Self-assembling smart materials for biomaterials applications

Author(s):  
Rajapaksha Dewage Asanka Amith Rajapaksha
Gels ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 54
Author(s):  
Rosa M. Ortuño

The rational design and engineer of organogel-based smart materials and stimuli-responsive materials with tuned properties requires the control of the non-covalent forces driving the hierarchical self-assembly. Chirality, as well as cis/trans relative configuration, also plays a crucial role promoting the morphology and characteristics of the aggregates. Cycloalkane derivatives can provide chiral chemical platforms allowing the incorporation of functional groups and hydrophobic structural units able for a convenient molecular stacking leading to gels. Restriction of the conformational freedom imposed by the ring strain is also a contributing issue that can be modulated by the inclusion of flexible segments. In addition, donor/acceptor moieties can also be incorporated favoring the interactions with light or with charged species. This review offers a perspective on the abilities and properties of carbocycle-based organogelators starting from simple cycloalkane derivatives, which were the key to establish the basis for an effective self-assembling, to sophisticated polycyclic compounds with manifold properties and applications.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 3372
Author(s):  
Elena Stocco ◽  
Silvia Barbon ◽  
Alessia Lamanna ◽  
Enrico De De Rose ◽  
Annj Zamuner ◽  
...  

The limitations and difficulties that nerve autografts create in normal nerve function recovery after injury is driving research towards using smart materials for next generation nerve conduits (NCs) setup. Here, the new polymer partially oxidized polyvinyl alcohol (OxPVA) was assayed to verify its future potential as a bioactivated platform for advanced/effective NCs. OxPVA-patterned scaffolds (obtained by a 3D-printed mold) with/without biochemical cues (peptide IKVAV covalently bound (OxPVA-IKVAV) or self-assembling peptide EAK (sequence: AEAEAKAKAEAEAKAK), mechanically incorporated (OxPVA+EAK) versus non-bioactivated scaffold (peptide-free OxPVA (PF-OxPVA) supports, OxPVA without IKVAV and OxPVA without EAK control scaffolds) were compared for their biological effect on neuronal SH-SY5Y cells. After cell seeding, adhesion/proliferation, mediated by (a) precise control over scaffolds surface ultrastructure; (b) functionalization efficacy guaranteed by bioactive cues (IKVAV/EAK), was investigated by MTT assay at 3, 7, 14 and 21 days. As shown by the results, the patterned groove alone stimulates colonization by cells; however, differences were observed when comparing the scaffold types over time. In the long period (21 days), patterned OxPVA+EAK scaffolds distinguished in bioactivity, assuring a significantly higher total cell amount than the other groups. Experimental evidence suggests patterned OxPVA-EAK potential for NCs device fabrication.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 279-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel J. Cornwell ◽  
David K. Smith

Combining polymer technology with low molecular weight gelators offers a simple approach to create hybrid materials which can open up exciting new perspectives and applications.


Author(s):  
George C. Ruben ◽  
Kenneth A. Marx

Certain double stranded DNA bacteriophage and viruses are thought to have their DNA organized into large torus shaped structures. Morphologically, these poorly understood biological DNA tertiary structures resemble spermidine-condensed DNA complexes formed in vitro in the total absence of other macromolecules normally synthesized by the pathogens for the purpose of their own DNA packaging. Therefore, we have studied the tertiary structure of these self-assembling torus shaped spermidine- DNA complexes in a series of reports. Using freeze-etch, low Pt-C metal (10-15Å) replicas, we have visualized the microscopic DNA organization of both calf Thymus( CT) and linear 0X-174 RFII DNA toruses. In these structures DNA is circumferentially wound, continuously, around the torus into a semi-crystalline, hexagonal packed array of parallel DNA helix sections.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Will R Henderson ◽  
Danielle E. Fagnani ◽  
Yu Zhu ◽  
Guancen Liu ◽  
Ronald K. Castellano

Nature ◽  
1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Ball
Keyword(s):  

Author(s):  
Khodadad Mostakim ◽  
Nahid Imtiaz Masuk ◽  
Md. Rakib Hasan ◽  
Md. Shafikul Islam

The advancement in 3D printing has led to the rapid growth of 4D printing technology. Adding time, as the fourth dimension, this technology ushered the potential of a massive evolution in fields of biomedical technologies, space applications, deployable structures, manufacturing industries, and so forth. This technology performs ingenious design, using smart materials to create advanced forms of the 3-D printed specimen. Improvements in Computer-aided design, additive manufacturing process, and material science engineering have ultimately favored the growth of 4-D printing innovation and revealed an effective method to gather complex 3-D structures. Contrast to all these developments, novel material is still a challenging sector. However, this short review illustrates the basic of 4D printing, summarizes the stimuli responsive materials properties, which have prominent role in the field of 4D technology. In addition, the practical applications are depicted and the potential prospect of this technology is put forward.


2003 ◽  
Vol 773 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Tamerler ◽  
S. Dinçer ◽  
D. Heidel ◽  
N. Karagûler ◽  
M. Sarikaya

AbstractProteins, one of the building blocks in organisms, not only control the assembly in biological systems but also provide most of their complex functions. It may be possible to assemble materials for practical technological applications utilizing the unique advantages provided by proteins. Here we discuss molecular biomimetic pathways in the quest for imitating biology at the molecular scale via protein engineering. We use combinatorial biology protocols to select short polypeptides that have affinity to inorganic materials and use them in assembling novel hybrid materials. We give an overview of some of the recent developments of molecular engineering towards this goal. Inorganic surface specific proteins were identified by using cell surface and phage display technologies. Examples of metal and metal oxide specific polypeptides were represented with an emphasis on certain level of specificities. The recognition and self assembling characteristics of these inorganic-binding proteins would be employed in develeopment of hybrid multifunctional materials for novel bio- and nano-technological applications.


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