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Topic Review
Cell-Surface Interactions on Arginine-Rich CPPs Allow for Internalization
Cellular uptake of biologically active molecules is a significant obstacle to developing drug design and controlled drug delivery. For instance, it is hard for the monoclonal antibodies to penetrate the cell membrane and enter the cell due to their large molecular weight. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) have been discovered to deliver chemical drugs, nucleic acids, and macromolecules to permeate cell membranes, creating a novel route for exogenous substances to enter cells.
  • 668
  • 24 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Carbon Based Two-Dimensional Materials for Bioelectronic Neural Interfacing
Realizing the neurological information processing by analyzing the complex data transferring behavior of populations and individual neurons is one of the fast-growing fields of neuroscience and bioelectronic technologies. This field is anticipated to cover a wide range of advanced applications, including neural dynamic monitoring, understanding the neurological disorders, human brain–machine communications and even ambitious mind-controlled prosthetic implant systems. To fulfill the requirements of high spatial and temporal resolution recording of neural activities, electrical, optical and biosensing technologies are combined to develop multifunctional bioelectronic and neuro-signal probes. Advanced two-dimensional (2D) layered materials such as carbon based 2D materials with their atomic-layer thickness and multifunctional capabilities show bio-stimulation and multiple sensing properties. These characteristics are beneficial factors for development of ultrathin-film electrodes for flexible neural interfacing with minimum invasive chronic interfaces to the brain cells and cortex.
  • 668
  • 01 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Biofouling of Blood-Contacting Polymeric Membranes
An extracorporeal blood purification method called continuous renal replacement therapy uses a porous hollow-fiber polymeric membrane that is exposed to prolonged contact with blood. In that condition, like with any other submerged filtration membrane, the hemofilter loses its properties over time and use resulting in a rapid decline in flux. The most significant reason for this loss is biofilm formation, when proteins, blood cells and bacterial cells attach to the membrane surface in complex processes. One method allowing for longer patency of vascular access and a longer lifespan of the membrane is the use of anticoagulation. Other preventive measures include the modification of the membrane itself.
  • 658
  • 01 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Computed Tomography and Engineered Scaffolds
Computed tomography (CT) proved to be a reliable, nondestructive, high-performance machine, enabling visualization and structure analysis at submicronic resolutions. CT allows both qualitative and quantitative data of the 3D model, offering an overall image of its specific architectural features and reliable numerical data for rigorous analyses. The precise engineering of scaffolds consists in the fabrication of objects with well-defined morphometric parameters (e.g., shape, porosity, wall thickness) and in their performance validation through thorough control over their behavior (in situ visualization, degradation, new tissue formation, wear, etc.). 
  • 657
  • 26 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Nanomedicines for NIR-II Photothermal Therapy Combinational Immunotherapy
Photothermal therapy (PTT) utilizes the light irradiation of photothermal agents to generate heat for cancer cell killing. PTT has shown a great promise for cancer treatment because of the noninvasiveness, high spatiotemporal precision, simple operation, and flexible tenability of light sources.
  • 657
  • 20 May 2022
Topic Review
Macroion Layers/Complexes in Growth Factor Delivery
Macroion assemblies form an efficient scaffold for GF adsorption. Such assemblies enable the targeted delivery of these proteins without losing their activity. Specific attention is given to three types of growth factors: vascular endothelial growth factors, human fibroblast growth factors, and neurotrophins, as well as selected biocompatible synthetic macroions (obtained through standard polymerization techniques) and polysaccharides (natural macroions composed of repeating monomeric units of monosaccharides). Understanding the mechanisms by which growth factors bind to potential carriers could lead to more effective delivery methods for these proteins, which are of significant interest in the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative and civilization diseases, as well as in the healing of chronic wounds.
  • 652
  • 18 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Cardiomyocytes Contractile Activity on Poly(vinyl-alcohol)/Bioglass Electrospun Scaffolds
Tissue scaffolds are generally used as three-dimensional structural supports destined to mimic the morphological structure and function in regeneration processes. Still, beyond this, they are expected to perform the physiological functions for which each tissue or organ is intended. In the case of cardiac tissue, it brings oxygen through the blood to each part of the body through the contraction of the cardiac muscle cells (cardiomyocytes). This contraction is neurologically stimulated through a voltage and calcium-dependent process denominated excitation-contraction coupling, which is mediated by several factors. In this sense, the composition of the scaffold becomes relevant.
  • 649
  • 05 Mar 2024
Topic Review
3D-(Bio)printed Hydrogels as Wound Dressings
Wound healing is a physiological process occurring after the onset of a skin lesion aiming to reconstruct the dermal barrier between the external environment and the body. Depending on the nature and duration of the healing process, wounds are classified as acute (e.g., trauma, surgical wounds) and chronic (e.g., diabetic ulcers) wounds. The latter take several months to heal or do not heal (non-healing chronic wounds), are usually prone to microbial infection and represent an important source of morbidity since they affect millions of people worldwide. Typical wound treatments comprise surgical (e.g., debridement, skin grafts/flaps) and non-surgical (e.g., topical formulations, wound dressings) methods. Modern experimental approaches include among others three dimensional (3D)-(bio)printed wound dressings.
  • 648
  • 29 Feb 2024
Topic Review
In Vitro Drug Release Methods for Drug-Eluting Stents
The drug release profile of drug-eluting stents (DESs) is affected by a number of factors, including the formulation, design, and physicochemical properties of the utilized material. DES has been around for twenty years and despite its widespread clinical use, and efficacy in lowering the rate of target lesion restenosis, it still requires additional development to reduce side effects and provide long-term clinical stability. Unfortunately, for analyzing these implants, there is still no globally accepted in vitro test method. This is owing to the stent’s complexity as well as the dynamic arterial compartments of the blood and vascular wall. The former is the source of numerous biological, chemical, and physical mechanisms that are more commonly observed in tissue, lumen, and DES. As a result, universalizing bio-relevant apparatus, suitable for liberation testing of such complex implants is difficult.
  • 648
  • 27 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Biomedical Applications of Nanofiber-Nanoparticle Hybrids
When nanoparticles and nanofibers are combined, the composite material can perform more functions, such as photothermal, magnetic response, biosensing, antibacterial, drug delivery and biosensing.
  • 647
  • 28 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Array Configuration Amplifies TENG Energy Collection
Array-designed triboelectric nanogenerators (AD-TENGs) have firmly established themselves as state-of-the-art technologies for adeptly converting mechanical interactions into electrical signals. Central to the AD-TENG’s prowess is its inherent modularity and the multifaceted, grid-like design that pave the way to robust and adaptable detection platforms for wearables and real-time health monitoring systems.
  • 646
  • 07 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Three-Dimensional Printing of Multifunctional Composites
Additive manufacturing, with its wide range of printable materials, and ability to minimize material usage, reduce labor costs, and minimize waste, has sparked a growing enthusiasm among researchers for the production of advanced multifunctional composites. Over the past few decades, our environment has witnessed a significant accumulation of plastic waste, mainly due to human economic activities. Plastic pollution negatively affects the ecosystem and global warming, so our society urgently needs solutions to counteract these effects. Therefore, the closed-loop economy principle is fundamental to reducing the amount of non-biodegradable petroleum-based waste.
  • 643
  • 18 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Calcium Phosphate Scaffolds
Bone is a complex biologic tissue, which is extremely relevant for various physiological functions, in addition to movement, organ protection, and weight bearing. The repair of critical size bone defects is a still unmet clinical need, and over the past, material scientists have been expending efforts to find effective technological solutions, based on the use of scaffolds. In this context, biomimetics which is intended as the ability of a scaffold to reproduce compositional and structural features of the host tissues, is increasingly considered as a guide for this purpose. However, the achievement of implants that mimic the very complex bone composition, multi-scale structure, and mechanics is still an open challenge. Indeed, despite the fact that calcium phosphates are widely recognized as elective biomaterials to fabricate regenerative bone scaffolds, their processing into 3D devices with suitable cell-instructing features is still prevented by insurmountable drawbacks. With respect to biomaterials science, new approaches maybe conceived to gain ground and promise for a substantial leap forward in this field. 
  • 640
  • 01 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Magnetic Bacterial Cellulose Biopolymers
Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a biopolymer that has been widely investigated due to its useful characteristics, such as nanometric structure, simple production and biocompatibility, enabling the creation of novel materials made from additive BC in situ and/or ex situ. 
  • 628
  • 17 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Nanotechnology-Based Tumor Tissue-Specific Drug Targeting Delivery Systems
Owing to high efficacy and safety, natural medicines have found their way into the field of cancer therapy over the past few decades. However, the effective ingredients of natural medicines have shortcomings of poor solubility and low bioavailability. Nanoparticles can not only solve the problems above but also have outstanding targeting ability. Targeting preparations can be classified into three levels, which are target tissues, cells, and organelles. On the premise of clarifying the therapeutic purpose of drugs, one or more targeting methods can be selected to achieve more accurate drug delivery and consequently to improve the anti-tumor effects of drugs and reduce toxicity and side effects. 
  • 626
  • 12 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Immunotherapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third-largest cause of cancer death worldwide, while immunotherapy is rapidly being developed to fight HCC with great potential. Nucleic acid drugs are the most important modulators in HCC immunotherapy. 
  • 621
  • 09 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Mechanochemical Transformations of Polysaccharides
The ability to avoid toxic solvents, initiators, or catalysts during processes is an important characteristic of the considered approach and is in line with current trends in the world. The mechanisms of chemical transformations in solid reactive systems during mechanical activation, the structure and physicochemical properties of the obtained products, their ability to dissolve and swell in different media, to form films and fibers, to self-organize in solution and stabilize nanodispersed inorganic particles and biologically active substances are considered using a number of polysaccharides and their derivatives as examples.
  • 616
  • 16 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Surface-Functionalized Selenium Nanoparticles in Brain Diseases Therapy
Selenium (Se) and its organic and inorganic compounds in dietary supplements have been found to possess excellent pharmacodynamics and biological responses.
  • 614
  • 27 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Application of Hemostatic Nanomaterials
Effective control of blood loss is able to save time and improve the survival rate of patients. When bleeding occurs, hemostasis is the body’s spontaneous response. The mechanism of hemostasis in vivo involves two processes: primary hemostasis, when endothelium gets injured, and collagen and other subendothelial matrix components are exposed, and von Willebrand factor is released to allow platelets to adhere to the wound site; secondary hemostasis, tissue factor stimulates the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin, and soluble fibrinogen acts to limit the formation of insoluble fibrin clots. Nanotechnology can transform and utilize the microstructure on the nanoscale, which gives nanomaterials unique advantages such as improved diffusivity and solubility, easy-to-penetrate physiological barriers, large specific surface area, slow control, and targeted release of drugs.
  • 609
  • 24 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Electrospinning Nanofibers Based Artificial Skins
Artificial skin, also known as bioinspired electronic skin (e-skin), refers to intelligent wearable electronics that imitate the tactile sensory function of human skin and identify the detected changes in external information through different electrical signals. Flexible e-skin can achieve a wide range of functions such as accurate detection and identification of pressure, strain, and temperature, which has greatly extended their application potential in the field of healthcare monitoring and human-machine interaction (HMI). Compared with other traditional electronic sensors, artificial electronic skin can meet the demand of human health monitoring and HMI when it is used in seamless and stable contact with human skin and obtains low impedance physiological signals. Therefore, it has higher requirements on material permeability, tensile resistance, and biocompatibility. Due to its high porosity, high toughness, and small mass, electrospun nanofiber-based bioinspired artificial skins with high flexibility and a three-dimensional porous mesh structure are often considered as the first choice.
  • 608
  • 06 Jun 2023
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