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The document discusses the use of hydrogels for sustained delivery of therapeutic agents, highlighting their biocompatibility and controlled release capabilities. Various research articles explore applications such as treating fungal skin infections, enhancing periodontal tissue repair, delivering valproic acid to the brain, and managing diabetic chronic wounds. Additionally, reviews examine hydrogel coatings for implants, Aloe vera-based hydrogels for wound dressings, and essential oil-hydrogel combinations for diverse applications. The document emphasizes the potential of hydrogel-based drug delivery systems and calls for collaborative research to address challenges and advance personalized, patient-specific approaches in the field. [Extracted from the article]

The innovative fusion of essential oils with hydrogel engineering offers an optimistic perspective for the design and development of next-generation materials incorporating natural bioactive compounds. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in the use of hydrogels containing essential oils for biomedical, dental, cosmetic, food, food packaging, and restoration of cultural heritage applications. Polymeric sources, methods of obtaining, cross-linking techniques, and functional properties of hydrogels are discussed. The unique characteristics of polymer hydrogels containing bioactive agents are highlighted. These include biocompatibility, nontoxicity, effective antibacterial activity, control of the sustained and prolonged release of active substances, optimal porosity, and outstanding cytocompatibility. Additionally, the specific characteristics and distinctive properties of essential oils are explored, along with their extraction and encapsulation methods. The advantages and disadvantages of these methods are also discussed. We have considered limitations due to volatility, solubility, environmental factors, and stability. The importance of loading essential oils in hydrogels, their stability, and biological activity is analyzed. This review highlights through an in-depth analysis, the recent innovations, challenges, and future prospects of hydrogels encapsulated with essential oils and their potential for multiple applications including biomedicine, dentistry, cosmetics, food, food packaging, and cultural heritage conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regenerative hydrogels from natural polymers have come forth as auspicious materials for use in regenerative medicine, with interest attributed to their intrinsic biodegradability, biocompatibility, and ability to reassemble the extracellular matrix. This review covers the latest advances in regenerative hydrogels used for wound healing, focusing on their chemical composition, cross-linking mechanisms, and functional properties. Key carbohydrate polymers, including alginate, chitosan, hyaluronic acid, and polysaccharide gums, including agarose, carrageenan, and xanthan gum, are discussed in terms of their sources, chemical structures and specific properties suitable for regenerative applications. The review further explores the categorization of hydrogels based on ionic charge, response to physiological stimuli (i.e., pH, temperature) and particularized roles in wound tissue self-healing. Various methods of cross-linking used to enhance the mechanical and biological performance of these hydrogels are also examined. By highlighting recent innovations and ongoing challenges, this article intends to give a detailed understanding of natural hydrogels and their potential to revolutionize regenerative medicine and improve patient healing outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advances in the development of strategies for chemical adaptation of biomacromolecules, such as polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids, have allowed for the design of functional hydrogels suitable for the current requirements in the biomedical and health care fields. Hydrogels are three-dimensional hydrophilic materials that have the ability to absorb and retain a large volume of water and are produced using a lower fraction of precursor macromolecules. They can be made from both natural and synthetic materials and can have different degrees of stiffness and elasticity, depending on the projected application. Hydrogels are biocompatible, and therefore can be safely used in various applications, including contact lenses, dressings, medical devices, and tissue engineering scaffolds. Also, they are effective targeted delivery systems for various drugs such as antibiotics, analgesics, and chemotherapeutics. Due to the protection effect with regards to high temperatures, acidic environments and enzymatic degradation which affect a wide range of unstable macromolecules, including peptides and proteins, the hydrogels can be considered as promising delivery vehicles. Hydrogels can be designed as adaptable natural extracellular matrices, with different degrees of rigidity and porosity. They can be functionalized with a wide variety of bioactive molecules, such as growth factors, proteins, and peptides, and they are very useful in tissue engineering applications, including cartilage and bone regeneration, neural tissue engineering, and wound healing. As anti-aging therapy systems, they can be combined with plant extracts or can include a multitude of bioactive compounds, such as collagen, hyaluronic acid, vitamins, enzymes, amino acids, or probiotics. The versatility and unique properties of bio-hydrogels are challenging and determine their study and application in many fields, such as health care and anti-aging solutions. The aim of this research is to provide an insight regarding the current status of polysaccharide-based hydrogels for applications in the biomedical domain. This will highlight new strategies to develop novel biomaterials which might help in improving human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomaterials are mostly any natural and synthetic materials which are compatible from a biological point of view with the human body. Biomaterials are widely used to sustain, increase, reestablish or substitute the biological function of any injured tissue and organ from the human body. Additionally, biomaterials are uninterruptedly in contact with the human body, i.e., tissue, blood and biological fluids. For this reason, an essential feature of biomaterials is their biocompatibility. Consequently, this review summarizes the classification of different types of biomaterials based on their origin, as natural and synthetic ones. Moreover, the advanced applications in pharmaceutical and medical domains are highlighted based on the specific mechanical and physical properties of biomaterials, concerning their use. The high-priority challenges in the field of biomaterials are also discussed, especially those regarding the transfer and implementation of valuable scientific results in medical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitosan-based hydrogels have gained significant attention for their potential applications in water treatment and purification due to their remarkable properties such as bioavailability, biocompatibility, biodegradability, environmental friendliness, high pollutants adsorption capacity, and water adsorption capacity. This article comprehensively reviews recent advances in chitosan-based hydrogel materials for water purification applications. The synthesis methods, structural properties, and water purification performance of chitosan-based hydrogels are critically analyzed. The incorporation of various nanomaterials into chitosan-based hydrogels, such as nanoparticles, graphene, and metal-organic frameworks, has been explored to enhance their performance. The mechanisms of water purification, including adsorption, filtration, and antimicrobial activity, are also discussed in detail. The potential of chitosan-based hydrogels for the removal of pollutants, such as heavy metals, organic contaminants, and microorganisms, from water sources is highlighted. Moreover, the challenges and future perspectives of chitosan-based hydrogels in water treatment and water purification applications are also illustrated. Overall, this article provides valuable insights into the current state of the art regarding chitosan-based hydrogels for water purification applications and highlights their potential for addressing global water pollution challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of a facile method to obtain materials with piezoelectric properties, through a green synthesis, as an alternative to lead-free materials, was the main objective of this work. Piezo active materials were grown by chemical methods on two types of metal substrates: Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si and the Ti foil. Ag and Li-doped ZnO nanostructures were prepared by hydrothermal method at low temperature on metallic substrates which were previously covered with ZnO seed layer deposited by spin coating sol-gel method. The newly prepared materials were covered with a polymer layer and were morphological characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The piezoelectric properties were estimated by measuring the direct piezoelectric coefficient d33. The test results show that the doped ZnO nanostructures synthesized using a green route exhibit a piezoelectric response so the established method can be considered a promising approach for obtaining piezoelectric materials on large surfaces. Piezo active nanostructures could be of interest for integration into piezoelectric devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aloe vera-based hydrogels have emerged as promising platforms for the delivery of therapeutic agents in wound dressings due to their biocompatibility and unique wound-healing properties. The present study provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the application of Aloe vera-based hydrogels for wound healing. The synthesis methods, structural characteristics, and properties of Aloe vera-based hydrogels are discussed. Mechanisms of therapeutic agents released from Aloe vera-based hydrogels, including diffusion, swelling, and degradation, are also analyzed. In addition, the therapeutic effects of Aloe vera-based hydrogels on wound healing, as well as the reduction of inflammation, antimicrobial activity, and tissue regeneration, are highlighted. The incorporation of various therapeutic agents, such as antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory ones, into Aloe vera-based hydrogels is reviewed in detail. Furthermore, challenges and future prospects of Aloe vera-based hydrogels for wound dressing applications are considered. This review provides valuable information on the current status of Aloe vera-based hydrogels for the delivery of therapeutic agents in wound dressings and highlights their potential to improve wound healing outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detection of greenhouse gases is essential because harmful gases in the air diffuse rapidly over large areas in a short period of time, causing air pollution that will induce climate change with catastrophic consequences over time. Among the materials with favorable morphologies for gas detection (nanofibers, nanorods, nanosheets), large specific surfaces, high sensitivity and low production costs, we chose nanostructured porous films of In2O3 obtained by the sol-gel method, deposited on alumina transducers, with gold (Au) interdigitated electrodes (IDE) and platinum (Pt) heating circuits. Sensitive films contained 10 deposited layers, involving intermediate and final thermal treatments to stabilize the sensitive film. The fabricated sensor was characterized using AFM, SEM, EDX and XRD. The film morphology is complex, containing fibrillar formations and some quasi-spherical conglomerates. The deposited sensitive films are rough, thus favoring gas adsorption. Ozone sensing tests were performed at different temperatures. The highest response of the ozone sensor was recorded at room temperature, considered to be the working temperature for this specific sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research aims to describe a new methodology to obtain biocompatible hydrogels based on Aloe vera used for wound healing applications. The properties of two hydrogels (differing in Aloe vera concentration, AV5 and AV10) prepared by an all-green synthesis method from raw, natural, renewable and bioavailable materials such as salicylic acid, allantoin and xanthan gum were investigated. The morphology of the Aloe vera based hydrogel biomaterials was studied by SEM analysis. The rheological properties of the hydrogels, as well as their cell viability, biocompatibility and cytotoxicity, were determined. The antibacterial activity of Aloe vera based hydrogels was evaluated both on Gram-positive, Staphylococcus aureus and on Gram-negative, Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. The obtained novel green Aloe vera based hydrogels showed good antibacterial properties. In vitro scratch assay demonstrated the capacity of both AV5 and AV10 hydrogels to accelerate cell proliferation and migration and induce closure of a wounded area. A corroboration of all morphological, rheological, cytocompatibility and cell viability results indicates that this Aloe vera based hydrogel may be suitable for wound healing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]