Topic Review
Physicochemistry of Deep Eutectic Solvents
Deep eutectic solvents (DESs), considered as one of the greenest families of solvents, are used in many fields, such as organic synthesis, (bio)catalysis, electrochemistry, and (bio)medicine.
  • 487
  • 17 May 2023
Topic Review
Algae in the Nutricosmetic Sector
Seaweeds or algae are marine autotrophic organisms. They produce nutrients (e.g., proteins, carbohydrates, etc.) essential for the survival of living organisms as they participate in biochemical processes and non-nutritive molecules (such as dietary fibers and secondary metabolites), which can improve their physiological functions. Seaweed polysaccharides, fatty acids, peptides, terpenoids, pigments, and polyphenols have biological properties that can be used to develop food supplements and nutricosmetic products as they can act as antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory compounds.
  • 391
  • 17 May 2023
Topic Review
Antibacterial-Based Hydrogel Coatings
The antibacterial hydrogel coating interacts with organic and inorganic components as a biocompatible surface modifier, and the coating acts as a buffer between biomaterials and human tissues, making the biphasic interface of the material more stable and flexible and meeting the various needs of human tissue repair. The two key advantages of hydrogel coatings are as follows: Firstly, the coating can be firmly attached to the surface through chemical crosslinking and various anchoring reactions. Secondly, the coatings can attach to almost all kinds of materials, such as precious metals, oxides, polymers, and ceramics. Hydrogel coatings have excellent prospects for application, simple processing, stable performance, and wide application. The current research difficulties include the following: Firstly, the preparation method of antibacterial hydrogel coatings needs to be improved. Although the graft density of surface-initiated graft crosslinking polymerization is high, the initiator needs to be grafted to the surface, and the preparation process is relatively complex. The method of fixing the hydrogel coating to the substrate surface may result in uneven coverage of the hydrogel coating to the substrate surface due to the steric hinderance of the graft chain. Secondly, greater attention should be given to the study of the chemical stability of hydrogel coatings, including swelling, durability, degradability, mechanical properties, etc., which are important for the long-term effect of antibacterial hydrogel coatings on the human body. For example, swelling could be a problem for the coating of tubular medical devices, as the large swelling degree of hydrophilic hydrogels might block the tube. Finally, sterilization has been reported as an issue for most hydrogel coatings.
  • 440
  • 17 May 2023
Topic Review
Electrocatalytic and Photoelectrocatalytic Sensors Based on Inorganic Materials
Electrochemical sensors present a wide range of interesting applications in the areas of environmental, industrial, and chemical analysis. The use of inorganic materials is interesting due to the fact of their abundance, low cost, and good electroactivity.
  • 285
  • 17 May 2023
Topic Review
Natural Polymers for Encapsulating Urea
Increases in food production to meet global food requirements lead to an increase in the demand for nitrogen (N) fertilizers, especially urea, for soil productivity, crop yield, and food security improvement. To achieve a high yield of food crops, the excessive use of urea has resulted in low urea-N use efficiency and environmental pollution. One promising alternative to increase urea-N use efficiency, improve soil N availability, and lessen the potential environmental effects of the excessive use of urea is to encapsulate urea granules with appropriate coating materials to synchronize the N release with crop assimilation. Chemical additives, such as sulfur-based coatings, mineral-based coatings, and several polymers with different action principles, have been explored and used for coating the urea granule. However, their high material cost, limited resources, and adverse effects on the soil ecosystem limit the widespread application of urea coated with these materials. 
  • 580
  • 16 May 2023
Topic Review
Biopolymers’ Processing Methods
The biopolymer functionality depends on several factors apart from their structure and composition, such as the type, quality, and quantity of the solvent used and the processing technique used to build the final structure that will determine the interaction of the materials. The main processing techniques for bio-based polymers from renewable sources are discussed in detail.
  • 1.7K
  • 16 May 2023
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. 
  • 398
  • 16 May 2023
Topic Review
Photoresponsive Biomaterials
Photoresponsive biomaterials have garnered increasing attention due to their ability to dynamically regulate biological interactions and cellular behaviors in response to light. Photoresponsive biomaterials are created by integrating photoresponsive molecules, such as spiropyrans, azobenzenes, hydrazones, and diarylethenes, into biomaterials like hydrogels, nanoparticles, or scaffolds. 
  • 423
  • 16 May 2023
Topic Review
Poly(aryl-ether-ketone) Materials for Application in Dentistry
Poly(aryl-ether-ketone) materials (PAEKs), a class of high-performance polymers comprised of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and polyetherketoneketone (PEKK). PEEK is a restorative dental material widely used for prosthetic frameworks due to its superior physical, mechanical, aesthetic, and handling features. Meanwhile, PEKK is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic embraced in the additive manufacturing market.
  • 725
  • 16 May 2023
Topic Review
Halloysite-TiO2 Nanocomposites for Water Treatment
Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) are clay minerals with a tubular structure that can be used for many different applications in place of carbon nanotubes. Indeed, HNTs display low/non-toxicity, are biocompatible, and can be easily prepared. Moreover, the aluminum and silica groups present on HNTs’ inner and outer surfaces facilitate the interaction with various functional agents, such as alkalis, organosilanes, polymers, surfactants, and nanomaterials.
  • 483
  • 16 May 2023
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