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This paper presents an innovative application of chitosan material to be used as pH-responsive valves for the precise control of lateral flow in microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs). The fabrication of μPADs involved wax printing, while pH-responsive valves were created using a solution of chitosan in acetic acid. The valve-forming solution was applied, and ready when dry; by exposure to acidic solutions, the valve opens. Remarkably, the valves exhibited excellent compatibility with alkaline, neutral, and acidic solutions with a pH higher than 4. The valve opening process had no impact on the flow rate and colorimetric analysis. The potential of chitosan valves used for flow control was demonstrated for μPADs employed for nitrate determination. Valves were used to increase the conversion time of nitrate to nitrite, which was further analyzed using the Griess reaction. The μPAD showed a linear response in the concentration range of 10–100 μmol L−1, with a detection limit of 5.4 μmol L−1. As a proof of concept, the assay was successfully applied to detect nitrate levels in water samples from artificial lakes of recreational parks. For analyses that require controlled kinetics and involve multiple sequential steps, the use of chitosan pH-responsive valves in μPADs is extremely valuable. This breakthrough holds great potential for the development of simple and high-impact microfluidic platforms that can cater to a wide range of analytical chemistry applications. [Display omitted] • The development of pH-responsive valves offers a simple fabrication method and operational advantage in paper-based devices. • Control over the chitosan valve is achieved by adjusting the proton concentration using acid solutions • Chitosan is a biocompatible material for constructing valves, enabling precise control over nitrate reduction • A proof-of-concept study using urban park water analysis demonstrates the effectiveness of chitosan valves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The April 2024 issue of the Journal of Materials Science features a cover paper titled "Self-assembled NIPAM-PEG-NIPAM polymeric nanomicelles for the delivery of zinc protoporphyrin: a potential stimuli-triggered cancer treatment approach" by Bagheri-Meyabad et al. The paper, which is part of the "Materials for Life Sciences" Topical Collection, explores the use of nanomicelles for drug delivery. The corresponding author, Professor Rassoul Dinarvand, is based in Iran and has a strong research background in materials for life sciences. The paper is freely available online and includes supplementary information. [Extracted from the article]

A new biosensor for monitoring glucose levels in beverages is presented. The measurements are performed using potentiometric detection. Working electrodes are made using platinised paper as support and a biocompatible polymeric membrane made of a mixture of polyvinyl alcohol and chitosan containing glucose oxidase as the recognition layer. The system is based on the detection of the hydrogen peroxide generated by an enzymatic reaction performed in a highly sensitive, selective and simple way. The biosensors display suitable analytical performance (sensitivity −119.6 ± 6.4 mV/dec in the 0.03–1.0 mM range with a limit of detection of 0.02 mM). Determination of glucose in commercial orange juices is presented. These results were validated against conventional standard methods, showing good accuracy and fast analytical response. The methodology presented herein does not require complex samples treatment, offering an alternative to conventional methods, particularly for determinations performed with minimal expertise and without a laboratory infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phase change materials (PCMs) are materials that exhibit thermal response characteristics, allowing them to be utilized in the biological field for precise and controllable temperature regulation. Due to considerations of biosafety and the spatial limitations within human tissue, the amount of PCMs used in medical applications is relatively small. Therefore, researchers often augment PCMs with various materials to enhance their performance and increase their practical value. The dispersion of nanoparticles to modify the thermophysical properties of PCMs has emerged as a mature concept. This paper aims to elucidate the role of nanomaterials in addressing deficiencies and enhancing the performance of PCMs. Specifically, it discusses the dispersion methods and stabilization mechanisms of nanoparticles within PCMs, as well as their effects on thermophysical properties such as thermal conductivity, latent heat, and specific heat capacity. Furthermore, it explores how various nano-additives contribute to improved thermal conductivity and the mechanisms underlying enhanced latent heat and specific heat. Additionally, the potential applications of PCMs in biomedical fields are proposed. Finally, this paper provides a comprehensive analysis and offers suggestions for future research to maximize the utilization of nanomaterials in enhancing the thermophysical properties of PCMs for biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CoCrMo alloys are often used in the manufacture of artificial joints in the medical field, and their special working environment will lead to corrosion and abrasion of the surface materials, thus reducing the service life of the joints. Surface texturing technology can improve the friction performance of joints by reducing the friction area, storing abrasive particles and lubricants, etc. Its application in the field of CoCrMo alloy joint surface strengthening is of great significance. This paper analyses the characteristics of surface fabrication processing technology and the friction reduction mechanism of surface fabrication under fluid lubrication and dry friction conditions, summarizes the influence of various fabrication parameters (fabrication depth, size, density, shape, etc.) on the friction performance of the alloy, introduces other surface technologies of CoCrMo alloy as well as common medical materials, summarizes the existing problems in the research of CoCrMo alloy surface reinforcement technology at this stage and makes a study on the development direction of the surface reinforcement technology of CoCrMo alloy in the field of artificial joints. The development direction of CoCrMo alloy in the field of artificial joints is also prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combining photodynamic antimicrobials with nonwovens is prospective. However, common photosensitizers still have drawbacks such as poor photoactivity and the inability to charge. In this study, a photodynamic and high‐efficiency antimicrobial protective material was prepared by grafting bis benzophenone‐structured 4,4‐terephthaloyl diphthalic anhydride (TDPA) photosensitizer, and antimicrobial agent chlorogenic acid (CA) onto spunbond‐meltblown‐spunbond (SMS) membranes. The charging rates for ·OH and H2O2 were 6377.89 and 913.52 μg/g/h. The light absorption transients structural storage remained above 69% for 1 month. High electrical capacity remained after seven cycles indicating its rechargeability and recyclability. The SMS/TDPA/CA membrane has excellent bactericidal performance when under illumination or lightless conditions, and the bactericidal efficiency of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus reached over 99%. The construction of self‐disinfection textiles based on the photodynamic strategies proposed in this paper is constructive for expanding and promoting the application of textile materials in the medical field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid evolution of clinical medicine, materials science, and regenerative medicine has rendered traditional implantable scaffolds inadequate for addressing the complex therapeutic demands of various diseases. Currently, implantable scaffolds in clinical practice are mainly made of metal, with the disadvantages of high stiffness, poor toughness, and low deformation. This paper offers a thorough review of shape memory scaffolds (SMSs), emphasizing their distinctive self‐recovery and adaptive functionalities that enhance compatibility with injured tissues, surpassing the capabilities of conventional metallic biomaterials. It delves into the limitations of current clinical scaffolds and the requisite performance metrics for effective implants and outlines the essential materials and fabrication methods for SMSs. Moreover, we enumerate the biomedical applications of SMMs with different response types, including thermology‐responsive, water‐responsive, and light‐responsive. The discussion extends to the burgeoning applications of SMSs in biomedical engineering, including their utility in bone tissue engineering, cardiovascular stenting, tubular structures, and cardiac patches, which underscore their potential in minimally invasive procedures and dynamic tissue interactions. This review concludes with an analysis of current challenges and prospects, providing valuable insights for developing and applying SMSs in the biomedical sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyurethane is a kind of synthetic polymer composed of isocyanates, polyols and chain extenders. Due to its excellent mechanical flexibility, biodegradability and physicochemical properties, polyurethane is widely used in biological, medical, food and antifouling fields. With the continuous development of science and technology, ordinary polyurethane materials have been unable to meet people's diverse and high standard aseptic requirements, and the development and application of antibacterial polyurethane is getting more and more attention. In this paper, the antibacterial modification methods of polyurethane materials were introduced, and the application status and antibacterial mechanism of polyurethane materials in medical treatment, food packaging, water treatment and other aspects in recent years were reviewed. At the end, the problems faced in the application of antibacterial polyurethane materials and corresponding improvement measures are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review presents an in-depth examination of implantable antennas for various biomedical purposes. The development of implantable antennas, including their designs, materials, and operating principles, are introduced at the beginning of the discussion. An overview of the many kinds of implantable antennas utilized in implantable medical devices (IMDs) are presented in this study. The article then discusses the important factors to consider when developing implantable antennas for biomedical purposes, including implant placement, frequency range, and power needs. This investigation additionally examines the challenges and limitations encountered with implantable antennas, including the limited space available within the human body, the requirement for biocompatible materials, the impact of surrounding tissue on antenna performance, tissue attenuation, and signal interference. This review also emphasizes the most recent advances in implanted antenna technology, such as wireless power transmission, multiband operation, and miniaturization. Furthermore, it offers illustrations of several biomedical uses for implantable antennas, including pacemaker, capsule endoscopy, intracranial pressure monitoring, retinal prostheses, and bone implants. This paper concludes with a discussion of the future of implantable antennas and their possible use in bioelectronic medicine and novel medical implants. Overall, this survey offers a thorough analysis of implantable antennas in biomedical applications, emphasizing their importance in the development of implantable medical technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The effective treatment and utilization of biowaste have been emphasized in our society for environmental and economic concerns. Recently, the eggshell waste in the poultry industry has been highlighted because of its reclamation potential. This study presents an economical treatment process to recover useful bioproducts from eggshell waste and their utilization in commercial products. We developed the dissolved air floatation (DAF) separation unit, which successfully recovered 96% of eggshell membrane and 99% of eggshell calcium carbonate (ECC) particles from eggshell waste within 2h of operation. The recovered ECC particles were utilized as coating pigments for ink-jet printing paper and their impact on the ink density and paper gloss were investigated. The addition of the ECC particles as coating pigments enhances the optical density of cyan, magenta and yellow inks while decreasing the black ink density and the gloss of the coated paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This document, titled "Biomaterials and Agents: Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Applications in Dental Research," discusses the importance of oral health and the challenges posed by dental diseases such as caries and periodontal diseases. The document highlights the focus of studies on new biomaterials and pharmaceutical agents for the treatment, prevention, and restoration of dental tissue, as well as the suppression of pathogenic bacteria in the oral cavity. The document also provides an overview of a special issue consisting of 33 papers that discuss cutting-edge technologies and advancements in regenerative medicine, materials science, and pharmaceutical agents. Visualizations and text analysis techniques are used to identify clusters of relevant terms and the most frequent words in the articles. The authors express their gratitude to the contributors and hope that readers find the contents of the special issue informative and engaging. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: The paper aims to fabricate shape memory composites using polylactic acid (PLA) matrix and graphite. Shape memory polymers are a promising family of materials for biomedical applications because of their favourable mechanical properties, fast reactions and good biocompatibility. For most SMPs, however, achieving controllable sequential shape change is challenging. Design/methodology/approach: In the present work, 4D printing technology is used to fabricate shape memory composites using polylactic acid (PLA) matrix and graphite. A comparative study of pure PLA and graphite's different weight % composition has been done. Findings: By carefully managing the deformation state, PLA with graphite shape memory composites produced controllable sequential deformation with an amazing shape memory effect. Surface morphology, thermal properties, melt flow index and shape recovery tests have all been carried out to assess the qualities of manufactured samples. Originality/value: This is a one-of-a-kind to fabricate shape memory composites using graphite and a PLA matrix. Thus, this research attempts to deliver the possible use of PLA/graphite composites fabricated using 4D printing in robotics and biomedical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiral Metal‐Organic Frameworks (CMOFs) is a kind of material with great application value in recent years. Formed by the coordination of metal ions or metal clusters with organic ligands. It has ordered and adjustable pores, multi‐dimensional network structure, large specific surface area and excellent adsorption properties. This material structure combines the properties of metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) with the chiral properties of chiral molecules. It has great advantages in catalysis, adsorption, separation and other fields. Therefore, it has a wide range of applications in chemistry, biology, medicine and materials science. In this paper, various synthesis strategies and preparation methods of chiral metal‐organic frameworks are reviewed from different perspectives, and the advantages of each method are analyzed. In addition, the applications of chiral metal‐organic framework materials in enantiomer recognition and separation, circular polarization luminescence and asymmetric catalysis are systematically summarized, and the corresponding mechanisms are discussed. Finally, the challenges and prospects of the development of chiral metal‐organic frame materials are analyzed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic–inorganic hybrids represent a good solution to improve the solubility and dissolution rates of poorly soluble drugs whose number has been increasing in the last few years. One of the most diffused inorganic matrices is hydroxyapatite (HAP), which is a biocompatible and osteoconductive material. However, the understanding of the hybrids' functioning mechanisms is in many cases limited; thus, thorough physicochemical characterizations are needed. In the present paper, we prepared hybrids of pure and Mg-doped hydroxyapatite with meloxicam, a drug pertaining to the Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS) class II, i.e., drugs with low solubility and high permeability. The hybrids' formation was demonstrated by FT-IR, which suggested electrostatic interactions between HAP and drug. The substitution of Mg in the HAP structure mainly produced a structural disorder and a reduction in crystallite sizes. The surface area of HAP increased after Mg doping from 82 to 103 m2g−1 as well as the pore volume, justifying the slightly high drug amount adsorbed by the Mg hybrid. Notwithstanding the low drug loading on the hybrids, the solubility, dissolution profiles and wettability markedly improved with respect to the drug alone, particularly for the Mg doped one, which was probably due to the main distribution of the drug on the HAP surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC), a natural polymer material, gained significant popularity among researchers and industry. It has great potential in areas, such as textile manufacturing, fiber-based paper, and packaging products, food industry, biomedical materials, and advanced functional bionanocomposites. The main current fermentation methods for BNC involved static culture, as the agitated culture methods had lower raw material conversion rates and resulted in non-uniform product formation. Currently, studies have shown that the production of BNC can be enhanced by incorporating specific additives into the culture medium. These additives included organic acids or polysaccharides. γ-Polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA), known for its high polymerization, excellent biodegradability, and environmental friendliness, has found extensive application in various industries including daily chemicals, medicine, food, and agriculture. Results: In this particular study, 0.15 g/L of γ-PGA was incorporated as a medium additive to cultivate BNC under agitated culture conditions of 120 rpm and 30 ℃. The BNC production increased remarkably by 209% in the medium with 0.15 g/L γ-PGA and initial pH of 5.0 compared to that in the standard medium, and BNC production increased by 7.3% in the medium with 0.06 g/L γ-PGA. The addition of γ-PGA as a medium additive resulted in significant improvements in BNC production. Similarly, at initial pH levels of 4.0 and 6.0, the BNC production also increased by 39.3% and 102.3%, respectively. To assess the characteristics of the BNC products, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis were used. The average diameter of BNC fibers, which was prepared from the medium adding 0.15 g/L γ-PGA, was twice thicker than that of BNC fibers prepared from the control culture medium. That might be because that polyglutamic acid relieved the BNC synthesis from the shear stress from the agitation. Conclusions: This experiment held great significance as it explored the use of a novel medium additive, γ-PGA, to improve the production and the glucose conversion rate in BNC fermentation. And the BNC fibers became thicker, with better thermal stability, higher crystallinity, and higher degree of polymerization (DPv). These findings lay a solid foundation for future large-scale fermentation production of BNC using bioreactors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomedical terminologies play a vital role in managing biomedical data. Missing IS-A relations in a biomedical terminology could be detrimental to its downstream usages. In this paper, we investigate an approach combining logical definitions and lexical features to discover missing IS-A relations in two biomedical terminologies: SNOMED CT and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) thesaurus. The method is applied to unrelated concept-pairs within non-lattice subgraphs: graph fragments within a terminology likely to contain various inconsistencies. Our approach first compares whether the logical definition of a concept is more general than that of the other concept. Then, we check whether the lexical features of the concept are contained in those of the other concept. If both constraints are satisfied, we suggest a potentially missing IS-A relation between the two concepts. The method identified 982 potential missing IS-A relations for SNOMED CT and 100 for NCI thesaurus. In order to assess the efficacy of our approach, a random sample of results belonging to the "Clinical Findings" and "Procedure" subhierarchies of SNOMED CT and results belonging to the "Drug, Food, Chemical or Biomedical Material" subhierarchy of the NCI thesaurus were evaluated by domain experts. The evaluation results revealed that 118 out of 150 suggestions are valid for SNOMED CT and 17 out of 20 are valid for NCI thesaurus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burn wound regeneration is a complex process, which has many serious challenges such as slow wound healing, secondary infection, and inflammation. Therefore, it is essential to utilise appropriate biomaterials to accelerate and guide the wound healing process. Bacterial cellulose (BC), a natural polymer synthesised by some bacteria, has attracted much attention for wound healing applications due to its unique properties including excellent physicochemical and mechanical properties, simple purification process, three‐dimensional (3D) network structure similar to extracellular matrix, high purity, high water holding capacity and significant permeability to gas and liquid. BC's lack of antibacterial activity significantly limits its biomedical and tissue engineering application, but adding antimicrobial agents to it remarkably improves its performance in tissue regeneration applications. Burn wound healing is a complex long‐lasting process. Using biomaterials in wound treatment has shown that they can satisfactorily accelerate wound healing. The purpose of this review is to elaborate on the importance of BC‐based structures as one of the most widely used modern wound dressings in the treatment of burn wounds. In addition, the combination of various drugs, agents, cells and biomolecules with BC to expand its application in burn injury regeneration is discussed. Finally, the main challenges and future development direction of BC‐based structures for burn wound repair are considered. The four most popular search engines PubMed/MEDLINE, Science Direct, Scopus and Google Scholar were used to help us find relevant papers. The most frequently used keywords were bacterial cellulose, BC‐based biocomposite, wound healing, burn wound and vascular graft. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper verified the possibility of applying chitosan and/or ferulic acid or polycaprolactone (PCL)-based coatings to polydimethylsiloxane/neodymium–iron–boron (PDMS/NdFeB) composites using the spin-coating method. The surface modification of magnetic composites by biofunctional layers allows for the preparation of materials for biomedical applications. Biofunctional layered magnetic composites were obtained in three steps. The spin-coating method with various parameters (time and spin speed) was used to apply different substances to the surface of the composites. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) were used to analyze the thickness and surface topography. The contact angle of the obtained surfaces was tested. Increasing spin speed and increasing process time for the same speed resulted in decreasing the composite's thickness. The linear and surface roughness for the prepared coatings were approximately 0.2 μm and 0.01 μm, respectively, which are desirable values in the context of biocompatibility. The contact angle test results showed that both the addition of chitosan and PCL to PDMS have reduced the contact angle θ from 105° for non-coated composite to θ~59–88° depending on the coating. The performed modifications gave promising results mainly due to making the surface hydrophilic, which is a desirable feature of projected biomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of hemostatic agents by general surgeons during abdominal operations is commonplace as an adjunctive measure to minimize risks of postoperative bleeding and its downstream complications. Proper selection of products can be hampered by marginal understanding of their pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. While a variety of hemostatic agents are currently available on the market, the choice of those products is often confusing for surgeons. This paper aims to summarize and compare the available hemostatic products for each clinical indication and to ultimately better guide surgeons in the selection and proper use of hemostatic agents in daily clinical practice. Methods: We utilized PubMed electronic database and published product information from the respective pharmaceutical companies to collect information on the characteristics of the hemostatic products. Results: All commercially available hemostatic agents in the US are described with a description of their mechanism of action, indications, contraindications, circumstances in which they are best utilized, and expected results. Conclusion: Hemostatic products come with many different types and specifications. They are valuable tools to serve as an adjunct to surgical hemostasis. Proper education and knowledge of their characteristics are important for the selection of the right agent and optimal utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The initial predictions of the importance of geopolymers primarily assumed use mainly in the construction sector. However, as research progresses, it is becoming clear that these versatile materials demonstrate the ability to greatly exceed their original applications, as characterized in detail in this review article. To the best of our knowledge, there is no literature review concerning geopolymer materials that compiles the diverse applications of these versatile materials. This paper focuses on geopolymer applications beyond the construction industry. The surprising application potential of geopolymers in medicine has become a topic of particular interest. Therefore, considerable attention in this paper is devoted to characterizing the utility of these materials in tissue engineering, dentistry and drug delivery systems. Geopolymers not only have exceptional heat resistance and compressive strength, making them durable and resistant to manipulation (over five times less drug released from the geopolymer carrier compared to the commercial formulation), but also provide a robust solution for extended-release drug delivery systems, especially in opioid formulations. Their chemical stability, porous structure and ability to maintain structure after repeated regeneration processes speak to their potential in water treatment. Geopolymers, which excel in the energy industry as refractory materials due to their resistance to high temperatures and refractory properties, also present potential in thermal insulation and energy storage. It was demonstrated that geopolymer-based systems may even be 35% cheaper than conventional ones and show 70% lower thermal conductivity. In terms of protection against microorganisms, the possibility of modifying geopolymers with antimicrobial additives shows their adaptability, maintaining their effectiveness even under high-temperature conditions. Research into their use as anticorrosion materials is targeting corrosion-resistant coatings, with geopolymers containing graphene oxide showing particularly promising results. The multitude of potential applications for geopolymers in a variety of fields reflects their enormous potential. As research progresses, the scope of their possibilities continues to expand, offering innovative solutions to pressing global challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Hydroxyapatite (HA) has been used in clinical bone graft procedures for the past 25 years. Although a biocompatible material, its poor adhesion strength to substrate makes it unsuitable for major load-bearing devices. Investigations on various deposition techniques of HA coating on Ti–6Al–4V implants have been made over the years, in particular to improve its adhesion strength to the metal alloy and its long-term reliability. This review comprehensively analyzes nine techniques mostly used for deposition of HA onto Ti–6Al–4V alloys. The techniques reviewed are Plasma sprayed deposition, Hot Isostatic Pressing, Thermal Spray, Dip coating, Pulsed Laser deposition (PLD), Electrophoretic deposition (EPD), Sol–Gel, Ion Beam Assisted deposition (IBAD), and Sputtering. The advantages and disadvantages of each method over other techniques are discussed. The adhesion strength and the factors affecting the adhesion of HA coating on Ti–6Al–4V implants are also compared. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Various calcium phosphates are used for bone repair. Although hydroxyapatite (HA) sintered ceramics are widely used due to their osteoconductivity, its bioresorbability is so low that HA remains in the body for a long time after implantation. In contrast, tricalcium phosphate (TCP) ceramics show resorbable characters during bone regeneration, and can be completely substituted for the bone tissue after stimulation of bone formation. Therefore, much attention is paid to TCP ceramics for scaffold materials for supporting bone regeneration. This paper reviews bioresorbable properties of calcium phosphate ceramics derived from β-TCP and α-TCP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been widely used for sterilization due to their broad-spectrum bactericidal properties. However, there exist the problems of premature releasing and accumulative toxicity when free AgNPs are applied. This study proposed a one-pot hydrothermal strategy to synthesize carbon spheres immobilized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs@CS). The synthesis involves with silver ammonia solution as Ag precursor, and corn stalk as green reducing agent and carbon precursor. Furthermore, AgNPs@CS was anchored by cellulose nanofibers (CNF) to obtain the antibacterial composite paper. The obtained CNF/AgNPs@CS paper exhibited superior antibacterial properties against E. coli and S. aureus. Notably, the accumulative release rate of AgNPs from AgNPs@CS was 10.2% in 9 days, while that from CNF/AgNPs@CS paper was only 6.7% due to the anchoring effect of both CS and CNF, which was low for avoiding the cumulative toxicity problem. In addition, the mechanical and barrier properties of CNF/AgNPs@CS paper were also improved by 29.4% (tensile index), 2.7% (tear index), 7.4% (burst index), 10% (folding endurance), 0.8% (water vapor transmission) and 9.4% (oxygen transmission rate), respectively. Therefore, the composite paper has potential application as a medical antibacterial material. • AgNPs were synthesized in carbon sphere (CS) by one-pot hydrothermal strategy. • AgNPs@CS were further immobilized by cellulose nanofibers to obtain composite paper. • The accumulative release rate of AgNPs from composite paper was low and safe. • The composite papers exhibited excellent antibacterial properties on E. coli and S. aureus. • The composite paper showed satisfactory mechanical and barrier properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review focuses on one of the most exciting applications area of conjugated conducting polymers, which is tissue engineering. Strategies used for the biocompatibility improvement of this class of polymers (including biomolecules’ entrapment or covalent grafting) and also the integrated novel technologies for smart scaffolds generation such as micropatterning, electrospinning, self-assembling are emphasized. These processing alternatives afford the electroconducting polymers nanostructures, the most appropriate forms of the materials that closely mimic the critical features of the natural extracellular matrix. Due to their capability to electronically control a range of physical and chemical properties, conducting polymers such as polyaniline, polypyrrole, and polythiophene and/or their derivatives and composites provide compatible substrates which promote cell growth, adhesion, and proliferation at the polymer—tissue interface through electrical stimulation. The activities of different types of cells on these materials are also presented in detail. Specific cell responses depend on polymers surface characteristics like roughness, surface free energy, topography, chemistry, charge, and other properties as electrical conductivity or mechanical actuation, which depend on the employed synthesis conditions. The biological functions of cells can be dramatically enhanced by biomaterials with controlled organizations at the nanometer scale and in the case of conducting polymers, by the electrical stimulation. The advantages of using biocompatible nanostructures of conducting polymers (nanofibers, nanotubes, nanoparticles, and nanofilaments) in tissue engineering are also highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Among biomaterials used as implants in human body, sutures constitute the largest groups of materials having a huge market exceeding $1.3 billion annually. Sutures are the most widely used materials in wound closure and have been in use for many centuries. With the development of the synthetic absorbable polymer, poly(glycolic acid) (PGA) in the early 1970s, a new chapter has opened on absorbable polymeric sutures that got unprecedented commercial successes. Although several comparative evaluations of suture materials have been published, there were no serious attempts of late on a comprehensive review of production, properties, biodegradability, and performance of suture materials. This review proposes to bring to focus scattered data on chemistry, properties, biodegradability, and performance of absorbable polymeric sutures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presently, special metallic materials (titanium and a number of its alloys, stainless steels, magnesium alloys, etc.) are extensively used for the manufacturing of many medical tools and devices and choosing the appropriate material is of vital importance as it determines the success and safety of the medical devices for their application. Recent years witnessed active research and development to improve the mechanical and functional properties of these biomaterials using their nanostructuring by means of severe plastic deformation (SPD) techniques. The specific nanostructural features induced by SPD processing in metallic biomaterials significantly contribute to their performance, which has been evidenced in a series of investigative activities conducted lately to improve existing metallic biomaterials and explore potential for their production capability. This paper presents a review of these works and considers the scientific principles of achieving a higher level of properties in the metallic biomaterials as well as related challenges and uncertainties, which forms the basis for the production of a new generation of medical implants with improved design and increased biofunctionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper developed a method for preparing ultrasound-responsive microgels based on reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer-hetero Diels–Alder (RAFT-HAD) dynamic covalent bonding. First, a styrene cross-linked network was successfully prepared by a Diels–Alder (DA) reaction between phosphoryl dithioester and furan using double-ended diethoxyphosphoryl dithiocarbonate (BDEPDF) for RAFT reagent-mediated styrene (St) polymerization, with a double-ended dienophile linker and copolymer of furfuryl methacrylate (FMA) and St as the dienophile. Subsequently, the microgel system was constructed by the HDA reaction between phosphoryl disulfide and furan groups using the copolymer of polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether acrylate (OEGMA) and FMA as the dienophore building block and hydrophilic segment and the polystyrene pro-dienophile linker as the cross-linker and hydrophobic segment. The number of furans in the dienophile chain and the length of the dienophile linker were regulated by RAFT polymerization to investigate the effects of the single-molecule chain functional group degree, furan/dithioester ratio, and hydrophobic cross-linker length on the microgel system. The prepared microgels can achieve the reversible transformation of materials under force responsiveness, and their preparation steps are simple and adaptive to various potential applications in biomedical materials and adaptive electrical materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scaffolds are used as temporary tissue in the human body to expedite healing. Biocompatible materials play a vital role in the field of tissue engineering. Therefore, they can be used to reduce human pain as soon as possible. Polymeric materials are widely used to replicate bone tissue. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is a potential material for bone tissue scaffolds because of its superior properties, including compatibility with the human body. Accordingly, adding hydroxyapatite and introducing different fabrication methods can enable the production of PLGA scaffolds with good abilities to help cells grow, expand, differentiate, and proliferate. The paper reviews the current development of the biocompatible material PLGA as bone tissue scaffolds. It focuses on the applications, properties, improvements, and sustainability of PLGA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black Phosphorus (BP) is a new semiconductor material with excellent biocompatibility, degradability, and optical and electrophysical properties. A growing number of studies show that BP has high potential applications in the biomedical field. This article aims to systematically review the research progress of BP composite medical materials in the field of tissue engineering, mining BP in bone regeneration, skin repair, nerve repair, inflammation, treatment methods, and the application mechanism. Furthermore, the paper discusses the shortcomings and future recommendations related to the development of BP. These shortcomings include stability, photothermal conversion capacity, preparation process, and other related issues. However, despite these challenges, the utilization of BP-based medical materials holds immense promise in revolutionizing the field of tissue repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compound droplets have received increasing attention due to their applications in many several areas, including medicine and materials. Previous works mostly focused on compound droplets on planar surfaces and, as such, the effects of curved walls have not been studied thoroughly. In this paper, the influence of the properties of curved solid wall (including the shape, curvature, and contact angle) on the wetting behavior of compound droplets is explored. The axisymmetric lattice Boltzmann method, based on the conservative phase field formulation for ternary fluids, was used to numerically study the wetting and spreading of a compound droplet of the Janus type on various curved solid walls at large density ratios, focusing on whether the separation of compound droplets occurs. Several types of wall geometries were considered, including a planar wall, a concave wall with constant curvature, and a convex wall with fixed or variable curvature (specifically, a prolate or oblate spheroid). The effects of surface wettability, interfacial angles, and the density ratio (of droplet to ambient fluid) on the wetting process were also explored. In general, it was found that, under otherwise identical conditions, droplet separation tends to happen more likely on more hydrophilic walls, under larger interfacial angles (measured inside the droplet), and at larger density ratios. On convex walls, a larger radius of curvature of the surface near the droplet was found to be helpful to split the Janus droplet. On concave walls, as the radius of curvature increases from a small value, the possibility to observe droplet separation first increases and then decreases. Several phase diagrams on whether droplet separation occurs during the spreading process were produced for different kinds of walls to illustrate the influences of various factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Often hard implants undergo detachment from the host tissue due to inadequate biocompatibility and poor osteointegration. Changing surface chemistry and physical topography of the surface influences biocompatibility. At present, the understanding of biocompatibility of both virgin and modified surfaces of bioimplant materials is limited and a great deal of research is being dedicated to this aspect. In view of this, the current review casts new light on research related to the surface modification of biomaterials, especially materials for prosthetic applications. A brief overview of the major surface modification techniques has been presented, followed by an in-depth discussion on laser surface modifications that have been explored so far along with those that hold tremendous potential for bioimplant applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to manipulate semiconductor surfaces and interfaces has gained significant attention in the past few years, in particular to design novel routes for the development of sensors and new materials, like intelligent tissues, for bio-physics applications. In this paper, we review some recent results on the atomic manipulation of cubic silicon carbide (SiC) surfaces, as obtained by ab initio simulations, and compare them with the available experimental data. The main focus will be the study of the interaction and adsorption mechanism of simple molecules on SiC surfaces. SiC, and in particular the cubic polytype, is a wide-gap semiconductor, that for its inertness and transparency has been and still is considered a leading candidate material for biocompatible devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bio-impedance measurement analysis primarily refers to a safe and a non-invasive technique to analyze the electrical changes in living tissues on the application of low-value alternating current. It finds applications both in the biomedical and the agricultural fields. This paper concisely reviews the origin and measurement approaches for concepts and fundamentals of bio-impedance followed by a critical review on bio-impedance portable devices with main emphasis on the embedded system approach which is in demand due to its miniature size and present lifestyle preference of monitoring health in real time. The paper also provides a comprehensive review of various bio-impedance circuits with emphasis on the measurement and calibration techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disposable electrochemical sensors using sustainable and cheap materials are an exciting alternative to produce new kinds of sensing platforms. Waterproof paper (WP) is a biodegradable and biocompatible material that allows dropped of the sample on its surface without absorption by fibers. Also, WP can be used for miniaturized sensors construction. In this work, a conductive ink was produced with nail polish and graphite powder, using the WP as the sensor substrate for paracetamol (PAR) and melatonin (MEL) voltammetric determination. PAR is a pharmaceutical commonly used in high doses for the relief of pain and fever, and MEL is a hormone related to several diseases besides a direct relation to sleep quality. Using differential pulse voltammetry for PAR determination, the WP sensor showed a linear response in the concentration ranging from 0.50 μmol L−1 to 100 μmol L−1 with a limit of detection (LOD) of 53.6 nmol L−1. Square wave voltammetry was applied for MEL determination, and the proposed electrode presented linear response ranging from 0.80 μmol L−1 to 100 μmol L−1 and LOD of 32.5 nmol L−1. The sensor showed excellent repeatability and reproducibility for consecutive measurements. Then, the disposable WP sensor was successfully applied in the determination of PAR and MEL in pharmaceutical and biological samples, with recovery values, above 91.1%. The described architecture allowed the manufacture of a disposable, simple, and low-cost electroanalytical device that can be used for electrochemical sensing. Image 1 • Waterproof paper showed an excellent platform for GPT-WPE sensor construction. • Waterproof paper allows the construction of a sensor with hydrophobic characteristic. • Low-cost and easy construction of a sensor based on graphite and nail polish ink. • Accurate method for paracetamol and melatonin determination in pharmaceutical and biological samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Titanium alloys are among the most widely used materials in medicine, especially in orthopedics. However, their use requires the application of an appropriate surface modification method to improve their properties. Such methods include anodic oxidation and the application of polymer coatings, which limit the release of alloying element ions. In addition, biodegradable polymer coatings can serve as a carrier for drugs and other substances. The paper presents the results of research on the physical properties of biodegradable polymer coatings containing na-noparticle hydroxyapatite on a titanium alloy substrate. Methods: A PLGA coating was used in the tests. The coatings on the substrate of the anodized Ti6Al7Nb alloy were applied by ultrasonic spray coating. The tests were carried out for coatings with various hydroxyapatite content (5, 10, 15, 20%) and thickness resulting from the number of layers applied (5, 10, 15 layers). The scope of the research included microscopic observations using scanning electron microscopy, topography tests with optical profilometry, structural studies using X-ray diffraction, as well as wettability and adhesion tests. Results: The results shows that with the use of ultrasonic spray coating system is possible to obtain the continuous coatings containing hydroxyapaptite. Conclusions: The properties of the coating can be controlled by changing the percentage of hydroxyapatite and the number of layers of which the coating is composed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of the study of the application of plasma technologies for creating materials with antimicrobial properties, namely, the application of radio-frequency (RF) plasma treatment to modify polypropylene (PP) nonwoven materials with antibacterial agents based on silver nanoparticles, modification of leather materials by cathode-ion bombardment with the formation of nitride nanostructures, the antibacterial properties of the obtained materials were studied. It has been shown that the use of RF plasma modification makes possible to obtain disposable medical materials characterized by pronounced antibacterial activity across their surface area, and leather material with condensed nitride layers has a barrier effect on ion migration and antimicrobial activity in the absence of cytotoxicity, which makes this material promising for making prosthetic elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silk fibroin is a widely used biocompatible medical material with tunable mechanical, degradability and environmental non-toxicity. This paper prepared the silk fibroin/chitosan hydrogel microneedle with pH sensitivity by blending silk fibroin with chitosan to induce graft cross-linking. The cross-linked silk fibroin/chitosan microneedles network is expanded by hydrogen ions and water molecules, forming a more significant swelling. In vitro, the transdermal drug release showed that insulin loaded in microneedles exhibited pH-sensitive drug release behavior and was released faster under acidic conditions than under neutral conditions. By changing the pH of the solution, microneedles can achieve a stimulating response to the environment, thereby intelligently regulating the transdermal release of insulin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rising demand for implantable orthopaedic medical devices and the dominance of device-associated infections, extensive research into the development of novel materials has been prompted. Among these, new-generation titanium alloys with biocompatible elements and improved stiffness levels have received much attention. Furthermore, the development of titanium-based materials that can impart antibacterial function has demonstrated promising results, where gallium has exhibited superior antimicrobial action. This has been evidenced by the addition of gallium to various biomaterials including titanium alloys. Therefore, this paper aims to review the antibacterial activity of gallium when incorporated into biomedical materials, with a focus on titanium-based alloys. First, discussion into the development of new-generation Ti alloys that possess biocompatible elements and reduced Young's moduli is presented. This includes a brief review of the influence of alloying elements, processing techniques and the resulting biocompatibilities of the materials found in the literature. The antibacterial effect of gallium added to various materials, including bioglasses, liquid metals, and bioceramics, is then reviewed and discussed. Finally, a key focus is given to the incorporation of gallium into titanium systems for which the inherent mechanical, biocompatible, and antibacterial effects are reviewed and discussed in more detail, leading to suggestions and directions for further research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Drugs used to treat cancer are most often very toxic. Taking their high doses may adversely affect the patient's health, as a result of which the therapy, instead of helping, harms. An example of such a drug is 6-mercaptopurine, described in this paper. Due to these negative properties, it is necessary to create such systems that would release the drug in a controlled manner only in the vicinity of diseased tissues. In this work, a drug carrier was prepared that releases the drug only in the acidic environment of cancer, due to which healthy tissues will not be exposed to it. Systems that release the drug only in an acidic environment have not been described before and the application potential of such a carrier is very large. Hydroxy double salts are layered materials that are considered to be biocompatible. For this reason, research has been initiated on the possibility of their use in drug delivery. Despite their use for several types of drugs, their potential for controlled release of mercaptopurine (MERC) has not been studied. In this work, the synthesized hydroxy double salt (HDS) material was used as a carrier for this drug for the first time. The effectiveness of HDS synthesis has been proven by such techniques as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Based on the FT-IR and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) results, the effectiveness of drug sorption was proven. The exact amount of drug retained was determined by the UV-Vis technique. The obtained results indicate that the drug is evenly distributed on the surface of the carrier, which is important during the controlled delivery of drugs. In the most important stage of the research, the effectiveness of drug release in response to changes in the pH of the environment was proven. The drug is not released into an environment that mimics healthy human tissues. It is released only after contact with the acidic environment that usually surrounds cancer cells. The low cellular toxicity of HDS and significant cytotoxic effect of HDS-MERC were confirmed by in vitro studies on MCF-7 human breast and DU145 prostate cancer cell lines and non-cancerous keratinocytes HaCaT. Interestingly, coupling with the HDS carrier increased the cytotoxic effect of MERC towards DU145 cells. Such an "intelligent" drug carrier for mercaptopurine has not been previously described in the literature. The obtained results indicate its great potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a promising manufacturing platform in biomedical engineering. It offers significant advantages in fabricating complex and customized biomedical products with accuracy, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and reproducibility. The rapidly growing field of three-dimensional printing (3DP), which emphasizes customization as its key advantage, is actively searching for functional materials. Among these materials, piezoelectric materials are highly desired due to their linear electromechanical and thermoelectric properties. Polymer piezoelectrics and their composites are in high demand as biomaterials due to their controllable and reproducible piezoelectric properties. Three-dimensional printable piezoelectric materials have opened new possibilities for integration into biomedical fields such as sensors for healthcare monitoring, controlled drug delivery systems, tissue engineering, microfluidic, and artificial muscle actuators. Overall, this review paper provides insights into the fundamentals of polymer piezoelectric materials, the application of polymer piezoelectric materials in biomedical fields, and highlights the challenges and opportunities in realizing their full potential for functional applications. By addressing these challenges, integrating 3DP and piezoelectric materials can lead to the development of advanced sensors and devices with enhanced performance and customization capabilities for biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminophosphate glasses have found wide applications in various fields, such as biomedical materials, optical components, sealing materials, and nuclear waste forms. In spite of their well‐investigated short‐range ordered structures, the relationship between the properties and the medium‐range structural features is far from being understood. In this paper, atomistic structures of sodium aluminophosphate (SAP) glasses were reproduced by molecular dynamics simulations. In addition, experimental methods, including Raman, differential scanning calorimetry, and synchrotron X‐ray total scattering, have been applied to characterize the structures of these glasses, together with the measurements of various glass properties, such as the density, glass transition temperature (Tg), coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), and hardness. Moreover, the quantitative structure–property relationship (QSPR) analysis was performed to correlate the simulated glass structures with the experimentally measured properties. The simulation results reveal that the P–O–P linkages in the glass network are gradually replaced by the P–O–Al linkages with additional alumina to the compositions, which contributes to the property changes of the SAP glass systems. Meanwhile, the long chains in the SAP glasses tend to form ring structures, and the primitive rings are concentrated in the range between 4‐ and 20‐membered rings. Furthermore, QSPR analysis shows that the simulated structures have good correlations with the experimental properties, and the established structure–property model is promising in predicting certain properties of aluminophosphate glass systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer materials are widely used in biomedicine, chemistry and material science, whose traditional preparations are mainly based on experience, intuition and conceptual insight, having been applied to the development of many new materials, but facing great challenges due to the vast design space for biomedical polymers. So far, the best way to solve these problems is to accelerate material design through artificial intelligence, especially machine learning. Herein, this paper will introduce several successful cases, and analyze the latest progress of machine learning in the field of biomedical polymers, then discuss the opportunities of this novel method. In particular, this paper summarizes the material database, open-source determination tools, molecular generation methods and machine learning models that have been used for biopolymer synthesis and property prediction. Overall, machine learning could be more effectively deployed on the material design of biomedical polymers, and it is expected to become an extensive driving force to meet the huge demand for customized designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With progress in the bone tissue engineering (BTE) field, there is an important need to develop innovative biomaterials to improve the bone healing process using reproducible, affordable, and low-environmental-impact alternative synthetic strategies. This review thoroughly examines geopolymers' state-of-the-art and current applications and their future perspectives for bone tissue applications. This paper aims to analyse the potential of geopolymer materials in biomedical applications by reviewing the recent literature. Moreover, the characteristics of materials traditionally used as bioscaffolds are also compared, critically analysing the strengths and weaknesses of their use. The concerns that prevented the widespread use of alkali-activated materials as biomaterials (such as their toxicity and limited osteoconductivity) and the potentialities of geopolymers as ceramic biomaterials have also been considered. In particular, the possibility of targeting their mechanical properties and morphologies through their chemical compositions to meet specific and relevant requirements, such as biocompatibility and controlled porosity, is described. A statistical analysis of the published scientific literature is presented. Data on "geopolymers for biomedical applications" were extracted from the Scopus database. This paper focuses on possible strategies necessary to overcome the barriers that have limited their application in biomedicine. Specifically, innovative hybrid geopolymer-based formulations (alkali-activated mixtures for additive manufacturing) and their composites that optimise the porous morphology of bioscaffolds while minimising their toxicity for BTE are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The lack of thermally and mechanically performant biomaterials represents the major limit for 3D-printed surgical guides, aimed at facilitating complex surgery and ablations. Methods: Cryosurgery is a treatment for cardiac arrhythmias. It consists of obtaining cryolesions, by freezing the target tissue, resulting in selective and irreversible damage. MED625FLX and TPU95A are two biocompatible materials for surgical guides; however, there are no data on their response to cryoenergy delivery. The study purpose is to evaluate the biomaterials' thermal properties, examining the temperature changes on the porcine muscle samples (PMS) when the biomaterials are in place during the cryoablation. Two biomaterials were selected, MED625FLX and TPU95A, with two thicknesses (1.0 and 2.5 mm). To analyze the biomaterials' behavior, the PMS temperatures were measured during cryoablation, firstly without biomaterials (control) and after with the biomaterials in place. To verify the biomaterials' suitability, the temperatures under the biomaterial samples should not exceed a limit of −30.0 °C. Furthermore, the biomaterials' geometry after cryoablation was evaluated using the grid paper test. Results: TPU95A (1.0 and 2.5 mm) successfully passed all tests, making this material suitable for cryoablation treatment. MED625FLX of 1.0 mm did not retain its shape, losing its function according to the grid paper test. Further, MED625FLX of 2.5 mm is also suitable for use with a cryoenergy source. Conclusions: TPU95A (1.0 and 2.5 mm) and MED625FLX of 2.5 mm could be used in the design of surgical guides for cryoablation treatment, because of their mechanical, geometrical, and thermal properties. The positive results from the thermal tests on these materials and their thickness prompt further clinical investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to examine India's orthopaedic research output during 2002-2021 to analyze the research characteristics and publication performances of leading organizations, authors, and cities, the core journals publishing research, broad subject areas, sub-specialties, and the classification by anatomical location, the subject areas of research using major keywords and the sources of funding and the extent of international collaboration.Methods: India's orthopaedic publications data was identified and downloaded from the Scopus database ( https://www.scopus.com ) using a well-defined search strategy and keywords.Results: India's 4606 publications grew at a 20.8% annual growth rate and averaged 11.3 citations per paper. The 10.4% and 16.3% share of India's papers received external funded support and were involved in international collaboration. The USA and UK (31.8% and 21.3%) represent the highest collaborative share in India's international collaborative publications. AIIMS-New Delhi and PGIMER-Chandigarh produced a larger proportion of articles (5.2% and 4.3%) among contributing organizations. In terms of authors, R. Vaishya and S. Rajasekaran are the most productive ones, contributing 1.6% and 1.1% share respectively. Clinical studies, paediatric sub-specialty, and knee & leg anatomical location accounted for the largest share of papers (32.2%, 10.8%, and 7.5%).The most frequent keywords co-occurrences were "Orthopaedic Surgery," "Hydroxyapatite," "Biocompatibility," "Orthopaedic Procedures," "Bone," "Surgical Techniques," "Biomaterials," and "Osteosynthesis."Conclusion: This study revealed the characteristics and trends of research and core publications from Indian authors and organizations identified in the last two decades. This research should provide useful insights into the research hotspots of India in the present, past, and future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recycling, development, and application of keratin-containing waste (e.g., hair, wool, feather, and so on) provide an important means to address related environmental pollution and energy shortage issues. The extraction of keratin and the development of keratin-based functional materials are key to solving keratin-containing waste pollution. Keratin-based biofilms are gaining substantial interest due to their excellent characteristics, such as good biocompatibility, high biodegradability, appropriate adsorption, and rich renewable sources, among others. At present, keratin-based biofilms are a good option for various applications, and the development of keratin-based biofilms from keratin-containing waste is considered crucial for sustainable development. In this paper, in order to achieve clean production while maintaining the functional characteristics of natural keratin as much as possible, four important keratin extraction methods—thermal hydrolysis, ultrasonic technology, eco-friendly solvent system, and microbial decomposition—are described, and the characteristics of these four extraction methods are analysed. Next, methods for the preparation of keratin-based biofilms are introduced, including solvent casting, electrospinning, template self-assembly, freeze-drying, and soft lithography methods. Then, the functional properties and application prospects of keratin-based biofilms are discussed. Finally, future research directions related to keratin-based biofilms are proposed. Overall, it can be concluded that the high-value conversion of keratin-containing waste into regenerated keratin-based biofilms has great importance for sustainable development and is highly suggested due to their great potential for use in biomedical materials, optoelectronic devices, and metal ion detection applications. It is hoped that this paper can provide some basic information for the development and application of keratin-based biofilms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnesium is one of the most abundantly available material with good energy efficiency due to less weight. The density of magnesium is 78.5% smaller than steel and 35.6% lighter than aluminum. It is also easy to machine and can potentially be recycled. Since pure magnesium is more prone to corrosion, Magnesium and magnesium alloys are rapidly gaining more attention in multiple applications including automotive, aerospace, electronic and medical fields. The improved physical and mechanical properties of magnesium alloys make these materials as an alternative substitution to aluminum alloys and steel in automotive and aerospace structural applications. Biocompatibility and Biodegradation has given further edge to emerge magnesium alloys as an ideal alternate to the medical implant materials because of improved mechanical strengths when compared to polymeric biodegradable materials. Recent advances in 3C products (Computer, communications, and consumer electronics) also showed an uptrend in the usage of magnesium and its alloys. Based on the studies, the usage of magnesium in various domains is significantly improved in the coming years and can provide a lot of research potentials for the young researchers. Therefore, this paper reassesses the profits of magnesium and its alloy materials in various domains and summarizes the recent works in industrial applications. The potentialities, drawbacks and research scope of magnesium alloys have also been presented towards the development of commercial productsand 23.75% - 83.10%, and lead was adsorbed between 99.35% - 100%, and 72.80% - 92.00%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical shielding suits must be lightweight and satisfy the requirements of thin films to guarantee user mobility and safety. The thin film weight is related to the density and thickness, which are associated with the particle dispersion in shielding materials. An even distribution of metal particles in a polymer can maintain the spacing among them. This paper proposes a pencil beam spray-coating method that involves spraying a constant amount of a polyethylene and tungsten mixture in a thin beam onto a nonwoven fabric at a constant speed. This technique yields higher productivity than does the electrospinning method and is expected to produce materials with better shielding performance than that of materials obtained using the calender method. The shielding performance was evaluated by manufacturing shielding sheets (thickness: 0.48–0.54 mm) using the calender and pencil beam spray-coating methods under the same conditions. The densities and performances of the sheets differed significantly. The sheet manufactured using the proposed method had an even particle dispersion and exhibited 2–4% better shielding performance than did that manufactured using the calender method. Therefore, the pencil beam spray-coating method can effectively satisfy the requirements of thin films for medical radiation-shielding materials while increasing the material flexibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]