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Topic Review
Fibrin Scaffolds for Cartilage Repair
Articular cartilage is a highly organized tissue that provides remarkable load-bearing and low friction properties, allowing for smooth movement of diarthrodial joints; however, due to the avascular, aneural, and non-lymphatic characteristics of cartilage, joint cartilage has self-regeneration and repair limitations. Cartilage tissue engineering is a promising alternative for chondral defect repair.
  • 927
  • 14 Sep 2022
Topic Review
RGD Peptide-Based Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering
Tissue engineering (TE) is a rapidly expanding field aimed at restoring or replacing damaged tissues. The arginine–glycine–aspartic acid (RGD) family of peptides is known to be the most prominent ligand for extracellular integrin receptors. Due to their specific expression patterns in various human tissues and their tight association with various pathophysiological conditions, RGD peptides are suitable targets for tissue regeneration and treatment as well as organ replacement.
  • 926
  • 14 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Biomedical Applications of Poly(Propylene Carbonate)
Poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) is an emerging “carbon fixation” polymer that holds the potential to become a “biomaterial of choice” in healthcare owing to its good biocompatibility, tunable biodegradability and safe degradation products. Several physical, chemical and biological modifications of PPC have been achieved by introducing biocompatible polymers, inorganic ions or small molecules, which can endow PPC with better cytocompatibility and desirable biodegradability, and thus enable various applications. Indeed, a variety of PPC-based degradable materials have been used in medical applications including medical masks, surgical gowns, drug carriers, wound dressings, implants and scaffolds. 
  • 924
  • 15 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Virus-Incorporated Biomimetic Nanocomposites
Owing to the astonishing properties of non-harmful viruses, tissue regeneration using virus-based biomimetic materials has been an emerging trend recently. The selective peptide expression and enrichment of the desired peptide on the surface, monodispersion, self-assembly, and ease of genetic and chemical modification properties have allowed viruses to take a long stride in biomedical applications. 
  • 922
  • 07 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Natural Antibacterial Surfaces
In nature, many organisms have evolved a myriad of surfaces with specific physicochemical properties to combat bacteria in diverse environments.
  • 918
  • 14 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Chitosan-Based Nanomaterials and its Applications
The small intestine provides the major site for the absorption of numerous orally administered drugs. However, before reaching to the systemic circulation to exert beneficial pharmacological activities, the oral drug delivery is hindered by poor absorption/metabolic instability of the drugs in gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the presence of the mucus layer overlying intestinal epithelium. Therefore, a polymeric drug delivery system has emerged as a robust approach to enhance oral drug bioavailability and intestinal drug absorption. Chitosan, a cationic polymer derived from chitin, and its derivatives have received remarkable attention to serve as a promising drug carrier, chiefly owing to their versatile, biocompatible, biodegradable, and non-toxic properties. Several types of chitosan-based drug delivery systems have been developed, including chemical modification, conjugates, capsules, and hybrids. They have been shown to be effective in improving intestinal assimilation of several types of drugs, e.g., antidiabetic, anticancer, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory drugs. In this review, the physiological challenges affecting intestinal drug absorption and the effects of chitosan on those parameters impacting on oral bioavailability are summarized. More appreciably, types of chitosan-based nanomaterials enhancing intestinal drug absorption and their mechanisms, as well as potential applications in diabetes, cancers, infections, and inflammation, are highlighted. The future perspective of chitosan applications is also discussed. 
  • 916
  • 13 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Energy Storage Ceramics
Energy storage ceramics are an important material of dielectric capacitors and are among the most discussed topics in the field of energy research. Mainstream energy storage devices include batteries, dielectric capacitors, electrochemical capacitors, and fuel cells. Due to the low dielectric loss and excellent temperature, the status of ceramics is constantly highlighted.
  • 913
  • 12 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Plant-Based Flocculants as Substituters for Sludge Dewatering
Due to its high water content, sewage sludge dewatering is not just a simple operation; rather, it is a challenging task and a costly management process. Its final handling is usually preceded by several dewatering steps, and among them is the conditioning process known as the flocculation stage, which is carried out using synthetic chemical reagents. Despite the abilities of these additives to reduce sludge volume and extract its bound waters, they are suspected to cause serious environmental and health threats. Their substitution by natural and efficient additives originating from plant extracts could thus be a safe and an eco-friendly alternative, overcoming ecosystem damages.
  • 911
  • 08 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Lignocellulosic-Based Sorbents: A Review
Biosorbents are usually used in raw or processed forms such as activated carbon (AC), biobar (BC), and charcoal (CC) for removal of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, organics, inorganics, mycotoxins, etc. from aqueous systems. Besides classical sorption of the pollutants, biosorbents have prospect of applications as electrodes in the microbial fuel cells, green packaging materials, energy storage devices, catalysts, soil remediation agent, carbon sequestration, etc. Hence, further concerted investigations should be exercised to develop feasibly best conditions for the preparations and modifications of biosorbents.
  • 908
  • 02 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Porous Silicon Optical Devices
The cost-effective fabrication process, the high internal surface area, the tunable pore size, and the photonic properties made the PSi an appealing transducing substrate for biosensing purposes, with applications in different research fields. Different optical PSi biosensors are reviewed and classified into four classes, based on the different biorecognition elements immobilized on the surface of the transducing material. 
  • 905
  • 24 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Materials Based on Cellulose Fibers and Foam Forming
The potential of foam-formed materials based on cellulose fibers (CF) has been harnessed in the pursuit of sustainable and environmentally friendly materials and has gained significant attention. Indeed, foam-formed materials based on CF have emerged as a promising solution. By combining the inherent properties of CF with the unique characteristics of foam-forming, these materials offer a wide range of applications and demonstrate great potential in various industries.
  • 905
  • 27 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Nanotechnology Therapy for Alzheimer′s Disease
Nanotechnology (NT) enables a new, alternative pathway for development of AD treatment interventions in human. At present, the NT treatments for attenuation of AD memory impairment are at the animal model stage. They are faced with the twin challenges of the nature of AD: a chronic impairment unique to human and the incomplete understanding of AD′s aetiology. 
  • 903
  • 03 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Electrospun Coaxial Fibers
Electrospinning is a common method for fabricating drug-loaded fibers. The working fluid is gradually stretched into elongated solid fibers with the help of electrostatic force. Due to the influence of polymers, solvents, and other external conditions, the diameter of fibers usually varies from tens of nanometers to several micrometers. During this process, the drug is immobilized on the homogeneous fiber without destroying its own active molecular structure. Electrospun fibers have several advantages over other drug delivery systems. The high specific surface area of ​​fibers facilitates drug dissolution. The desired drug dissolution process can be tailored according to the composition and structure of the fibers, thereby manipulating the controlled dissolution of the drug.
  • 897
  • 04 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Nanoparticles in Cancers Immunotherapy
Cancer immunotherapy becomes an important tactic for cancer treatment. Immunotherapy of cancer must activate the host’s anti-tumor response by enhancing the innate immune system and the effector cell number, while, minimizing the host’s suppressor mechanisms. However, many immunotherapies are still limited by poor therapeutic targeting and unwanted side effects. Hence, a deeper understanding of tumor immunology and antitumor immune responses is essential for further improvement of cancer immunotherapy.
  • 896
  • 20 Jan 2021
Topic Review
UV and UV-vis Irradiation on Microalgae and Macroalgae
Bioactive compounds, such as carotenoids, and Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) derived from microalgae may play a vital role in the bio and non-bio sectors. Currently, commercial sunscreens contain chemicals such as oxybenzone and octinoxate, which have harmful effects on the environment and human health; while microalgae-based sunscreens emerge as an eco-friendly alternative to provide photo protector agents against solar radiation. Algae-based exploration ranges from staple foods to pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and biomedical applications.
  • 896
  • 30 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Decellularized Extracellular Matrix from Different Sources
The decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) is capable of promoting stem cell proliferation, migration, adhesion, and differentiation. It is a promising biomaterial for application and clinical translation in the field of periodontal tissue engineering as it most effectively preserves the complex array of ECM components as they are in native tissue, providing ideal cues for regeneration and repair of damaged periodontal tissue. dECMs of different origins have different advantages and characteristics in promoting the regeneration of periodontal tissue. dECM can be used directly or dissolved in liquid for better flowability.
  • 894
  • 12 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Calcium Orthophosphate-Based Bioceramics
Various types of materials have been traditionally used to restore damaged bones. In the late 1960s, a strong interest was raised in studying ceramics as potential bone grafts due to their biomechanical properties. A short time later, such synthetic biomaterials were called bioceramics. During the past, there have been a number of important achievements in this field. Namely, after the initial development of bioceramics that was just tolerated in the physiological environment, an emphasis was shifted towards the formulations able to form direct chemical bonds with the adjacent bones. Afterwards, by the structural and compositional controls, it became possible to choose whether the CaPO4-based implants would remain biologically stable once incorporated into the skeletal structure or whether they would be resorbed over time. At the turn of the millennium, a new concept of regenerative bioceramics was developed, and such formulations became an integrated part of the tissue engineering approach. Now, CaPO4-based scaffolds are designed to induce bone formation and vascularization. These scaffolds are usually porous and harbor various biomolecules and/or cells.
  • 891
  • 30 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Metal-Functionalized Mesoporous Silica Films
This entry opens up a discussion on a new method of the functionalization of silica thin films with metal ions inside pores. The main idea of this method is based on the fact, that it is possible to finely tune the functionalization level by controlling the co-condensation procedure, notably the ratio of the ordinary silica source (usually tetraethyl orthosilicate) and silica source with the attached functional groups (for example, (3-cyanopropyl)triethoxysilane) in the synthesis medium. Depending on the ratio of these two components during the synthesis route, the number of functional groups in the final film - and the amount of further adsorbed on them (or their derivatives) metal ions - can be precisely controlled. 
  • 888
  • 26 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Biomedical Alloys and Physical Surface Modifications
Biomedical alloys are essential parts of modern biomedical applications. However, they cannot satisfy the increasing requirements for large-scale production owing to the degradation of metals. Physical surface modification could be an effective way to enhance their biofunctionality.
  • 884
  • 11 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Pre-Clinical Evidence of Biodegradable Osteosynthesis Systems
A biodegradable osteosynthesis system should meet two intertwined criteria to be used as an osteosynthesis system: (1) the biomaterial needs to be biocompatible with the host tissue and (2) the mechanical properties should be sufficient for stable fixation of fracture or osteotomy segments during the surgical procedure (primary stability) and during the degradation of the biomaterial, with a gradual transfer of stress to the healing bone
  • 879
  • 14 Jul 2022
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