Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Silvia Vieira, Joana Silva-Correia, Rui L. Reis, J. Miguel Oliveira
Summary: Hydrogels are versatile platforms in tissue engineering with a wide range of applications. Their properties can be tuned through various methods, making them valuable for drug and cell-based therapies as well as fundamental research. The diversity in sources, crosslinking strategies, functionalization methods, and similarity to the extracellular matrix make hydrogels an excellent tool in tissue engineering. This review provides an overview of hydrogel design, processing methods, and the impact of different formulations on cell-biomaterial interactions.
MACROMOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Rui-Chian Tang, Lily Shang, Philip O. Scumpia, Dino Di Carlo
Summary: Researchers have developed a novel crescent-shaped hydrogel scaffold with a microporous structure that allows for improved cell infiltration and expansion. With the use of microfluidic fabrication, the size of the cavities in the scaffold can be adjusted, leading to enhanced cellular network formation in vitro and in vivo. The results suggest that this new scaffold has the potential for superior functionality in tissue engineering applications.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Dan He, Haiyan Li
Summary: Cell-cell interactions are crucial in tissue and organ development, and the effects of biomaterials on these interactions have been gaining attention in tissue engineering research. This review provides comprehensive information on cell co-culture technologies and the effects of biomaterials on cell-cell interactions, aiming to promote further research in the field.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Sasinan Bupphathong, Carlos Quiroz, Wei Huang, Pei-Feng Chung, Hsuan-Ya Tao, Chih-Hsin Lin
Summary: This review summarizes the recent modifications of GelMA and its applications in vascular tissue engineering and wound healing. Modified GelMA demonstrates improved mechanical properties and cell migration, stimulating vascular development and forming a structure comparable to the natural extracellular matrix.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Nathan Lagneau, Pierre Tournier, Fabien Nativel, Yves Maugars, Jerome Guicheux, Catherine Le Visage, Vianney Delplace
Summary: Currently, there is no curative treatment for osteoarthritis (OA), but using mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) to alleviate the inflammatory symptoms of OA is gaining attention. MSCs can respond to the pro-inflammatory microenvironment of an OA joint and secrete factors that have anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, immunomodulatory, and pro-regenerative effects. However, the microenvironment of MSCs greatly influences their survival and bioactivity, and using tailored biomaterial scaffolds is crucial for the success of intra-articular MSC-based therapies.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Motofumi Osaki, Tomoko Sekine, Hiroyasu Yamaguchi, Yoshinori Takashima, Akira Harada
Summary: Combining noncovalent interactions with direct covalent bond formation achieved effective material adhesion. Host-guest interactions and amide bond formation cooperatively led to strong adhesion between materials. The rupture strength between test pieces increased with increasing molar contents of the host and guest units.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2021)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Shuze Wang, Yueyang Qiu, Liu Qu, Qiang Wang, Qing Zhou
Summary: Hydrogels, a novel treatment approach for osteoarthritis, have shown promise with their good biocompatibility and biodegradability. Recent research progress in the past three years has focused on the required properties and applications of hydrogels in the treatment of osteoarthritis. The challenges and future development prospects for hydrogels in different types of osteoarthritis were also discussed.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aleksandra Serafin, Mario Culebras, Maurice N. Collins
Summary: Tissue engineering is proposed as a potential solution to organ shortages. Various hydrogel formulations have been studied, including organic and biocompatible materials that mimic the native tissue. However, comparing studies is difficult due to differences in material concentrations and preparation methods. The current study aims to investigate popular biomaterials and their behaviors for targeted tissue engineering strategies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Jessica R. Vlcek, Mohammadhasan Hedayati, Alyssa C. Melvin, Melissa M. Reynolds, Matt J. Kipper
Summary: The study proposes to mitigate unfavorable biological reactions with blood-contacting medical devices by designing multifunctional surfaces that release nitric oxide and mimic features of the vascular endothelial glycocalyx. These surfaces interact with coagulation components, inflammatory cells, and bacterial cells, improving platelet-, leukocyte-, and bacteria-surface interactions. New blood-compatible materials should be designed with multiple features to better address the multiple modes of failure of blood-contacting medical devices.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Jiannan Li, Tara Shelby, Hossein Vahid Alizadeh, Hannah Shelby, Yunzhi Peter Yang
Summary: In this study, an automated active mixing platform (AAMP) was developed for high-quality preparation of hydrogel bioinks. AAMP, adapted from syringe pumps, offers advantages such as low cost, automated control, high precision, customizability, great cytocompatibility, and intelligent homogeneity detection. The AAMP demonstrated the capability to achieve fast and homogeneous hydrogel mixing, showing great promise for bioprinting and tissue engineering applications.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOPRINTING
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Yiwen Xi, Prashant Kumar Sharma, Hans Jan Kaper, Chang-Hwan Choi
Summary: The study investigated the tribological properties of micropored pHEMA under physiologically relevant conditions, finding that it significantly reduced frictional energy dissipation at relatively high loads and sliding speeds. This was attributed to the greater amount and retentivity of the interfacial fluid supported by the free water squeezed out of micropores with smaller dimensions under higher load and sliding speed.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
James M. Anderson, David W. Grainger
Summary: Sung Wan Kim's initial efforts as an independent investigator were focused on improving the understanding of early events in blood/material interactions, leading to the development of blood compatible materials. His studies were supported by NIH grants for over 40 years and contributed to the fields of biomaterials and non-thrombogenic biomaterial research.
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Youbin Li, Yuzhe Liu, Ronghang Li, Haotian Bai, Zhengqing Zhu, Liwei Zhu, Chenyi Zhu, Zhenjia Che, He Liu, Jincheng Wang, Lanfeng Huang
Summary: Collagen is an ideal material for bone tissue engineering due to its easy degradation, strong plasticity, and low immunogenicity, but pure collagen alone may not produce satisfactory results. Therefore, biomimetic bone tissue engineering scaffolds are often prepared with other bioactive materials. Research on collagen-based biomimetic bone tissue engineering focuses on collagen acquisition, osteogenesis induction mechanisms, composition of biomimetic materials, and application in bone tissue engineering.
MATERIALS & DESIGN
(2021)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ali Mahnavi, Mina Shahriari-Khalaji, Bahareh Hosseinpour, Mostafa Ahangarian, Amir Aidun, Simona Bungau, Syed Shams ul Hassan
Summary: Different biomaterials and methods have been used in tissue engineering for repairing damaged bones. However, the weakness in cellular activity or osteoconductivity sometimes limits their optimal use. To address this issue, surface modification techniques, such as polydopamine coating, have been employed. Polydopamine not only covers the weakness of scaffolds but also enhances their osteoconductivity. The hydrophilic layer created by polydopamine allows bone cells to anchor and adhere well to the surfaces, while the catechol and amine groups make the surfaces chemically active, resulting in increased osteoconductivity.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Tejas M. Koushik, Catherine M. Miller, Elsa Antunes
Summary: Bone tissue engineering has become a well-known field of study in the past decade, with advancements in materials, processing techniques, and understanding of bone healing pathways. Synthetic scaffolds face the challenge of providing load-bearing capability and interaction with the local extracellular matrix for promoting bone healing. This article discusses the usage and processing of multi-materials and hierarchical structures to mimic the structure of natural bone tissues for bioactive and load-bearing synthetic scaffolds.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Deepthi S. Rajendran Nair, Magdalene J. Seiler, Kahini H. Patel, Vinoy Thomas, Juan Carlos Martinez Camarillo, Mark S. Humayun, Biju B. Thomas
Summary: The retina, a crucial part of the central nervous system, is susceptible to degenerative diseases causing permanent vision loss. Cell transplantation therapies, such as using stem cells to replace damaged cells, show potential for vision restoration but face challenges with cell survival and integration.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jung Ki Hong, Shelley L. Cooke, Abby R. Whittington, Maren Roman
Summary: The study found that surface-oxidized cellulose nanocrystals (SO-CNCs) can act as multi-functional scaffold additives by improving the mechanical properties of PCL and inducing biomineral formation upon PCL resorption. In vitro experiments showed that SO-CNCs were more effective at inducing mineral formation than sulfuric acid-hydrolyzed CNCs (SH-CNCs).
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Jerry Contreras, Amy Stimpson, Ifty Ahmed, Derek J. Irvine, Abby R. Whittington
Summary: This study reports on the incorporation of echogenic microspheres into catheters to produce bulk echogenic effects for developments in the field of real-time ultrasound tracking of polymeric medical devices. Successful, defect-free samples were produced with 5 wt % microsphere loading and when embedded in a soft tissue phantom revealed a significant increase in the signal-to-noise ratio.
ACS BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Andrew F. Uehlin, Jeremy B. Vines, Dale S. Feldman, Elijah Nyairo, Derrick R. Dean, Vinoy Thomas
Summary: In this study, a biohybrid fibrous scaffold based on nanofibers was developed and shown to have improved mechanical properties suitable for ligament-replacement grafts. The use of NaOH treatment and the immobilization of fibrin enhanced the osteogenic differentiation of cells, leading to potential applications in tissue engineering.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Vineeth M. Vijayan, Melissa Walker, Renjith R. Pillai, Gerardo Hernandez Moreno, Yogesh K. Vohra, J. Jeffrey Morris, Vinoy Thomas
Summary: The paper reports a green low-temperature plasma-based in situ surface reduction strategy called plasma electroless reduction (PER) for achieving in situ metallic nanostructuring on polymer surfaces. The method was demonstrated on different polymer surfaces and showed excellent adaptability. Through optimization, uniform metallic nanoparticle-modified 3D printed scaffolds were obtained, improving cytocompatibility. The antibacterial efficacy of the silver coatings on face masks and 3D scaffolds was also demonstrated, indicating the potential of this method for biomedical applications.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Hailey Galyon, Samuel Vibostok, Jane Duncan, Gonzalo Ferreira, Abby Whittington, Kirk Havens, Jason McDevitt, Rebecca Cockrum
Summary: This study investigated the ruminal degradability and kinetics of biodegradable polymers and blends, showing that polymer treatments were still in the exponential degradation phase at 240 h with structural changes observed. Further research is needed to fully understand the maximum degradation and characteristics of biodegradable polymers in ruminal environments.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Andrew F. Uehlin, Jeremy B. Vines, Dale S. Feldman, Derrick R. Dean, Vinoy Thomas
Summary: In this study, an inkjet-printed pattern of nanoparticulate hydroxyapatite (HANP) on a poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanofiber scaffold was used to achieve a mineralized gradient over an ACL-subchondral bone interface. The combined addition of fibrin and HANP greatly enhanced osteogenic differentiation, with the cell morphology varying depending on HANP density.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Mina Zare, Rakesh Pemmada, Maya Madhavan, Aswathy Shailaja, Seeram Ramakrishna, Sumodan Padikkala Kandiyil, James M. Donahue, Vinoy Thomas
Summary: This article reviews the design measures for siRNA delivery systems and potential siRNA and miRNA drug delivery systems for cancer treatment, including the use of various nanocarriers. The article highlights the challenges and obstacles in the clinical application of siRNA drugs and discusses strategies to improve the delivery efficiency of siRNA and miRNA through modification of nanocarriers.
Review
Polymer Science
Renjith Rajan Pillai, Vinoy Thomas
Summary: Recently, there has been significant attention towards natural and synthetic polymers as alternatives to non-renewable materials. Surface-modified natural fibers (NFs), polymers, and their derivatives have been extensively studied to reduce pollution and energy consumption. However, challenges in terms of durability, strength, and processing still exist for NFs. Low-temperature plasma (LTP) surface treatment has shown promise in tailoring surface properties of materials without affecting their bulk properties. This article provides an overview of the latest developments in surface engineering of NFs, polymers, and composites for diverse applications including environmental remediation, packaging, biomedical devices, and sensors.
Correction
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Mina Zare, Rakesh Pemmada, Maya Madhavan, Aswathy Shailaja, Seeram Ramakrishna, Sumodan Padikkala Kandiyil, James M. Donahue, Vinoy Thomas
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Hailey Galyon, Samuel Vibostok, Jane Duncan, Gonzalo Ferreira, Abby Whittington, Kirk Havens, Jason McDevitt, Rebecca Cockrum
Summary: Domestic and non-domestic ruminants ingest plastics, leading to health and production problems. In this study, twelve Holstein bull calves were fed capsules containing a biodegradable polymer, polyethylene, or nothing for 30 days. No calves showed signs of polymer accumulation in the rumen and their health was not affected. Calves that received polyethylene retained more material compared to those that received the biodegradable polymer. The results suggest that biodegradable agricultural plastics could be an alternative to conventional plastics in animal ingestion.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Chandrima Karthik, S. Rajalakshmi, Sabu Thomas, Vinoy Thomas
Summary: Low temperature plasma (LTP) process is a green method used to modify materials in various fields. It provides surface characteristics and tailored functionalities, enabling the fabrication of smart biomaterials. Plasma treatment is advantageous in functionalization and coating deposition, as it avoids the challenges of wet methods. Moreover, it is considered eco-friendly compared to conventional wet chemical processes.
CURRENT OPINION IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jin Pan, Selma Gmati, Bryce A. Roper, Aaron J. Prussin II, Seth A. Hawks, Abby R. Whittington, Nisha K. Duggal, Linsey C. Marr
Summary: The study found that only viral RNA and not infectious virus is transferred from contaminated masks to skin. The potential for masks to act as fomites in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 has been suggested but not demonstrated experimentally or observationally. The researchers aerosolized SARS-CoV-2 in saliva and tested it on different types of masks, finding that infectivity was not detectable on an N95 and surgical mask, was reduced on a nylon/spandex mask, and remained unchanged on a polyester mask and two different cotton masks. SARS-CoV-2 RNA remained stable on all masks and no infectious virus was transferred to the skin.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Vineeth M. Vijayan, Melissa Walker, J. Jeff Morris, Vinoy Thomas
Summary: This article discusses the importance of the design of material surfaces in medical devices and introduces some recent advances in infection mitigation strategies. It focuses on the material science and biological perspectives of biomaterial infection and corresponding mitigation strategies.
CURRENT OPINION IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Review
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Mina Zare, Vinoy Thomas, Seeram Ramakrishna
Summary: The combination of nanoscience and quantum science provides new insights and methods for controlling the novel coronavirus, offering promising strategies for combating virus pandemics in the future.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2021)
