Hydrogels for biomedical applications.

Validation of ATR FT-IR to identify polymers of plastic marine debris, including those ingested by marine organisms.

(CdSe)ZnS Core−Shell Quantum Dots: Synthesis and Characterization of a Size Series of Highly Luminescent Nanocrystallites

Functional graphene nanomaterials (FGNs) are fast emerging materials with extremely unique physical and chemical properties and physiological ability to interfere and/or interact with bioorganisms; as a result, FGNs present manifold possibilities for diverse biological applications. Beyond their use in drug/gene delivery, phototherapy, and bioimaging, recent studies have revealed that FGNs can significantly promote interfacial biointeractions, in particular, with proteins, mammalian cells/stem cells, and microbials. FGNs can adsorb and concentrate nutrition factors including proteins from physiological media. This accelerates the formation of extracellular matrix, which eventually promotes cell colonization by providing a more beneficial microenvironment for cell adhesion and growth. Furthermore, FGNs can also interact with cocultured cells by physical or chemical stimulation, which significantly mediate their cellular signaling and biological performance. In this review, we elucidate FGNs–bioorganism int...

Functional Graphene Nanomaterials Based Architectures: Biointeractions, Fabrications, and Emerging Biological Applications

Background Bioactive compounds possess plenty of health benefits, but they are chemically unstable and susceptible to oxidative degradation. The application of pure bioactive compounds is also very limited in food and drug formulations due to their fast release, low solubility, and poor bioavailability. Encapsulation can preserve the bioactive compounds from environmental stresses, improve physicochemical functionalities, and enhance their health-promoting and anti-disease activities. Scope and approach Micro and nano-encapsulation based techniques and systems have great importance in food and pharmaceutical industries. This review highlights the recent advances in micro and nano-encapsulation of bioactive compounds. We comprehensively discussed the importance of encapsulation, the application of biopolymer-based carrier agents and lipid-based transporters with their functionalities, suitability of encapsulation techniques in micro and nano-encapsulation, as well as different forms of improved and novel micro and nano-encapsulate systems. Key findings and conclusions Both micro and nano-encapsulation have an extensive application, but nano-encapsulation can be a promising approach for encapsulation purposes. Maltodextrin in combination with gums or other polysaccharides or proteins can offer an advantageous formulation for the encapsulation of bioactive compounds by using encapsulation techniques. Electro-spinning and electro-spraying are promising technologies in micro and nano-encapsulation, while solid lipid nanoparticles and nanostructure lipid carriers are exposing themselves as the promising and new generation of lipid nano-carriers for bioactive compounds. Moreover, phytosome, nano-hydrogel, and nano-fiber are also efficient and novel nano-vehicles for bioactive compounds. Further studies are required for the improvement of existing encapsulate systems and exploring their application in food and gastrointestinal systems for industrial application.

Advances in micro and nano-encapsulation of bioactive compounds using biopolymer and lipid-based transporters

The ability to investigate substances at the molecular level has boosted the search for materials with outstanding properties for use in medicine. The application of these novel materials has generated the new research field of nanobiotechnology, which plays a central role in disease diagnosis, drug design and delivery, and implants. In this review, we provide an overview of the use of metallic and metal oxide nanoparticles, carbon-nanotubes, liposomes, and nanopatterned flat surfaces for specific biomedical applications. The chemical and physical properties of the surface of these materials allow their use in diagnosis, biosensing and bioimaging devices, drug delivery systems, and bone substitute implants. The toxicology of these particles is also discussed in the light of a new field referred to as nanotoxicology that studies the surface effects emerging from nanostructured materials.

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Biomedical applications of nanotechnology.

Green synthesis of colloidal silver nanoparticles using natural rubber latex extracted from Hevea brasiliensis.

Quercetin is a flavonoid with high antioxidant capacity that provides beneficial biological effects However, the absorption rate of quercetin in the gastrointestinal tract is low but encapsulated lipid matrices, such as liposomes, can be useful to enhance its bioavailability In this study, quercetin-loaded liposome dispersions were produced by ethanol injection and 12 mM of phospholipid encapsulating 03% molar quercetin was suitable to evaluate physicochemical stability The Langmuir monolayer technique indicated that it was possible to encapsulate a maximum of 03% molar quercetin in liposomes Quercetin-loaded liposome dispersions presented a mean hydrodynamic diameter of 264 nm and a zeta potential of −17 mV, which is typical for small unilamellar vesicles produced by ethanol injection Sucrose was used as the lyoprotectant (mass sucrose: phospholipid ratio, 4:1), and the encapsulated quercetin had not degraded after 100 days of storage In addition, the lyophilized liposomes presented a low propensity for water adsorption and low hygroscopicity Such behavior is considered highly suitable for stability in dried foods

Encapsulation of quercetin in liposomes by ethanol injection and physicochemical characterization of dispersions and lyophilized vesicles

Which plasticizer is suitable for films based on babassu starch isolated by different methods

The search for new materials for biomedical applications is extremely important. Here, we present results on the performance of a silver nanoparticles delivery system using natural rubber latex (NRL) as the polymeric matrix. Our aim was to obtain an optimized wound dressing by combining materials with potential healing action. The synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their characterization by UV–Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, zeta potential, dynamic light scattering, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) are depicted. The NRL membranes are good matrix for silver nanoparticles and allow for their gradual release. The release of 30 nm silver nanoparticles by the NRL membranes depends on their mass percentage in NRL membranes. The total concentration of AgNP released by the NRL membranes was calculated. The AgNP attached to the cis-isoprene molecules in the NRL matrix remain attached to the membrane (~0.1 % w/w). So, only the AgNP bound to the non-rubber molecules are released. FTIR spectra suggest that non-rubber molecules, like aminoacids and proteins, associated with the serum fraction of the NRL may be attached to the surfaces of the released nanoparticles, thereby increasing the release of such molecules. The released silver nanoparticles are sterically stabilized, more stable and well dispersed. Because the serum fraction of the NRL is responsible for the angiogenic properties of the matrix, the silver nanoparticles could increment the angiogenic properties of NRL. This biomaterial has desirable properties for the fabrication of a wound dressing with potential healing action, since it combines the angiogenic and antibacterial properties of the silver nanoparticles with the increased angiogenic properties of the NRL. The AgNP attached to the cis-isoprene molecules remain in the NRL matrix and only the AgNP bound to the non-rubber molecules (NRL serum fraction) are released. The released AgNP are sterically stabilized, more stable and well dispersed.

Ana Paula Ramos

Papers

Biomedical applications of nanotechnology.

Green synthesis of colloidal silver nanoparticles using natural rubber latex extracted from Hevea brasiliensis.

Encapsulation of quercetin in liposomes by ethanol injection and physicochemical characterization of dispersions and lyophilized vesicles

Which plasticizer is suitable for films based on babassu starch isolated by different methods

Silver nanoparticles delivery system based on natural rubber latex membranes