the subsequent mechanical processing steps as well as the quality of the resulting fibers.
  • 1.0K
  • 01 Apr 2024
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. 
  • 1.0K
  • 22 Feb 2023
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