Biofabrication aims to fabricate biologically functional products through bioprinting or bioassembly (Groll et al 2016 Biofabrication 8 013001). In biofabrication processes, cells are positioned at ...defined coordinates in three-dimensional space using automated and computer controlled techniques (Moroni et al 2018 Trends Biotechnol. 36 384-402), usually with the aid of biomaterials that are either (i) directly processed with the cells as suspensions/dispersions, (ii) deposited simultaneously in a separate printing process, or (iii) used as a transient support material. Materials that are suited for biofabrication are often referred to as bioinks and have become an important area of research within the field. In view of this special issue on bioinks, we aim herein to briefly summarize the historic evolution of this term within the field of biofabrication. Furthermore, we propose a simple but general definition of bioinks, and clarify its distinction from biomaterial inks.
Flexible and wearable electronics are attracting wide attention due to their potential applications in wearable human health monitoring and care systems. Carbon materials have combined superiorities ...such as good electrical conductivity, intrinsic and structural flexibility, light weight, high chemical and thermal stability, ease of chemical functionalization, as well as potential mass production, enabling them to be promising candidate materials for flexible and wearable electronics. Consequently, great efforts are devoted to the controlled fabrication of carbon materials with rationally designed structures for applications in next‐generation electronics. Herein, the latest advances in the rational design and controlled fabrication of carbon materials toward applications in flexible and wearable electronics are reviewed. Various carbon materials (carbon nanotubes, graphene, natural‐biomaterial‐derived carbon, etc.) with controlled micro/nanostructures and designed macroscopic morphologies for high‐performance flexible electronics are introduced. The fabrication strategies, working mechanism, performance, and applications of carbon‐based flexible devices are reviewed and discussed, including strain/pressure sensors, temperature/humidity sensors, electrochemical sensors, flexible conductive electrodes/wires, and flexible power devices. Furthermore, the integration of multiple devices toward multifunctional wearable systems is briefly reviewed. Finally, the existing challenges and future opportunities in this field are summarized.
Advances toward understanding the potential of carbon materials for flexible and wearable electronics are reviewed. This encompasses the latest developments in the controlled fabrication of carbon materials with rationally designed structures and their applications in flexible devices including physiological sensors, biochemical sensors, conductive electrodes/wires, power devices, and integrated systems. Current challenges and future prospects in the field are also summarized.
Biomaterials are natural, synthetic, or hybrid materials, which are used in medical devices or implants that are placed in contact with the human biological system to compensate for or restore ...diminished functions of the body. The field of biomaterials has rapidly developed to meet the ever-expanding needs in healthcare and medicine practices. Advancements in science and technology have enabled the fabrication and reengineering of biomaterials into useful medical devices or implants, such as heart valves, bone plates, hip joints, and cardiac pacemakers. Because biomaterials are placed in continuous close contact with the recipient’s body fluids or tissues, the classification of available biomaterials is crucial for selecting safer and highly biocompatible materials. This review focuses on biomaterial classification, namely bioceramic, polymeric, and metallic biomaterials. Their medical applications, advantages, and disadvantages are discussed. Current trends in biomaterials involved in disease treatments, such as controlled drug delivery and cancer therapy, are additionally explored.
Bone defects are a common clinical issue, but therapeutic efficiency can be challenging in cases of more considerable traumas or elderly patients with degenerated physiological metabolism. To address ...this issue, a more suitable cell‐biomaterial construct promoting bone regeneration has been extensively investigated, with the chitosan scaffold being considered a potential candidate. In this study, chitosan was crosslinked with different doses of glucose (CTS‐10~50%Glc) using a modified Maillard reaction condition to develop a more appropriate cell‐biomaterial construct. Mouse MC3T3‐E1 pre‐osteoblasts were seeded onto the scaffolds to examine their osteoinductive capability. The results showed that CTS‐Glc scaffolds with higher glucose contents effectively improved the adhesion and survival of mouse MC3T3‐E1 pre‐osteoblasts and promoted their differentiation and mineralization. It was further demonstrated that the membrane integrin α5 subunit of pre‐osteoblasts is the primary adhesion molecule that communicates with CTS‐Glc scaffolds. After that, Akt signaling was activated, and then bone morphogenetic protein 4 was secreted to initiate the osteoinduction of pre‐osteoblasts. The prepared CTS‐Glc scaffold, with enhanced osteoinduction capability and detailed mechanism elucidations, offers a promising candidate material for advancing bone tissue engineering and clinical regenerative medicine. As a result, this study presents a potential tool for future clinical treatment of bone defects.
Display omitted
•Microporous Ti surface with aligned pores was synthesized successfully by electrochemical method.•Microporous Ti with aligned pore structure was controlled by electrochemical ...currents.•Microporous Ti promoted cell attachment and preferential growth on the aligned pores.
This paper reports the synthesis of microporous Ti surfaces with aligned pores by applying a different current during electrochemical process for application in cell-surface interaction study and biomedical implants. As the microporous Ti surfaces were synthesized by current from (0.5–4)A, the microstructure of the Ti surfaces was shifted from a relative smooth to microporous one that was observed to have an aligned pore surface. Optical images showed that the micropore sizes in ∼(85.4–224.4)µm. The roughness of the microporous Ti was significantly higher than that of the Ti by a factor of approximately 5 to 7. Confocal laser scanning microscope showed excellent cell attachment and preferential growth on the microporous Ti with aligned channels after 72 h of culturing which could be important for cell-surface interactions study and biomedical implants.
PDMS microfluidics: A mini review Raj M, Kiran; Chakraborty, Suman
Journal of applied polymer science,
July 15, 2020, Letnik:
137, Številka:
27
Journal Article
Hydrogels are studied extensively for many tissue engineering applications, and their mechanical properties influence both cellular and tissue compatibility. However, it is difficult to compare the ...mechanical properties of hydrogels between studies due to a lack of continuity between rheological protocols. This study outlines a straightforward protocol to accurately determine hydrogel equilibrium modulus and gelation time using a series of rheological tests. These protocols are applied to several hydrogel systems used within tissue engineering applications: agarose, collagen, fibrin, Matrigel™, and methylcellulose. The protocol is outlined in four steps: (1) Time sweep to determine the gelation time of the hydrogel. (2) Strain sweep to determine the linear-viscoelastic region of the hydrogel with respect to strain. (3) Frequency sweep to determine the linear equilibrium modulus plateau of the hydrogel. (4) Time sweep with values obtained from strain and frequency sweeps to accurately report the equilibrium moduli and gelation time. Finally, the rheological characterization protocol was evaluated using a composite Matrigel™-methylcellulose hydrogel blend whose mechanical properties were previously unknown. The protocol described herein provides a standardized approach for proper analysis of hydrogel rheological properties.
Collagen‐based biomaterials for biomedical applications Rezvani Ghomi, Erfan; Nourbakhsh, Nooshin; Akbari Kenari, Mahsa ...
Journal of biomedical materials research. Part B, Applied biomaterials,
December 2021, Letnik:
109, Številka:
12
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Collagen is an insoluble fibrous protein that composes the extracellular matrix in animals. Although collagen has been used as a biomaterial since 1881, the properties and the complex structure of ...collagen are still extensive study subjects worldwide. In this article, several topics of importance for understanding collagen research are reviewed starting from its historical milestones, followed by the description of the collagen superfamily and its complex structures, with a focus on type I collagen. Subsequently, some of the superior properties of collagen‐based biomaterials, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, mechanical properties, and cell activities, are pinpointed. These properties make collagen applicable in biomedicine, such as wound healing, tissue engineering, surface coating of medical devices, and skin supplementation. Moreover, some antimicrobial strategies and the general host tissue responses regarding collagen as a biomaterial are presented. Finally, the current status and clinical application of the three‐dimensional (3D) printing techniques for the fabrication of collagen‐based scaffolds and the reconstruction of the human heart's constituents, such as capillary structures or even the entire organ, are discussed. Besides, an overall outlook for the future of this unique biomaterial is provided.
Smart biomaterials have the ability to respond to changes in physiological parameters and exogenous stimuli and continue to impact many aspects of modern medicine. Smart materials can promote ...promising therapies and improve treatment of debilitating diseases. Here, we describe recent advances in the current state-of-the-art design and application of smart biomaterials in tissue engineering, drug delivery systems, medical devices, and immune engineering.
Display omitted
Nanofibrous materials find a wide range of applications, such as vascular grafts, tissue-engineered scaffolds, or drug delivery systems. This phenomenon can be attributed to almost ...arbitrary biomaterial modification opportunities created by a multitude of polymers used to form nanofibers, as well as by surface functionalization methods. Among these applications, the hemostatic activity of nanofibrous materials is gaining more and more interest in biomedical research. It is therefore crucial to find both materials and nanofiber structural properties that affect organism responses. The present review critically analyzes the response of blood elements to natural and synthetic polymers, and their blends and composites. Also assessed in this review is the incorporation of pro-coagulative substances or drugs that can decrease bleeding time. The review also discusses the main animal models that were used to assess hemostatic agent safety and effectiveness.
The paper contains an in-depth review of the most representative studies recently published in the topic of nanofibrous hemostatic agents. The topic evolved from analysis of pristine polymeric nanofibers to multifunctional biomaterials. Furthermore, this study is important because it helps clarify the use of specific blood-biomaterial analysis techniques with emphasis on protein adsorption, thrombogenicity and blood coagulation.
The paper should be of interest to the readers of Acta biomaterialia who are curious about the strategies and materials used for the development of multifunctional polymer nanofibers for novel blood-contacting applications.
PDF
