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Topic Review
Biomaterial-Mediated Gene Therapy in Cartilage Repair
Articular cartilage defects caused by various reasons are relatively common in clinical practice, but the lack of efficient therapeutic methods remains a substantial challenge due to limitations in the chondrocytes’ repair abilities. In the search for scientific cartilage repair methods, gene therapy appears to be more effective and promising, especially with acellular biomaterial-assisted procedures. Biomaterial-mediated gene therapy has mainly been divided into non-viral vector and viral vector strategies, where the controlled delivery of gene vectors is contained using biocompatible materials. Genetic therapy, on the other hand, aims to transfer exogenous genes into target cells in order to induce endogenous gene expression to complete treatment. It has been extensively used in cartilage repair. Genetic editing is used to promote stable expressions of various growth factors for osteochondral regeneration. Meanwhile, biomaterial mediation could further localize the effect of genetic therapy by providing a scaffold to limit the genetically modified cells and vectors to within the targeted region; this increases the precision of the treatment, and makes it an ideal approach for treating osteochondral injuries.
  • 693
  • 14 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Clinical Applications of Liquid Embolic Agents
Endovascular embolization (EE) has been used for the treatment of blood vessel abnormalities, including aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), tumors, etc. The aim of this process is to occlude the affected vessel using biocompatible embolic agents. Liquid embolic agents are usually injectable and delivered into the vascular malformation sites using a catheter guided by X-ray imaging (i.e., angiography). After injection, the liquid embolic agent transforms into a solid implant in situ based on a variety of mechanisms, including polymerization, precipitation, and cross-linking, through ionic or thermal process. 
  • 692
  • 16 May 2023
Topic Review
The Role of Hydrogel in Acute Gastrointestinal Bleeding
GI bleeding is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide resulting in a hospitalization rate of 21 per 100,000 adults, and a mortality rate of 2% to 15%. The surgical closure of GI wounds is key to restoring GI structure and function. There is a substantial interest and need for the development of atraumatic, minimally invasive, and easy-to-apply GI wound closure technologies to provide fluid-tight sealing and promote wound healing for different types of GI defects.
  • 689
  • 13 Apr 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. 
  • 687
  • 12 Dec 2023
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.
  • 685
  • 18 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Quantum Dots as a Labeling Agent
Quantum dots (QDs) are a type of nanoparticle with exceptional photobleaching-resistant fluorescence. They are highly sought after for their potential use in various optical-based biomedical applications.
  • 683
  • 16 Oct 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.
  • 678
  • 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.). 
  • 673
  • 26 Nov 2021
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.
  • 672
  • 01 Feb 2023
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.
  • 672
  • 18 Apr 2023
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.
  • 669
  • 20 May 2022
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.
  • 668
  • 05 Mar 2024
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. 
  • 667
  • 17 Feb 2023
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.
  • 666
  • 29 Feb 2024
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.
  • 656
  • 28 Jan 2022
Topic Review
DNA-Guided Metallization of Nanomaterials and Their Biomedical Applications
Precise control of the structure of metallic nanomaterials is critical for the advancement of nanobiotechnology. As DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) can readily modify various moieties, such as sulfhydryl, carboxyl, and amino groups, using DNA as a directing ligand to modulate the morphology of nanomaterials is a promising strategy. 
  • 637
  • 10 May 2023
Topic Review
Classification of Biomaterials Used in Delivery Systems
A delivery system generally utilizes biomaterials as carriers to embed, deliver, and release bioactive substances at the desired site under controlled conditions. Among them, inorganic and organic biomaterials are popular in delivery system-based regenerative medicine.
  • 632
  • 23 Aug 2022
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. 
  • 631
  • 09 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Functionalization of Bioresorbable Nanomembranes and Nanoparticles in Biomedicine
Bioresorbable nanomembranes (NMs) and nanoparticles (NPs) are powerful polymeric materials playing an important role in biomedicine, as they can effectively reduce infections and inflammatory clinical patient conditions due to their high biocompatibility, ability to physically interact with biomolecules, large surface area, and low toxicity.
  • 630
  • 03 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Application of Microfluidic Systems for Neural Studies
Whereas the axons of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) spontaneously regenerate after an injury, the occurring regeneration is rarely successful because axons are usually directed by inappropriate cues. Therefore, finding successful ways to guide neurite outgrowth, in vitro, is essential for neurogenesis. Microfluidic systems reflect more appropriately the in vivo environment of cells in tissues such as the normal fluid flow within the body, consistent nutrient delivery, effective waste removal, and mechanical stimulation due to fluid shear forces. At the same time, it has been well reported that topography affects neuronal outgrowth, orientation, and differentiation.
  • 629
  • 07 Aug 2023
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