Engineering Single-Atom Nanozymes for Catalytic Biomedical Applications

Nanomaterials with enzyme-mimicking properties, coined as nanozymes, are a promising alternative to natural enzymes owing to their remarkable advantages, such as high stability, easy preparation, and favorable catalytic performance. Recently, with the rapid development of nanotechnology and characterization techniques, single atom nanozymes (SAzymes) with atomically dispersed active sites, well-defined electronic and geometric structures, tunable coordination environment, and maximum metal atom utilization are developed and exploited. With superior catalytic performance and selectivity, SAzymes have made impressive progress in biomedical applications and are expected to bridge the gap between artificial nanozymes and natural enzymes. Herein, the recent advances in SAzyme preparation methods, catalytic mechanisms, and biomedical applications are systematically summarized. Their biomedical applications in cancer therapy, oxidative stress cytoprotection, antibacterial therapy, and biosensing are discussed in depth. Furthermore, to appreciate these advances, the main challenges, and prospects for the future development of SAzymes are also outlined and highlighted in this review.     

N-异丙基丙烯酰胺共聚物/粘土纳米复合水凝胶的合成及性能

以N-异丙基丙烯酰胺(NIPA)为第一单体,分别以N,N-二乙基丙烯酰胺及N,N-二正丙基丙烯酰胺为第二单体合成了两种不同的共聚物/粘土纳米复合水凝胶.结果表明:复合共聚凝胶的平衡溶胀率、温度响应性能均有较大提高,在一定范围内增大加入的粘土含量,其性能的提高越明显.     

Polylactide based nanostructured biomaterials and their applications

Polylactide (PLA) is one of the most innovative materials being actively investigated for a wide range of industrial applications. The polymer is a linear aliphatic thermoplastic polyester which is biodegradable as well as biocompatible, which makes it highly versatile and attractive to various commodities and medical applications. A large variety of nanoparticles of different nature and size can be blended with PLA, therefore, generating a new class of nanostructured biomaterials or nanocomposites with interesting physical properties and applications. PLA based nanostructured biomaterials are the focus of this review article, throwing light on their preparation techniques, physical properties, and industrial applications. Structural characteristics and morphological features of PLA based nanocomposites have been explained on the basis of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Depending upon the nature and characteristics of the nanoparticles, the ultimate properties of the resulting nanocomposite materials can be tailored. Biocompatible materials such as carbon nanotubes, cellulose nanowhiskers, hydroxyapitite, etc. could be incorporated into the PLA matrix, which increase the potential of PLA for biomedical applications. Applications of PLA based nanostructured materials in different areas have been summarized.     

A review of shape memory polymer composites and blends

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are a kind of very important smart polymers. In order to improve the properties or obtain new functions of SMPs, SMP composites and blends are prepared. We thoroughly examine the research in SMP composites and blends achieved by numerous research groups around the world. The preparation of SMPs composites and blends is mainly for five aims: (1) to improve shape recovery stress and mechanical properties; (2) to decrease shape recovery induction time by increasing thermal conductivity; (3) to create new polymer/polymer blends with shape-memory effect (SME); (4) to tune switch temperature, mechanical properties, and biomedical properties of SMPs; (5) to fabricate shape memory materials sensitive to electricity, magnetic, light and moisture. The trend of SMP composite development is discussed. SMP composites and blends exhibit novel properties that are different from the conventional SMPs and thus can be utilized in various applications.     

Structural and morphological investigation of magnetic nanoparticles based on iron oxides for biomedical applications

The present work reports the synthesis, characterization and properties of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for biomedical applications, correlating the nanoscale tunabilities in terms of size, structure, and magnetism. Magnetic nanoparticles in different conditions were prepared through thermal decomposition of Fe(acac)₃ in the presence of 1,2 hexadecanodiol (reducing agent) and oleic acid and oleylamine (ligands) in a hot organic solvent. The 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) was exchanged onto the nanocrystal surface making the particles stable in water. Nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements, small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Preliminary tests of incorporation of these nanoparticles in cells and their magnetic resonance image (MRI) were also carried out. The magnetization characterizations were made by isothermal magnetic measurements.     

Facile synthesis of blue anatase TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> films by solvent evaporation method

With arousing interest in the preparation of defect rich TiO₂ films for several green energy applications, various methods have emerged in recent days. Herein, we report the properties of blue anatase TiO₂ films obtained by combined solvent evaporation and subsequent calcination. The X-ray diffraction and Raman studies indicated the formation of anatase TiO₂ films, while the field emission scanning electron microscopic images confirmed the distribution of spherical particles. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic data revealed the presence of surplus Ti³⁺ ions and the associated oxygen vacancies. These defect related informations are further evident from the photoluminescence study. The optical study confirmed the extended absorption in the visible region of the blue TiO₂ films. These intrinsic defects play a major role in effective charge carrier separation and in tailoring the band gap absorption properties.     

Molecularly Imprinted Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are synthetic receptors with tailor-made recognition sites for target molecules. Their high affinity and selectivity, excellent stability, easy preparation, and low cost make them promising substitutes to biological receptors in many applications where molecular recognition is important. In particular, spherical MIP nanoparticles (or nanoMIPs) with diameters typically below 200 nm have drawn great attention because of their high surface-area-to-volume ratio, easy removal of templates, rapid binding kinetics, good dispersion and handling ability, undemanding functionalization and surface modification, and their high compatibility with various nanodevices and in vivo biomedical applications. Recent years have witnessed significant progress made in the preparation of advanced functional nanoMIPs, which has eventually led to the rapid expansion of the MIP applications from the traditional separation and catalysis fields to the burgeoning biomedical areas. Here, a comprehensive overview of key recent advances made in the preparation of nanoMIPs and their important biomedical applications (including immunoassays, drug delivery, bioimaging, and biomimetic nanomedicine) is presented. The pros and cons of each synthetic strategy for nanoMIPs and their biomedical applications are discussed and the present challenges and future perspectives of the biomedical applications of nanoMIPs are also highlighted.     

Multifunctional nanoparticles, nanocages and degradable polymers as a potential novel generation of non-invasive molecular and cellular imaging systems

In recent years, polymeric scaffolds have been used in several biomedical applications for delivery of drugs or other biologically relevant molecules. Polymeric nanostructures display different (and in some cases more powerful) properties respect to bulk materials. This, lead academic researchers and industry to cooperate in developing pioneering nanostructured materials for industrial and biomedical applications. Moreover, the preparation and use of systems with multiple (multifunctional) properties (i.e., bioconjugation with superparamagnetic, fluorescent or targeting molecules) is positioned to become a viable and innovative tool for application in several clinical fields. Other nanostructured systems like nanocages and degradable nanoparticles, are emerging as potential innovative systems that could be exploited as multifunctional delivery vectors. This brief critical review is aimed at collecting and discussing some recent patents dealing with the preparation and use of multifunctional nanoparticles, nanocages and degradable nanoparticles in biomedicine and non-invasive bioimaging applications. Perspectives for a potential use of these multifunctional nanosystems in pediatries have been also discussed.     

Characterization of two biodegradable polymers of potential application within the biomaterials field

An extensive characterization of two biodegradable polymers that may constitute an alternative, if one is aiming at orthopaedic applications, to the currently used poly(glicolic acid), poly(lactic acid) or polyhydroxybutyrate was carried out. A cellulose acetate and three different grades of a novel starch based polymer were studied. The characterization included: tensile and instrumented impact tests, rheological measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformed infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and long-term degradation trials in Hank's solution. The results show that both polymers, specially the starch based one, present a great potential for biomedical applications, on which adequate mechanical properties associated to a controlled degradation rate are required.     

Zwitterionic Nanohydrogels–Decorated Microporous Membrane with Ultrasensitive Salt Responsiveness for Controlled Water Transport

Highly sensitive responsiveness is vital for stimuli‐responsive membranes. However, it is a great challenge to fabricate stimuli‐responsive membranes with ultrahigh gating ratio (the ratio of the salt solution permeating flux to the pure water permeating flux) and high response speed simultaneously. In this work, a salt‐responsive membrane with an ultrahigh gating ratio is fabricated via a facile strategy by grafting zwitterionic nanohydrogels onto a poly(acrylic acid)‐grafting‐poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PAA‐g‐PVDF) microporous membrane. Due to the synergistic effect of two functional materials, PAA chains and zwitterionic nanohydrogels tethered on PAA chains, this stimuli‐responsive membrane exhibits an ultrasensitive salt responsiveness with a gating ratio of up to 8.76 times for Na⁺ ions, 89.6 times for Mg²⁺ ions, and 89.3 times for Ca²⁺ ions. In addition, such zwitterionic nanohydrogels–grafted PAA‐g‐PVDF (ZNG‐g‐PVDF) membranes exhibit very rapid responses to stimuli. The permeating flux changes swiftly while altering the feed solution in a continuous filtration process. The excellent salt‐responsive characteristics endow such a ZNG‐g‐PVDF membrane with great potential for applications like drug delivery, water treatment, and sensors.     

Preparation of natural zeolitic supports for potential biomedical applications

Considering the biological properties reported for the purified natural clinoptilolite, NZ, we prepared K- and Li-enriched forms aimed at release matrices for biomedical applications. The raw material and the obtained solid samples were characterized by means of atomic absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, ²⁷Al and ²⁹Si MAS nuclear magnetic resonance, and nitrogen adsorption. The results demonstrated the structural stability of the materials after the different transformations applied. The chemical behavior of the samples in bi-distilled water and hydrochloric acid was studied by pH and conductivity measurements. A preliminary study related with the liberation of K and Li in aqueous medium was carried out by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The studies showed that the release of both ions from the solid samples is favored in HCl solutions, and that lithium is released faster than potassium in both dissolution media.     

纳米有机光电功能材料

本文简要综述了有机纳米光电功能材料的研究进展。详细讨论了有机纳米薄膜的制备方法、结构表征、性能研究及应用前景。     

一步溶剂热法合成锶掺杂羟基磷灰石超长纳米线

羟基磷灰石超长纳米线可用于构建不同种类的生物材料, 如高柔性生物医用纸和弹性多孔骨缺损修复支架, 在生物医学领域具有良好的应用前景。锶元素作为一种微量元素, 在骨代谢过程中起着重要作用。本研究通过一步溶剂热法合成了具有不同锶掺杂量的羟基磷灰石超长纳米线; 研究了不同锶掺杂量对羟基磷灰石超长纳米线的形貌和物相的影响。所制备的锶掺杂羟基磷灰石超长纳米线具有高柔韧性和超长一维纳米结构。能量色散谱、X射线粉末衍射和傅里叶变换红外光谱分析表明, 锶元素成功地掺杂到了羟基磷灰石超长纳米线中。本研究发展的制备方法可以制备锶/(锶+钙)摩尔比从0到100%任一比例的锶掺杂羟基磷灰石超长纳米线, 大幅拓展了羟基磷灰石超长纳米线在骨缺损修复和牙科修复等生物医学领域中的应用。     

Magnesium based degradable biomaterials: A review

Magnesium has been suggested as a revolutionary biodegradable metal for biomedical applications. The corrosion of magnesium, however, is too rapid to match the rates of tissue healing and, additionally, exhibits the localized corrosion mechanism. Thus it is necessary to control the corrosion behaviors of magnesium for their practical use. This paper comprehensively reviews the research progress on the development of representative magnesium based alloys, including Mg-Ca, Mg-Sr, Mg-Zn and Mg-REE alloy systems as well as the bulk metallic glass. The influence of alloying element on their microstructures, mechanical properties and corrosion behaviors is summarized. The mechanical and corrosion properties of wrought magnesium alloys are also discussed in comparison with those of cast alloys. Furthermore, this review also covers research carried out in the field of the degradable coatings on magnesium alloys for biomedical applications. Calcium phosphate and biodegradable polymer coatings are discussed based on different preparation techniques used. We also compare the effect of different coatings on the corrosion behaviors of magnesium alloys substrate.     

A Review on Iron Oxide Nanoparticles and Their Biomedical Applications

The iron oxide nanoparticles have a great attraction in biomedical applications due to their non-toxic role in the biological systems. The iron oxide nanoparticles have both magnetic behaviour and semiconductor property which lead to multifunctional biomedical applications. The iron oxide nanoparticles used in biomedical fields such as antibacterial, antifungal and anticancer were reviewed. The uses of hematite (α-Fe₂O₃), maghemite (γ-Fe₂O₃) and magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles, for an inhibition time in biological activities, are listed in this work. Also, this review explains the use of iron oxide nanoparticles in the biomedical fields with particular attention to the application of hematite and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. In this review, analysis reveals that the role of iron oxide in biological activity is good due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, ease of synthesis and different magnetic behaviours. The change of properties of iron oxide nanoparticles such as particle size, morphology, surface, agglomeration and electronic properties has specific impact in biomedical application. The review mainly focused in and discussed about antibacterial, anticancer, bone marrow and cell labelling activities. From this review work, the iron oxide nanoparticle may be specialised in particular bacterial and cancer treatments. Also discussed are the iron oxide nanoparticle-specific biomedical applications like human placenta, insulin and retinal locus treatments.     

Amorphous silicon prepared by low pressure chemical vapour deposition

Amorphous silicon films, grown by low pressure chemical vapour deposition (LPCVD) in a hot-wall reactor at temperatures around and below 500°C and at pressures of 100 mTorr, were investigated using various characterization techniques, to look for possible differences between these films and films grown by LPCVD at higher temperatures and by atmospheric pressure CVD (APCVD). The emphasis was placed on morphological (scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction) and physical characterization (optical absorption, reflectivity, resistivity, Hall mobility and photoconductivity), while the hydrogen profile was measured using the ¹⁵N technique. The results indicate physical properties that are quite different from those of other LPCVD and APCVD films, properties which cannot be obtained by a simple extrapolation from higher deposition temperatures and which deserve further detailed investigation.     

Block copolymers of L-lactide and poly(ethylene glycol) for biomedical applications

Poly (L-lactide)-poly (oxyethylene)-poly (L-lactide) block copolymers obtained in bulk, by a ring opening mechanism, from poly (ethylene glycol)s (PEG)s and L-lactide (LA), at 120–140°C, in the absence of added catalysts are described. By using PEGs with different molecular masses, 3000 and 35000, respectively, and varying the initial molar ratio LA to PEG, two series of copolymers with different molecular masses, relative length of blocks and hydrophilicity were obtained. Physico-chemical characterization of the copolymers had been previously performed. The morphological characteristics of the copolymers were investigated by means of X-ray diffractometry, optical and scanning electron microscopy. The biological properties of the materials were determined by evaluating their cytotoxicity, cytocompatibility, hemocompatibility and degradability using different standard tests. The results obtained indicate that the block copolymers synthesized may be useful for biomedical applications, in particular as resorbable drug vehicles. The materials are brittle and their mechanical properties are not appropriate for implant devices.     

Polymer/bioactive glass nanocomposites for biomedical applications: A review

Nanoscale bioactive glasses have been gaining attention due to their reported superior osteoconductivity when compared to conventional (micron-sized) bioactive glass materials. The combination of bioactive glass nanoparticles or nanofibers with polymeric systems enables the production of nanocomposites with potential to be used in a series of orthopedic applications, including scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This review presents the state of art of the preparation of nanoscale bioactive glasses and corresponding composites with biocompatible polymers. The recent developments in the preparation methods of nano-sized bioactive glasses are reviewed, covering sol–gel routes, microemulsion techniques, gas phase synthesis method (flame spray synthesis), laser spinning, and electro-spinning. Then, examples of the preparation and properties of nanocomposites based on such inorganic bionanomaterials are presented, obtained using various polymer matrices, including polyesters such as poly(hydroxybutyrate), poly(lactic acid) and poly(caprolactone), and natural-based polymers such as polysaccharides (starch, chitin, chitosan) or proteins (silk fibroin, collagen). The physico-chemical, mechanical, and biological advantages of incorporating nanoscale bioactive glasses in such biodegradable nanocomposites are discussed and the possibilities to expand the use of these materials in other nanotechnology concepts aimed to be used in different biomedical applications are also highlighted.     

A multi-technique study of the surface preparation of InSb substrate and subsequently grown CdTe films by molecular beam epitaxy

Surface preparation and ion bombardment cleaning of (0 0 1) InSb substrates prior to molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) of CdTe films were studied by the combination of various characterization techniques, including X-ray double crystal rocking curves, photoluminescence, Raman scattering and scanning electron microscopy, for different ion bombardment conditions. The optimum substrate preparation conditions of ion bombardment cleaning time and temperature were obtained. The effects of ion beam cleaning on the quality of subsequent MBE CdTe films and the significant divergence among the different assessments are discussed.