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A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomacromolecules, Biobased and Biodegradable Polymers".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2021) | Viewed by 77472

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Bramasta Nugraha

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Guest Editor

Biopharmaceuticals R&D Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
Interests: 3D cell culture; biomaterials; tissue engineering; hydrogel; organoids; drug discovery; bioimaging; cardiorenal; metabolic disease; stem cell biology

Dr. Faisal Raza

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Guest Editor

School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
Interests: biomimetic nanomedicine; polymeric nanoparticle; drug delivery; cancer; tumor microenvironment; biomaterials; cancer nanomedicine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent days, the development of polymeric materials for biomedical applications has advanced significantly. Polymeric materials are favored in the development of therapeutic devices, including temporary implants and three-dimensional scaffolds for tissue engineering and in vitro disease modelling.

Further advancements have also occurred in the utilization of polymeric materials for pharmacological applications such as delivery vehicles for drug release.

We would like to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue. Research topics of interest include, but are not limited to, recent advances related to 3D cell culture, biomaterials, tissue engineering, disease modelling, hydrogel, organoids, drug discovery, bioimaging, cardio-renal, metabolic disease, and stem cell biology.

Authors are welcome to submit their latest research efforts in the form of original regular articles, communications, or reviews on these topics.

Dr. Bramasta Nugraha

Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

3D cell culture
biomaterials
tissue engineering
hydrogel
organoids
drug discovery
bioimaging
cardiorenal
metabolic disease
stem cell biology

Published Papers (14 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 17375 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improving Biocompatibility of Polyester Fabrics through Polyurethane/Gelatin Complex Coating for Potential Vascular Application

by Wei Wang, Ziyi Zhou, Na Liu, Xiaopei Zhang, Hua Zhou, Yuanfei Wang, Kuanjun Fang and Tong Wu

Polymers 2022, 14(5), 989; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym14050989 - 28 Feb 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2813

Abstract

Medical apparatus and instruments, such as vascular grafts, are first exposed to blood when they are implanted. Therefore, blood compatibility is considered to be the critical issue when constructing a vascular graft. In this regard, the coating method is verified to be an effective and simple approach to improve the blood compatibility as well as prevent the grafts from blood leakage. In this study, polyester fabric is chosen as the substrate to provide excellent mechanical properties while a coating layer of polyurethane is introduced to prevent the blood leakage. Furthermore, gelatin is coated on the substrate to mimic the native extracellular matrix together with the improvement of biocompatibility. XPS and FTIR analysis are performed for elemental and group analysis to determine the successful coating of polyurethane and gelatin on the polyester fabrics. In terms of blood compatibility, hemolysis and platelet adhesion are measured to investigate the anticoagulation performance. In vitro cell experiments also indicate that endothelial cells show good proliferation and morphology on the polyester fabric modified with such coating layers. Taken together, such polyester fabric coated with polyurethane and gelatin layers would have a promising potential in constructing vascular grafts with expected blood compatibility and biocompatibility without destroying the basic mechanical requirements for vascular applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials in Biomedical Application)

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13 pages, 1405 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Unique Carboxymethyl Fenugreek Gum Gel Loaded Itraconazole Self-Emulsifying Nanovesicles for Topical Onychomycosis Treatment

by Ali Alqahtani, Bhavana Raut, Shagufta Khan, Jamal Moideen Muthu Mohamed, Adel Al Fatease, Taha Alqahtani, Ali Alamri, Fazil Ahmad and Venkatesan Krishnaraju

Polymers 2022, 14(2), 325; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym14020325 - 14 Jan 2022

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 2284

Abstract

The novel itraconazole (ITZ) nail penetration enhancing self-emulsifying nanovesicles (ITZ-nPEVs) loaded in carboxymethyl fenugreek gum (CMFG) gel circumvent the systemic onychomycosis treatment. The ITZ-nPEVs were prepared by the thin film hydration technique, and the particle size (PS), zeta potential (ZP), drug content (DC), entrapment efficiency (% EE), deformity index (DI), viscosity, morphology, and physical stability of the ITZ-nPEVs were measured. In terms of nail hydration, transungual drug absorption, and antifungal efficacy against Candida albicans, the chosen ITZ-nPEVs, nPEV-loaded CMFG (CMFG-ITZ-nPEVs) gel, and the commercialized Itrostred gel were compared. The ITZ-nPEVs showed spherical structure with high DC, % EE, low PS and PDI and positive ZP of ITZ ranging from 95.36 to 93.89 mg/5 mL and 95.36–96.94%, 196.55–252.5 nm, 0.092–0.49, and +11.1 to +22.5 mV, respectively. Compared to the Itrostred gel, the novel ITZ-nPEVs exhibited hydration enhancement factor for 24 h (HE24) of 1.53 and 1.39 drug uptake enhancement factor into nail clippings. Moreover, zone of inhibitions for ITZ-nPEVs (27.0 ± 0.25 mm) and CMFG-ITZ-nPEVs (33.2 ± 0.09 mm) against Candida albicans were significantly greater than that of Itrostred gel (22.9 ± 0.44 mm). For clinical investigation on onychomycotic patients, a nail penetration enhancer containing ITZ-nPEV-loaded CMFG gel presents a highly promising approach. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials in Biomedical Application)

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16 pages, 4281 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Blends of Carbohydrate Polymers for the Co-Microencapsulation of Bacillus clausii and Quercetin as Active Ingredients of a Functional Food

by María Z. Saavedra-Leos, Manuel Román-Aguirre, Alberto Toxqui-Terán, Vicente Espinosa-Solís, Avelina Franco-Vega and César Leyva-Porras

Polymers 2022, 14(2), 236; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym14020236 - 07 Jan 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2030

Abstract

A functional food based on blends of carbohydrate polymers and active ingredients was prepared by spray drying. Inulin (IN) and maltodextrin (MX) were used as carrying agents to co-microencapsulate quercetin as an antioxidant and Bacillus clausii (Bc) as a probiotic. Through a reduced design of experiments, eleven runs were conducted and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC). The physical characterizations showed fine and non-aggregated powders, composed of pseudo-spherical particles with micrometric sizes. The observation of rod-like particles suggested that microorganisms were microencapsulated in these particles. The microstructure of the powders was amorphous, observing diffraction peaks attributed to the crystallization of the antioxidant. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of the blends was above the room temperature, which may promote a higher stability during storage. The antioxidant activity (AA) values increased for the IN-MX blends, while the viability of the microorganisms increased with the addition of MX. By a surface response plot (SRP) the yield showed a major dependency with the drying temperature and then with the concentration of IN. The work contributes to the use of carbohydrate polymers blends, and to the co-microencapsulation of active ingredients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials in Biomedical Application)

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22 pages, 7307 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chitosan Reinforced with Kenaf Nanocrystalline Cellulose as an Effective Carrier for the Delivery of Platelet Lysate in the Acceleration of Wound Healing

by Payal Bhatnagar, Jia Xian Law and Shiow-Fern Ng

Polymers 2021, 13(24), 4392; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13244392 - 15 Dec 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2338

Abstract

The clinical use of platelet lysate (PL) in the treatment of wounds is limited by its rapid degradation by proteases at the tissue site. This research aims to develop a chitosan (CS) and kenaf nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) hydrogel composite, which intend to stabilize PL and control its release onto the wound site for prolonged action. NCC was synthesized from raw kenaf bast fibers and incorporated into the CS hydrogel. The physicochemical properties, in vitro cytocompatibility, cell proliferation, wound scratch assay, PL release, and CS stabilizing effect of the hydrogel composites were analyzed. The study of swelling ratio (>1000%) and moisture loss (60–90%) showed the excellent water retention capacity of the CS-NCC-PL hydrogels as compared with the commercial product. In vitro release PL study (flux = 0.165 mg/cm²/h) indicated that NCC act as a nanofiller and provided the sustained release of PL compared with the CS hydrogel alone. The CS also showed the protective effect of growth factor (GF) present in PL, thereby promoting fast wound healing via the formulation. The CS-NCC hydrogels also augmented fibroblast proliferation in vitro and enhanced wound closures over 72 h. This study provides a new insight on CS with renewable source kenaf NCC as a nanofiller as a potential autologous PL wound therapy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials in Biomedical Application)

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9 pages, 2020 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Different Cleaning Methods on Protein Deposition and Optical Characteristics of Orthokeratology Lenses

by Chen-Ying Su, Lung-Kun Yeh, Yi-Fei Tsao, Wen-Pin Lin, Chiun-Ho Hou, Hsueh-Fang Huang, Chi-Chun Lai and Hsu-Wei Fang

Polymers 2021, 13(24), 4318; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13244318 - 09 Dec 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2864

Abstract

Orthokeratology lenses are commonly used for myopia control, especially in children. Tear lipids and proteins are immediately adsorbed when the lens is put on the cornea, and protein deposition may cause discomfort or infection. Therefore, we established an in vitro protein deposition analysis by mimicking the current cleaning methods for orthokeratology lens wearers for both short-term and long-term period. The results showed that the amounts of tear proteins accumulated daily and achieved a balance after 14 days when the lens was rubbed to clean or not. Protein deposition also affected the optical characteristics of the lens regardless of cleaning methods. Our results provided an in vitro analysis for protein deposition on the lens, and they may provide a potential effective method for developing care solutions or methods that can more effectively remove tear components from orthokeratology lenses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials in Biomedical Application)

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11 pages, 1458 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Coaxial Electrospun PLLA Fibers Modified with Water-Soluble Materials for Oligodendrocyte Myelination

by Zhepeng Liu, Jing Wang, Haini Chen, Guanyu Zhang, Zhuman Lv, Yijun Li, Shoujin Zhao and Wenlin Li

Polymers 2021, 13(20), 3595; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13203595 - 19 Oct 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1882

Abstract

Myelin sheaths are essential in maintaining the integrity of axons. Development of the platform for in vitro myelination would be especially useful for demyelinating disease modeling and drug screening. In this study, a fiber scaffold with a core–shell structure was prepared in one step by the coaxial electrospinning method. A high-molecular-weight polymer poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) was used as the core, while the shell was a natural polymer material such as hyaluronic acid (HA), sodium alginate (SA), or chitosan (CS). The morphology, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), contact angle, viability assay, and in vitro myelination by oligodendrocytes were characterized. The results showed that such fibers are bead-free and continuous, with an average size from 294 ± 53 to 390 ± 54 nm. The DSC and FTIR curves indicated no changes in the phase state of coaxial brackets. Hyaluronic acid/PLLA coaxial fibers had the minimum contact angle (53.1° ± 0.24°). Myelin sheaths were wrapped around a coaxial electrospun scaffold modified with water-soluble materials after a 14-day incubation. All results suggest that such a scaffold prepared by coaxial electrospinning potentially provides a novel platform for oligodendrocyte myelination. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials in Biomedical Application)

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18 pages, 3061 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Concentration Dependent Single Chain Properties of Poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) Subjected to Aromatic Interactions with Chlorpheniramine Maleate Studied by Diafiltration and Synchrotron-SAXS

by Felipe Orozco, Thomas Hoffmann, Mario E. Flores, Judit G. Lisoni, José Roberto Vega-Baudrit and Ignacio Moreno-Villoslada

Polymers 2021, 13(20), 3563; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13203563 - 15 Oct 2021

Viewed by 1741

Abstract

The polyelectrolyte poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) undergoes aromatic–aromatic interaction with the drug chlorpheniramine, which acts as an aromatic counterion. In this work, we show that an increase in the concentration in the dilute and semidilute regimes of a complex polyelectrolyte/drug 2:1 produces the increasing confinement of the drug in hydrophobic domains, with implications in single chain thermodynamic behavior. Diafiltration analysis at polymer concentrations between 0.5 and 2.5 mM show an increase in the fraction of the aromatic counterion irreversibly bound to the polyelectrolyte, as well as a decrease in the electrostatic reversible interaction forces with the remaining fraction of drug molecules as the total concentration of the system increases. Synchrotron-SAXS results performed in the semidilute regimes show a fractal chain conformation pattern with a fractal dimension of 1.7, similar to uncharged polymers. Interestingly, static and fractal correlation lengths increase with increasing complex concentration, due to the increase in the amount of the confined drug. Nanoprecipitates are found in the range of 30–40 mM, and macroprecipitates are found at a higher system concentration. A model of molecular complexation between the two species is proposed as the total concentration increases, which involves ion pair formation and aggregation, producing increasingly confined aromatic counterions in hydrophobic domains, as well as a decreasing number of charged polymer segments at the hydrophobic/hydrophilic interphase. All of these features are of pivotal importance to the general knowledge of polyelectrolytes, with implications both in fundamental knowledge and potential technological applications considering aromatic-aromatic binding between aromatic polyelectrolytes and aromatic counterions, such as in the production of pharmaceutical formulations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials in Biomedical Application)

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18 pages, 25000 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Poloxamer 407 Based Gel Formulations for Transungual Delivery of Hydrophobic Drugs: Selection and Optimization of Potential Additives

by Kamran Hidayat Ullah, Faisal Raza, Syed Mohsin Munawar, Muhammad Sohail, Hajra Zafar, Mazhar Iqbal Zafar and Tofeeq Ur-Rehman

Polymers 2021, 13(19), 3376; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13193376 - 30 Sep 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2998

Abstract

The current study aimed to develop poloxamer 407 (P407) gel for transungual delivery of antifungal hydrophobic drugs with sufficient gel strength and drug loading. Gel strength and drug loading of P407 gel was improved by use of functional additives. Hydration enhancement effect was used to select optimum nail penetration enhancer. Face-centered central composite design (FCCCD) was used to observe the effect of the selected penetration enhancer (thioglycolic acid (TGA)) and cosolvent (ethanol) on gelation behavior to develop formulation with enough loading of hydrophobic drug, i.e., terbinafine HCl (TBN), and its permeation across the nail plate without compromising on gel strength. It was observed that increasing concentration of P407 and TGA significantly reduced gelation temperature and enhanced the gel strength of P407 gel and can be used to improve P407 gel strength. Under the scanning electron microscope, the significant effect of TGA as an ungual penetration enhancer was observed on the morphology of the nail plate. Optimized P407 gel prepared with modified cold method showed a gelation temperature of 8.7 ± 0.16 °C, gel strength of 122 ± 7.5 s and drug loading of 1.2% w/w, which was four times more than the drug loading in the gels prepared with conventional cold method. Rheological behavior was pseudoplastic with 47.75 ± 3.48% of gel erosion after 12 washings and 67.21 ± 2.16% of drug release after 12 h. A cumulative amount of TBN permeated from P407 gel with and without PE after 24 h was 27.30 ± 4.18 and 16.69 ± 2.31 µg/cm², respectively. Thioglycolic acid can be used as a nail penetration enhancer without the chemical modification or addition of extra additives while retaining the gel strength. Water miscible cosolvents with moderate evaporability such as ethanol, can be incorporated to P407 gel by minor modification in method of preparation to load the required dose of hydrophobic drugs. Developed P407 gel formulation with sufficient gel strength and drug loading will be a promising carrier for transungual delivery of hydrophobic antifungal agents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials in Biomedical Application)

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14 pages, 6210 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Novel Green Preparation of Ag/RGO Nanocomposites with Highly Effective Anticancer Performance

by Maqusood Ahamed, Mohd Javed Akhtar, M. A. Majeed Khan and Hisham A. Alhadlaq

Polymers 2021, 13(19), 3350; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13193350 - 30 Sep 2021

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 3266

Abstract

The efficacy of current cancer therapies is limited due to several factors, including drug resistance and non-specific toxic effects. Due to their tuneable properties, silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and graphene derivative-based nanomaterials are now providing new hope to treat cancer with minimum side effects. Here, we report a simple, inexpensive, and eco-friendly protocol for the preparation of silver-reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites (Ag/RGO NCs) using orange peel extract. This work was planned to curtail the use of toxic chemicals, and improve the anticancer performance and cytocompatibility of Ag/RGO NCs. Aqueous extract of orange peels is abundant in phytochemicals that act as reducing and stabilizing agents for the green synthesis of Ag NPs and Ag/RGO NCs from silver nitrate and graphene oxide (GO). Moreover, the flavonoid present in orange peel is a potent anticancer agent. Green-prepared Ag NPs and Ag/RGO NCs were characterized by UV-visible spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The results of the anticancer study demonstrated that the killing potential of Ag/RGO NCs against human breast cancer (MCF7) and lung cancer (A549) cells was two-fold that of pure Ag NPs. Moreover, the cytocompatibility of Ag/RGO NCs in human normal breast epithelial (MCF10A) cells and normal lung fibroblasts (IMR90) was higher than that of pure Ag NPs. This mechanistic study indicated that Ag/RGO NCs induce toxicity in cancer cells through pro-oxidant reactive oxygen species generation and antioxidant glutathione depletion and provided a novel green synthesis of Ag/RGO NCs with highly effective anticancer performance and better cytocompatibility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials in Biomedical Application)

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18 pages, 4809 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Effects of Gamma Radiation on the Sterility Assurance, Antibacterial Ability, and Biocompatibility of Impregnated Hydrogel Macrosphere Protein and Drug Release

by Po-Sung Fu, Jen-Chyan Wang, Pei-Ling Lai, Shih-Ming Liu, Ya-Shun Chen, Wen-Cheng Chen and Chun-Cheng Hung

Polymers 2021, 13(6), 938; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13060938 - 18 Mar 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2873

Abstract

Devices and medicines used in the medical field must be sterile. Gamma (γ)-irradiation is commonly used for sterilization because its high rate of penetration ensures uniform sterilization. To confirm that hydrogel macrosphere carriers inherit excellent liquid absorption with no cytotoxicity after γ-irradiation sterilization, investigating whether the physiochemical properties of hydrogel macrospheres differ before and after sterilization is essential. The present study evaluated the influence of the recommended 25-kGy γ-irradiation dose on the physicochemical characteristics and in vitro release of bovine serum albumin and vancomycin (an antibiotic medication) from alginate/gelatin with a w/w ratio of 1/4 crosslinking gel macrospheres. Gel macrosphere properties before and after sterilization were compared according to optical and scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy analysis, the amino residual crosslinking index, water absorption, degradation, sterility assurance, in vitro drug release, antibacterial ability, and cytotoxicity. The crosslinking index was almost unchanged; however, the γ-irradiation caused in situ hydrogel debonding and recrosslinking, which led to a decrease in the water absorption and increase in the degradation rate of the macrospheres after immersion. The release of gel macrospheres carrying vancomycin did not significantly affect antibacterial ability or biocompatibility after γ-irradiation. Accordingly, we conclude that γ-irradiation is suitable for macrospherical formulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials in Biomedical Application)

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Review

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31 pages, 3209 KiB

Open AccessReview

Gelatin-Based Hybrid Scaffolds: Promising Wound Dressings

by Sindi P. Ndlovu, Kwanele Ngece, Sibusiso Alven and Blessing A. Aderibigbe

Polymers 2021, 13(17), 2959; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13172959 - 31 Aug 2021

Cited by 88 | Viewed by 7159

Abstract

Wound care is a major biomedical field that is challenging due to the delayed wound healing process. Some factors are responsible for delayed wound healing such as malnutrition, poor oxygen flow, smoking, diseases (such as diabetes and cancer), microbial infections, etc. The currently used wound dressings suffer from various limitations, including poor antimicrobial activity, etc. Wound dressings that are formulated from biopolymers (e.g., cellulose, chitin, gelatin, chitosan, etc.) demonstrate interesting properties, such as good biocompatibility, non-toxicity, biodegradability, and attractive antimicrobial activity. Although biopolymer-based wound dressings display the aforementioned excellent features, they possess poor mechanical properties. Gelatin, a biopolymer has excellent biocompatibility, hemostatic property, reduced cytotoxicity, low antigenicity, and promotes cellular attachment and growth. However, it suffers from poor mechanical properties and antimicrobial activity. It is crosslinked with other polymers to enhance its mechanical properties. Furthermore, the incorporation of antimicrobial agents into gelatin-based wound dressings enhance their antimicrobial activity in vitro and in vivo. This review is focused on the development of hybrid wound dressings from a combination of gelatin and other polymers with good biological, mechanical, and physicochemical features which are appropriate for ideal wound dressings. Gelatin-based wound dressings are promising scaffolds for the treatment of infected, exuding, and bleeding wounds. This review article reports gelatin-based wound dressings which were developed between 2016 and 2021. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials in Biomedical Application)

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22 pages, 75280 KiB

Open AccessReview

Silver Micro-Nanoparticle-Based Nanoarchitectures: Synthesis Routes, Biomedical Applications, and Mechanisms of Action

by Md Abdul Wahab, Li Luming, Md Abdul Matin, Mohammad Rezaul Karim, Mohammad Omer Aijaz, Hamad Fahad Alharbi, Ahmed Abdala and Rezwanul Haque

Polymers 2021, 13(17), 2870; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13172870 - 26 Aug 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3091

Abstract

Silver has become a potent agent that can be effectively applied in nanostructured nanomaterials with various shapes and sizes against antibacterial applications. Silver nanoparticle (Ag NP) based-antimicrobial agents play a major role in different applications, including biomedical applications, as surface treatment and coatings, in chemical and food industries, and for agricultural productivity. Due to advancements in nanoscience and nanotechnology, different methods have been used to prepare Ag NPs with sizes and shapes reducing toxicity for antibacterial applications. Studies have shown that Ag NPs are largely dependent on basic structural parameters, such as size, shape, and chemical composition, which play a significant role in preparing the appropriate formulation for the desired applications. Therefore, this review focuses on the important parameters that affect the surface interaction/state of Ag NPs and their influence on antimicrobial activities, which are essential for designing future applications. The mode of action of Ag NPs as antibacterial agents will also be discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials in Biomedical Application)

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25 pages, 935 KiB

Open AccessReview

Articular and Artificial Cartilage, Characteristics, Properties and Testing Approaches—A Review

by Mohammad Mostakhdemin, Ashveen Nand and Maziar Ramezani

Polymers 2021, 13(12), 2000; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13122000 - 18 Jun 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4087

Abstract

The design and manufacture of artificial tissue for knee joints have been highlighted recently among researchers which necessitates an apt approach for its assessment. Even though most re-searches have focused on specific mechanical or tribological tests, other aspects have remained underexplored. In this review, elemental keys for design and testing artificial cartilage are dis-cussed and advanced methods addressed. Articular cartilage structure, its compositions in load-bearing and tribological properties of hydrogels, mechanical properties, test approaches and wear mechanisms are discussed. Bilayer hydrogels as a niche in tissue artificialization are presented, and recent gaps are assessed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials in Biomedical Application)

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22 pages, 2054 KiB

Open AccessReview

Jojoba Oil: An Updated Comprehensive Review on Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Uses, and Toxicity

by Heba A. Gad, Autumn Roberts, Samirah H. Hamzi, Haidy A. Gad, Ilham Touiss, Ahmed E. Altyar, Osama A. Kensara and Mohamed L. Ashour

Polymers 2021, 13(11), 1711; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym13111711 - 24 May 2021

Cited by 44 | Viewed by 35911

Abstract

Jojoba is a widely used medicinal plant that is cultivated worldwide. Its seeds and oil have a long history of use in folklore to treat various ailments, such as skin and scalp disorders, superficial wounds, sore throat, obesity, and cancer; for improvement of liver functions, enhancement of immunity, and promotion of hair growth. Extensive studies on Jojoba oil showed a wide range of pharmacological applications, including antioxidant, anti-acne and antipsoriasis, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antipyretic, analgesic, antimicrobial, and anti-hyperglycemia activities. In addition, Jojoba oil is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry, especially in cosmetics for topical, transdermal, and parenteral preparations. Jojoba oil also holds value in the industry as an anti-rodent, insecticides, lubricant, surfactant, and a source for the production of bioenergy. Jojoba oil is considered among the top-ranked oils due to its wax, which constitutes about 98% (mainly wax esters, few free fatty acids, alcohols, and hydrocarbons). In addition, sterols and vitamins with few triglyceride esters, flavonoids, phenolic and cyanogenic compounds are also present. The present review represents an updated literature survey about the chemical composition of jojoba oil, its physical properties, pharmacological activities, pharmaceutical and industrial applications, and toxicity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials in Biomedical Application)

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