Porous polyelectrolyte frameworks: synthesis, post-ionization and advanced applications

This review surveys approaches to the design and synthesis of emerging porous polyelectrolyte frameworks, and provides an overview of the recent advances in energy, environmental and biomedical fields.

Nanomaterials for Sustainability: A Review on Green Synthesis of Nanoparticles Using Microorganisms

Nanotechnology has permeated all areas of sciences as one of the most propitious technology with the deployment of nanoparticles in environmental remediation and biomedical fields; their synthesis under greener conditions has been bourgeoned using microorganisms, plants, etc. to decrease the use of toxic chemicals. Synthesis of nanoparticles by exploiting microorganisms has opened up a new prospect at the interface of nanotechnology, chemistry, and biology enabling access via a biocompatible, safe, sustainable, eco-friendly, and reliable route; microorganisms offer crystal growth, stabilization, and prevention of aggregation thus performing a dual role of reducing and capping agent because of the presence of biomolecules such as enzymes, peptides, poly (amino acids), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), and polysaccharides. Herein, the microorganisms-based synthesis of various nanoparticles comprising gold, silver, platinum, palladium, copper, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, iron oxide, and selenium along with their appliances in waste treatment, biomedicine namely cancer treatment, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antifungal, and antioxidants, are deliberated.

Properties and Applications of PDMS for Biomedical Engineering: A Review

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is an elastomer with excellent optical, electrical and mechanical properties, which makes it well-suited for several engineering applications. Due to its biocompatibility, PDMS is widely used for biomedical purposes. This widespread use has also led to the massification of the soft-lithography technique, introduced for facilitating the rapid prototyping of micro and nanostructures using elastomeric materials, most notably PDMS. This technique has allowed advances in microfluidic, electronic and biomedical fields. In this review, an overview of the properties of PDMS and some of its commonly used treatments, aiming at the suitability to those fields’ needs, are presented. Applications such as microchips in the biomedical field, replication of cardiovascular flow and medical implants are also reviewed.

Anti-Biofouling Polymers with Special Surface Wettability for Biomedical Applications

The use of anti-biofouling polymers has widespread potential for counteracting marine, medical, and industrial biofouling. The anti-biofouling action is usually related to the degree of surface wettability. This review is focusing on anti-biofouling polymers with special surface wettability, and it will provide a new perspective to promote the development of anti-biofouling polymers for biomedical applications. Firstly, current anti-biofouling strategies are discussed followed by a comprehensive review of anti-biofouling polymers with specific types of surface wettability, including superhydrophilicity, hydrophilicity, and hydrophobicity. We then summarize the applications of anti-biofouling polymers with specific surface wettability in typical biomedical fields both in vivo and in vitro, such as cardiology, ophthalmology, and nephrology. Finally, the challenges and directions of the development of anti-biofouling polymers with special surface wettability are discussed. It is helpful for future researchers to choose suitable anti-biofouling polymers with special surface wettability for specific biomedical applications.

Preparation, toxicity reduction and radiation therapy application of gold nanorods

Gold nanorods (GNRs) have a broad application prospect in biomedical fields because of their unique properties and controllable surface modification. The element aurum (Au) with high atomic number (high-Z) render GNRs ideal radiosensitive materials for radiation therapy and computed tomography (CT) imaging. Besides, GNRs have the capability of efficiently converting light energy to heat in the near-infrared (NIR) region for photothermal therapy. Although there are more and more researches on GNRs for radiation therapy, how to improve their biocompatibility and how to efficiently utilize them for radiation therapy should be further studied. This review will focuse on the research progress regarding the preparation and toxicity reduction of GNRs, as well as GNRs-mediated radiation therapy. Graphical Abstract

Application of Programmable Tetrahedral Framework Nucleic Acid-Based Nanomaterials in Neurological Disorders: Progress and Prospects

Tetrahedral framework nucleic acid (tFNA), a special DNA nanodevice, is widely applied in diverse biomedical fields. Due to its high programmability, biocompatibility, tissue permeability as well as its capacity for cell proliferation and differentiation, tFNA presents a powerful tool that could overcome potential barriers in the treatment of neurological disorders. This review evaluates recent studies on the use and progress of tFNA-based nanomaterials in neurological disorders.

Biomaterials for microfluidic technology

Micro/nanomaterial-based drug and cell delivery systems play an important role in biomedical fields for their injectability and targeting. Microfluidics is a rapidly developing technology and has become a robust tool for preparing biomaterial micro/nanocarriers with precise structural control and high reproducibility. By flexibly designing microfluidic channels and manipulating fluid behavior, various forms of biomaterial carriers can be fabricated using microfluidics, including microspheres, nanoparticles and microfibers. In this review, recent advances in biomaterials for designing functional microfluidic vehicles are summarized. We introduce the application of natural materials such as polysaccharides and proteins as well as synthetic polymers in the production of microfluidic carriers. How the material properties determine the manufacture of carriers and the type of cargoes to be encapsulated is highlighted. Furthermore, the current limitations of microfluidic biomaterial carriers and perspectives on its future developments is presented.

Clinical Application of Silver Nanoparticles Coated by Benzalkonium Chloride

The present study investigates the surface modification of AgNPs (synthesized by neem leaves) by benzalkonium chloride (BAC). It was observed that 22 × 109 CFU were formed at 0.25 mM AgNPs concentration. However, it was reduced to 14 × 109 CFU for BAC-coated AgNPs at similar experimental conditions. The enzymatic activity of β-glucosidase was significantly enhanced from 0.0625 mM to 0.5 mM concentration of AgNPs, as well as BAC–AgNPs. However, there was no further change of activity beyond this concentration. ZOI of AgNPs and BAC–AgNPs was measured against E. coli, B. subtilis, P. aeruginosa, and S pneumoniae at 0.25 mM and 0.50 mM concentrations of these bioactive agents. ZOI was 3.45 cm and 3.56 cm for AgNPs and BAC–AgNPs at 0.25 mM of these bioactive agents, respectively, against E. coli. However, these values were 4.28 cm and 4.40 cm, respectively, against B. subtilis. ZOI was obtained at 3.36 cm and 3.47 cm, respectively, against P. aeruginosa under similar experimental concentrations. However, ZOI was achieved at 3.44 cm and 3.62 cm, respectively, against S. pneumonia, under similar experimental conditions. Hence, such research findings can be exploited for potential applications in numerous environmental and biomedical fields.

Silk Fibroin Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Applications as Drug Nanocarriers

The use of nanoparticles in biomedical fields is a very promising scientific area and has aroused the interest of researchers in the search for new biodegradable, biocompatible and non-toxic materials. This chapter is based on the features of the biopolymer silk fibroin and its applications in nanomedicine. Silk fibroin, obtained from the Bombyx mori silkworm, is a natural polymeric biomaterial whose main features are its amphiphilic chemistry, biocompatibility, biodegradability, excellent mechanical properties in various material formats, and processing flexibility. All of these properties make silk fibroin a useful candidate to act as nanocarrier. In this chapter, the structure of silk fibroin, its biocompatibility and degradability are reviewed. In addition, an intensive review on the silk fibroin nanoparticle synthesis methods is also presented. Finally, the application of the silk fibroin nanoparticles for drug delivery acting as nanocarriers is detailed.

Synthesis of Different Nanoparticles for Biological Application

Compared with traditional materials, the application of nanomaterials in biomedical fields will bring many excellent performances. This review summarizes some new developments and applications of nanoparticles in recent years from the perspective of biology and medicine, including magnetic resonance imaging, treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and plant infection disease, oxygen-releasing scaffolds, engineered water nanostructures (EWNS) based sanitizer, drug loading system and cancer treatment. This article summarized and discussed the synthesis methods, characterization, advantages, and applications based on these aspects. Introducing nanoparticles into biomedical fields can provide useful ideas for applying nanoparticles in biology and pharmacy in the future.