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Fundamental development of nonfouling zwitterionic poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (polySBMA) coatings on a wide range of interfaces and membranes for use in the development of hemocompatible medical devices was discussed. The molecular designs of zwitterionic interfaces as well as the evolution of ‘intelligent’ interfaces and correlations between zwitterionic polymeric membrane surface modifications are scrutinized and delineated.
Genetically engineered protein biopolymers belong to a new family of polymers that have recently attracted interest due to their highly modifiable material properties. It is now possible to use a bottom-up engineering process to design advanced, smart materials for biomedical and engineering applications, such as energy storage and bioremediation. This review explores recent developments in these genetically engineered protein biopolymers, with a particular emphasis on elastomeric biopolymers (elastin, silk, resilin and titin). Also discussed are the future directions that this field will likely explore.
This focus review summarizes advances in the recently emerging field of phenolic film engineering for template-mediated microcapsule preparation. By depositing polyphenol films on sacrificial particulate templates and subsequently removing the templates, hollow microcapsules can be readily prepared. Due to the pH-responsive properties, negligible cytotoxicity and the bioactivities of the phenolic building blocks (dopamine and tannic acid), phenolic microcapsules are promising for biomedical applications.
This review presents recent advances in the surface engineering of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) applicable for their therapeutic use, with a particular focus on the following three topics: (1) surface design for enhanced cellular uptake, (2) capsule-like assembly of AuNPs for drug delivery and (3) engineering of AuNPs as vaccine adjuvants. We discuss the importance of surface ligands in regulating and enhancing cell–nanoparticle interactions toward the creation of smart therapeutic nanomaterials.
Smart polyplex micelles for systemic gene therapy fabricated by rationally integrating versatile molecular-based technologies. The polyplex micelles, which are formed through an electrostatic interaction-mediated self-assembly process of functional block copolymers and plasmid DNA, assume a task to transport therapeutic gene into nucleus of pathological cells via systemic route for functional protein expression.
Combining gene therapy and tissue engineering, gene-activated matrix (GAM) is able to activate cells in or near the scaffolds to express the desired growth factors at effective levels within the local tissue microenvironment and further to restore the structure and function of damaged or dysfunctional tissues like skin, cartilage, bone, vessel, muscle, tendon and so on.
Phenylboronic acid (PBA) derivatives are regarded as a synthetic mimic of lectins, often termed ‘boronolectins’, for its ability to interact with various carbohydrates. This unique chemistry has already borne fruit as molecular bases for glucose sensors and some bio-separation applications. This focus review highlights some emerging directions of the PBA-based research toward more versatile diagnostic and therapeutic targets that the authors currently pursue.
Near-infrared (NIR) light-responsive shape-memory films were prepared through the polymerization of poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) macromonomers in the presence of gold nanorods. Exposure to NIR light could successfully induce the photothermal heating of embedded nanorods and consequently, shape-switching transition. Local shape-memory transformation was also obtained when the limited area was exposed to the light.
The use of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) brush matrices in the presence of poly(acrylic acid) additives at temperatures above and below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) induced the development of PNIPAm/strontium carbonate hybrid thin films with distinctly different surface patterns.
This research aimed to chemically modify chitin with positively charged groups at a physiological pH (near neutral) to provide antibacterial activity. Chitin betainate, a quaternary ammonium chitin, was prepared by acylation of chitin with carboxymethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride using dicyclohexylcarbodiimide as a coupling agent. The chemical structure was elucidated by FTIR analysis revealing the additional ester linkage peak at 1738 cm−1. Chitin betainate exhibited antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli. Therefore, chitin betainate is potentially suitable for antibacterial wound dressings.
The assembly of molecular components into regular structures is a key ambition of nanoscience and nanotechnology. In this study, we constructed regular assemblies composed of filamentous M13 phages and gold nanoparticles (GNPs). Mixed solutions of gold-binding peptide-displaying phages at the termini (A3 phages) and GNPs behaved as viscous solutions, and GNPs in the solutions were self-assembled into regularly assembled structures. Then, hydrogels composed of A3 phages and GNPs were successfully constructed by chemical crosslinking of phages. In the hydrogels, A3 phages showed liquid-crystalline properties, suggesting high orientation of phages.
