Utilization of polymers as biomaterials has greatly impacted the advancement of modern medicine. Specifically, polymeric biomaterials that are biodegradable provide the significant advantage of being able to be broken down and removed after they have served their function. Applications are wide ranging with degradable polymers being used clinically as surgical sutures and implants. In order to fit functional demand, materials with desired physical, chemical, biological, biomechanical and degradation properties must be selected. Fortunately, a wide range of natural and synthetic degradable polymers has been investigated for biomedical applications with novel materials constantly being developed to meet new challenges. This review summarizes the most recent advances in the field over the past 4 years, specifically highlighting new and interesting discoveries in tissue engineering and drug delivery applications.

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Biomedical Applications of Biodegradable Polymers

Biopolymer-based hydrogels as scaffolds for tissue engineering applications: a review

Oxygen vacancies in crystal have important impacts on the electronic properties of ZnO. With ZnO2 as precursors, we introduce a high concentration of oxygen vacancies into ZnO successfully. The obtained ZnO exhibits a yellow color, and the absorption edge shifts to longer wavelength. Raman and XPS spectra reveal that the concentration of oxygen vacancies in the ZnO decreased when the samples are annealed at higher temperature in air. It is consistent with the theory calculation. The increasing of oxygen vacancies results in a narrowing bandgap and increases the visible light absorption of the ZnO. The narrowing bandgap can be confirmed by the enhancement of the photocurrent response when the ZnO was irradiated with visible light. The ZnO with oxygen vacancies are found to be efficient for photodecomposition of 2,4-dichlorophenol under visible light irradiation.

Oxygen vacancy induced band-gap narrowing and enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity of ZnO.

Synthesis methods for nanosized hydroxyapatite with diverse structures.

Optical Waveguide Theory

Physicochemical and biological properties of Y-TZP ceramics modified by infiltration with different bioactive glasses for dental implant

A new consolidation in-situ forming process for high-performance alumina ceramic using acetate starch was investigated. The pasting behavior and thermogelling properties of acetate starch and the effects of different amount of acetate starch and solid loading on the rheologic behavior of the ceramic slip, as well as the linear shrinkage, density, strength and microstructure of the green body were discussed. The results indicate that acetate starch paste has good thermal stability and gelling ability. When the content of acetate starch is about 0.5%~1.5% (mass fraction), the apparent viscosity of alumina slurry, which is always less than 1Pa·s even for 58% (volume fraction) dense suspension, increased with increasing the acetate starch content and solid loading. That results in easier to cast. Moreover, with the increasing of solid loading the linear shrinkage and dry strength of green bodies decreased and the relative density increased. With the increasing starch content, the linear shrinkage rate and the density of the dried body decreased, while the strength of the dried body almost linearly increased. The green body with homogeneously-distributed density and pore size was also obtained in this work. It is concluded that Al2O3 ceramics can be consolidation in-situ formed based on the gelling network of thermally swelled and gelatinized acetate starch.

Application of Acetate Starch to Colloidal In Situ Consolidation Molding Process of Alumina Ceramic

A novel calcium phosphate cement (CPC) was prepared by mixing partially crystallized calcium phosphate (PCCP) containing carbonate and dicalcium phosphate anhydrous (DCPA) in this work. The effects of the carbonate content on the phase composition, strength, prosity, and degradation of the set bodies were studied. The results showed that the cement formed into hydroxyapatite (HAp) after setting, in which carbonate doped into the HAp crystal lattice. With the increase of the carbonate to phosphate ratio in PCCP, the compressive strength of the cement declined and the setting of the cement accelerated. Furthermore, the calcium phosphate cement formed a more porous structure with the increase of the carbonate to phosphate ratio in PCCP. The results also indicated that the degradation of CPC may be speeded up by introducing carbonate to the cement.

Effect of Carbonate on the Properties of Bone Cement Containing PCCP and DCPA

The boron-phosphorous co-doping scheme for possible n-type diamond from first principles

Ultraviolet photodetectors have aroused wide concern based on wide-band-gap semiconductors, such as GaN and Ga2O3. Exploiting multi-spectral detection provides unparalleled driving force and direction for high-precision ultraviolet detection. Here we demonstrate an optimized design strategy of Ga2O3/GaN heterostructure bi-color ultraviolet photodetector, which presents extremely high responsivity and UV-to-visible rejection ratio. The electric field distribution of optical absorption region was profitably modified by optimizing heterostructure doping concentration and thickness ratio, thus further facilitating the separation and transport of photogenerated carriers. Meanwhile, the modulation of Ga2O3/GaN heterostructure band offset leads to the fluent transport of electrons and the blocking of holes, thereby enhancing the photoconductive gain of the device. Eventually, the Ga2O3/GaN heterostructure photodetector successfully realizes dual-band ultraviolet detection and achieves high responsivity of 892/950 A/W at the wavelength of 254/365 nm, respectively. Moreover, UV-to-visible rejection ratio of the optimized device also keeps at a high level (∼103) while exhibiting dual-band characteristic. The proposed optimization scheme is anticipated to provide significant guidance for the reasonable device fabrication and design on multi-spectral detection.

Jiandong Ye

Papers

Physicochemical and biological properties of Y-TZP ceramics modified by infiltration with different bioactive glasses for dental implant

Application of Acetate Starch to Colloidal In Situ Consolidation Molding Process of Alumina Ceramic

Effect of Carbonate on the Properties of Bone Cement Containing PCCP and DCPA

The boron-phosphorous co-doping scheme for possible n-type diamond from first principles

High-responsivity dual-band ultraviolet photodetector based on Ga2O3/GaN heterostructure.