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Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are among the most common knee injuries. Surgery is often needed when an ACL injury occurs to restore function to the knee. One of the most popular techniques for ACL grafts currently is the use of interference screws. This review summarizes the current state-of-the-art interference screw material, manufacturing process, benefits, and limitations used in ACL reconstruction. The systematic literature review (SLR) methodology comprises this study's planning, conducting, and reporting stages. Bioresorbable interference screws are fixation devices offering significant advantages in ACL reconstruction over traditional metal interference screws. Additive manufacturing (AM) can provide benefits in producing interference screws compared to traditional/subtractive methods. Developing the interference screw that uses bio composite-based polymers is challenging in AM technology manufacturing. Further research of biocomposite materials and AM printing techniques are some of the most critical areas that can help advance interference screw applications in tissue engineering to encourage the development of functional manufacturing of interference screws. The development of biocomposite material, the novel 3D printer, and the design of interference screws are expected to open up a new era in the reconstruction of ACL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The usage of new cellulosic fibers in industrial applications is massive because of its excellent performances. These fibers are utilized especially for manufacture of high-performance composites. Coconut leaf sheath (CLS) fibers are extracted for leaf sheath of coconut tree. The aim of this paper is to study the possibility of using a natural fiber CLS as an alternative for polymer composites. In the current study, the consequence of NaOH treatment on structural, thermal and morphological behavior of treated and untreated coconut leaf sheath (CLS) fiber in terms of single fiber tensile strength, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (×RD), ther)mogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) has been explored. From SEM analysis, it was identified globular lumps spread consistently over the fiber which could help the mechanical interlock with the resin. The outcomes from the experimentation exposed that the NaOH treatment has impacted in the eradication of amorphous hemicellulose and lignin contents from the CLS fiber surface and in turn resulted in excellent structural and thermal stability behaviour of fiber. The present work endorses the great potential of CLS fibers to be utilized for bio-reinforcement in order to fabricate lightweight composite structures, employed in automobile and structural applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work highlights the exploitation of fibers from a promising plant, commonly called Diss, in polymer matrix reinforcement. In this context, various untreated and treated (with acetic acid, silane, NaOH, thermal) Diss fibers were used to reinforce a thermoplastic matrix, polypropylene (PP). The effect of fiber treatments was evaluated at a ratio of 10% (by mass) of fiber, using mechanical, microstructural and physical characterization. A fiber content optimization study was carried out after choosing the fiber treatment by varying the fiber content from 10% to 40%. The microstructure observations showed a multi-layer structure for the biocomposites studied. The particular morphology of Diss fibers, with the presence of thorns, seems to improve the mechanical adhesion between the two phases. For 10% fiber content composites, the incorporation of the different fibers in the PP matrix led to improvements in most mechanical properties. The biocomposite reinforced with NaOH treated fibers (NPP-10%) showed the best mechanical performance with an improvement of 30%, 22% and 9% in tensile modulus, bending modulus and bending stress, respectively. For the fiber content variation, the NPP was retained, and an enhancement in the tensile modulus was found when the fiber content was below 20%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new class of biobased composites with tailorable mechanical properties made of natural fibers, polylactic acid, and ferulic acid derivatives (FAD) is studied. FAD was used to develop composites with elastomeric properties like improved elongation at break and highly reversible deformation upon elongation. Composites were prepared using raw and enzymatically treated hemp fibers. The fibers were defibrillated due to the enzymatic treatment increasing their aspect ratio. The composites were characterized by their mechanical properties and their reaction to fire. No significant change in the dispersion of the fibers in the composites was reported. Homogenously dispersed crystallites of FAD were observed by scanning electron microscopy in the PLA matrix and at the interface between the PLA and the fibers, where they are suspected to increase the free volume in correlation with a decrease in mechanical properties following the increase in the aspect ratio of the fibers. FAD also degraded the reaction to fire of the material with an increase in 10% of the peak of Heat Release Rate (pHRR) in comparison to neat PLA. It also increased the charring residue up to 3 wt.%. A synergistic effect between FAD and the lignin increasing the charring residue is also reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dressing biomaterials play a key role in wound management keeping a moisture medium and protecting against external factors. Natural and synthetic materials could be used as dressings where chitosan and bacterial cellulose is one of the most important solutions. These biopolymers have been used for wound dressing based on their non-toxic, biodegradable, and biocompatible features. In this study, biocomposites based on bacterial cellulose and chitosan membranes tailored with antimicrobial loaded poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)/polyvinyl alcohol nanoparticles were prepared. Core-shell polymeric nanoparticles, bacterial cellulose/chitosan membranes, and biocomposites were independently loaded with silver sulfadiazine, a well-known sulfonamide antibacterial agent used in the therapy of mild-to-moderate infections for sensitive organisms. The chemistry, structure, morphology, and size distribution were investigated by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR), RAMAN spectroscopy, Scanning electron (SEM) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Dynamic light scattering (DLS). In vitro release behaviors of silver sulfadiazine from polymeric nanoparticles and biocomposites were investigated. The biological investigations revealed good biocompatibility of both the nanoparticles and the biocomposites in terms of human dermal fibroblasts viability and proliferation potential. Finally, the drug-loaded polymeric biomaterials showed promising characteristics, proving their high potential as an alternative support to develop a biocompatible and antibacterial wound dressing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural biomaterials are potential candidates for the next generation of green electronics due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability. On the other hand, the application of biocomposite systems in information storage, photoelectrochemical sensing, and biomedicine has further promoted the progress of environmentally benign bioelectronics. Here, we mainly review recent progress in the development of biocomposites in data storage, focusing on the application of biocomposites in resistive random-access memory (RRAM) and field effect transistors (FET) with their device structure, working mechanism, flexibility, transient characteristics. Specifically, we discuss the application of biocomposite-based non-volatile memories for simulating biological synapse. Finally, the application prospect and development potential of biocomposites are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most high load-bearing implants are metallic alloys which contain toxic chemical components that might be released due to the corrosive environment of body fluids and load-bearing activity. Surface modification techniques do not guarantee biocompatibility. Hence, the bioactive surface of implants can be modified by coating the surface with a suitable material that addresses the needs of the patient. The choice and application process of the coatings should be determined based on the workability of the material and its physiochemical properties, such as the procedures involved and performance in avoiding removal of any desirable material properties that are helpful in the tissue regeneration process. Tailor-made coating materials prove very promising, as they might improve permanent implantations, make them more affordable and reduce the need for surgical revisions. The scope of the featured properties, such as addition of accelerated tissue regeneration, antibacterial properties and controlled release and removal of debris from the biological system to the metal implants makes coatings an ideal choice for surface modification of implants. This report reviews several options available for forming a biologically active layer over metallic surfaces that will interact with and produce desirable effects on host tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last decade, tissue engineering has shown a considerable promise in providing more viable alternatives to surgical procedures for harvested tissues, implants and prostheses. Due to the fast development on nano- and biomaterial technologies, it is now possible for doctors to use patients' cells to repair orthopaedic defects such as focal articular cartilage lesions. In order to support the three-dimensional tissue formation, scaffolds made by biocompatible and bioresorbable polymers and composite materials, for providing temporary support of damaged body and cell structures, have been developed recently. Although ceramic and metallic materials have been widely accepted for the development of implants, their non-resorbability and necessity of second surgical operation (like for bone repair), which induce extra pain for the patients, limit their wide applications. The development of different types of biocomposites for biomedical engineering applications is described. These biocomposites include (i) basic biomaterials; (ii) natural fiber-reinforced biocomposites and (iii) nanoparticle-reinforced biocomposites. Their multifunctionality is discussed in terms of the control of mechanical properties, biodegradability and bioresorbability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]