Topic Review
Cationic Antibacterial Dendrimers
The alarming increase in antimicrobial resistance, based on the built-in abilities of bacteria to nullify the activity of current antibiotics, leaves a growing number of bacterial infections untreatable. An appealing approach, advanced in recent decades, concerns the development of novel agents able to interact with the external layers of bacteria, causing irreparable damage. Regarding this, some natural cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) have been reconsidered, and synthetic cationic polymers, mimicking CAMPs and able to kill bacteria by non-specific detrimental interaction with the negative bacterial membranes, have been proposed as promising solutions. Lately, also dendrimers were considered suitable macromolecules for the preparation of more advanced cationic biomimetic nanoparticles, able to harmonize the typical properties of dendrimers, including nanosize, mono-dispersion, long-term stability, high functionality, and the non-specific mechanism of action of CAMPs. Although cationic dendrimers are extensively applied in nanomedicine for drug or gene delivery, their application as antimicrobial agents is still in its infancy. In this first part of our overview on the main types of cationic antibacterial dendrimers, the state of the art of the potential applications of PAMAM and PPI-based agents has therefore been reviewed here, with particular attention to the innovative case studies reported in the literature 
  • 777
  • 14 Jan 2021
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Fluorescence in Smart Textiles
Fluorescence has been identified as an advantageous feature in smart fabrics, notably for the protection of humans during outdoor athletic activities, as well as for preventing counterfeiting and determining authenticity. Fluorescence in smart fabrics is achieved using dendrimers, rare earth metal compounds, and fluorescent dye. The principal method for producing fluorescent fabrics is to immerse the sample in a solution containing fluorescent agents. However, covalent connections between fluorophores and textile substates should be established to improve the stability and intensity of the fluorescent characteristics. Fabric can be fluorescent throughout, or fluorescent fibers can be woven directly into the textile structures, made of natural (cotton, silk) or synthetic (polyamide- and polyester-based) fibers, into a precise pathway that becomes visible under ultraviolet irradiation.
  • 777
  • 14 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Applications of Biodegradable Poly Blends/Composites
Biodegradable poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) and its composites or blends have received a lot of attention in the past because of their potential applications in human life and environmental remediation. Greater efforts have been made to develop biodegradable chemical materials as adsorbents that do not pollute the environment in order to replace traditional materials. 
  • 777
  • 09 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Chikungunya Virus
Arboviruses, in general, are a global threat due to their morbidity and mortality, which results in an important social and economic impact. Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), one of the most relevant arbovirus currently known, is a re-emergent virus that causes a disease named chikungunya fever, characterized by a severe arthralgia (joint pains) that can persist for several months or years in some individuals. Until now, no vaccine or specific antiviral drug is commercially available. Nitrogen heterocyclic scaffolds are found in medications, such as aristeromycin, favipiravir, fluorouracil, 6-azauridine, thioguanine, pyrimethamine, among others. New families of natural and synthetic nitrogen analogous compounds are reported to have significant anti-CHIKV effects. In the present work, we focus on these nitrogen-based heterocyclic compounds as an important class with CHIKV antiviral activity.
  • 777
  • 16 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Fundamentals and Applications of Triboelectric Nanogenerator
The triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is a promising research topic for the conversion of mechanical to electrical energy and its application in different fields. Among the various applications, self-powered bio-medical sensing application has become popular. The selection of a wide variety of materials and the simple design of devices have made it attractive for the applications of real-time self-powered healthcare sensing systems. 
  • 777
  • 13 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)-Based Biosensor
Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based biosensors are being fabricated for specific detection of biomolecules or changes in the microenvironment. FRET is a non-radiative transfer of energy from an excited donor fluorophore molecule to a nearby acceptor fluorophore molecule. In a FRET-based biosensor, the donor and acceptor molecules are typically fluorescent proteins or fluorescent nanomaterials such as quantum dots (QDs) or small molecules that are engineered to be in close proximity to each other. When the biomolecule of interest is present, it can cause a change in the distance between the donor and acceptor, leading to a change in the efficiency of FRET and a corresponding change in the fluorescence intensity of the acceptor. This change in fluorescence can be used to detect and quantify the biomolecule of interest.
  • 776
  • 18 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Sustainable Machining of Steels
To improve occupational health and safety and the reduction of product costs, companies are moving towards sustainable manufacturing. Emphasizes the sustainable machining aspects of steel by employing techniques that require the minimal use of cutting oils, i.e., minimum quantity lubrication, and other efficient techniques like cryogenic cooling, dry cutting, solid lubricants, air/vapor/gas cooling, and cryogenic treatment. Cryogenic treatment on tools and the use of vegetable oils or biodegradable oils instead of mineral oils are used as primary techniques to enhance the overall part quality, which leads to longer tool life with no negative impacts on the environment. 
  • 776
  • 28 Sep 2021
Topic Review
The Use of Collagen in Bone Tissue Engineering
Synthetic bone substitute materials (BSMs) are becoming the general trend of replacing autologous grafting for bone tissue engineering (BTE) in orthopedic research and clinical practice. As the main component of bone matrix, collagen type I has been playing a critical role in the construction of ideal synthetic BSMs for decades. Significant strides have been made in the field of collagen research, including the exploration of various collagen types, structure and sources, the optimization of preparation techniques, modification technologies, and the manufacture of various collagen-based materials. However, the poor mechanical properties, fast degradation, and lack of osteoconductive activity of collagen-based materials caused inefficient bone replacement and limited their translation into clinical reality. In the area of BTE, so far, attempts focused on the preparation of collagen-based biomimetic BSMs together with other inorganic materials and bioactive substances. By reviewing the approved products on the market, this manuscript updates the latest applications of collagen-based materials in bone regeneration and highlights the potential for further development in the field of BTE over the next ten years.
  • 776
  • 08 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Ionic-Liquid-Based Materials for Protein-related Applications
Supported ionic liquids (SILs) have been investigated as alternative supports for enzymes in biocatalysis and as new supports in preparative liquid chromatography for the purification of high-value proteins and enzymes. SILs are materials in which ionic liquids are introduced to modify the surface and properties of materials, e.g. as ligands covalently bond or physiosorbed.
  • 776
  • 23 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Poly(Ionic Liquid) Materials-Based Advanced Formulations for Additive Manufacturing
Innovation in materials specially formulated for additive manufacturing is of great interest and can generate new opportunities for designing cost-effective smart materials for next-generation devices and engineering applications. Nevertheless, advanced molecular and nanostructured systems are frequently not possible to integrate into 3D printable materials, thus limiting their technological transferability. In some cases, this challenge can be overcome using polymeric macromolecules of ionic nature, such as polymeric ionic liquids (PILs). Due to their tuneability, wide variety in molecular composition, and macromolecular architecture, they show a remarkable ability to stabilize molecular and nanostructured materials. The technology resulting from 3D-printable PIL-based formulations represents an untapped array of potential applications, including optoelectronic, antimicrobial, catalysis, photoactive, conductive, and redox applications.
  • 775
  • 08 Dec 2022
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