264 research outputs found
How can nanofibers aid successful wound healing?
No full textHEQ speaks to Dr Shahin Homaeigohar about the wound healing potential of nanofibrous dressings
Extracellular Matrix (ECM) Mimicking Hybrid and Composite Nanofiber Materials: A General Perspective on Structural and Chemical Biomimicry and Their Role in Wound Healing and Skin Modelling
No full textThe main purpose of implementing biomaterials for regenerative medicine, e.g., in wound healing, is provision of topographical, biochemical, and biomechanical cues to regulate cell activities and to support cell attachment. In this regard, nature has already established a template, i.e., the extracellular matrix (ECM), which has been inspiring in the creation of different classes of biomaterials. Biomaterials that recapitulate the structure, composition, and dynamics of the ECM have been shown to be effective in tissue regeneration and wound healing applications. In particular, nanofiber materials that can simulate the ECM’s collagen nanofilamentous structure, in terms of topography and biochemistry, are highly attractive not only for regeneration of wounded tissue but also for modelling of human native skin to study disease, aging, and therapeutic conditions. Hybrid or composite nanofibers made of synthetic materials, natural materials or a blend of both can not only be employed as wound healing materials, but also as the basis of the epidermal and dermal layer in three-dimensional (3D) organotypic skin models, a new paradigm for modelling of human skin to identify the efficacy of therapeutics and wound healing processes. In this chapter, hybrid and composite nanofibrous materials are discussed from an ECM biomimicry standpoint (structural and biochemical biomimicry) that is crucial for their wound healing and skin modelling application. In collecting the presented information, we mainly considered the innovations carried out in the past five years to provide an updated overview on the ECM mimicking nanofibrous materials that have been applied as wound dressings, skin substitutes, and 3D skin models
Metal and Metal Oxide Nanoparticle-incorporated Polymer Nanofibers for Wound Healing
No full textThis chapter presents an in-depth overview of polymer nanofibers incorporated with metal and metal oxide nanoparticles for wound healing applications. It begins by outlining the fundamentals of wound healing and the limitations of conventional wound dressings. The electrospinning technique is then introduced as a versatile method for fabricating nanofibrous scaffolds that closely mimic the extracellular matrix, offering enhanced porosity, surface area, and mechanical properties ideal for wound care. This chapter extensively examines the role of metal nanoparticles (AgNPs, CuNPs, AuNPs) and metal oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs, TiO2 NPs, Fe3O4 NPs) in enhancing the antibacterial, antioxidant, pro-angiogenic, and anti-inflammatory properties of nanofibrous wound dressings. The mechanisms by which these nanoparticles exert antimicrobial activity – such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, membrane disruption, and metal ion release – are detailed. Furthermore, the chapter analyzes how the incorporation of nanoparticles influences the physicochemical properties of nanofibers, as well as the associated challenges, including cytotoxicity, aggregation, stability, scalability, and regulatory barriers. Future perspectives highlight the potential of greener synthesis methods, the use of biocompatible reducing and stabilizing agents, and the development of synergistic nanoparticle combinations to enhance therapeutic outcomes while mitigating toxicity. This chapter serves as a comprehensive guide for advancing the design of multifunctional wound dressings that address current clinical challenges
The nanosized dye adsorbents for water treatment
Full text linkClean water is a vital element for survival of any living creature and, thus, crucially important to achieve largely and economically for any nation worldwide. However, the astonishingly fast trend of industrialization and population growth and the arisen extensive water pollutions have challenged access to clean water across the world. In this regard, 1.6 million tons of dyes are annually consumed. Thereof, 10%–15% are wasted during use. To decolorize water streams, there is an urgent need for the advanced remediation approaches involving utilization of novel materials and technologies, which are cost and energy efficient. Nanomaterials, with their outstanding physicochemical properties, can potentially resolve the challenge of need to water treatment in a less energy demanding manner. In this review, a variety of the most recent (from 2015 onwards) opportunities arisen from nanomaterials in different dimensionalities, performances, and compositions for water decolorization is introduced and discussed. The state-of-the-art research studies are presented in a classified manner, particularly based on structural dimensionality, to better illustrate the current status of adsorption-based water decolorization using nanomaterials. Considering the introduction of many newly developed nano-adsorbents and their classification based on the dimensionality factor, which has never been employed for this sake in the related literature, a comprehensive review will be presented.Peer reviewe
Amphiphilic oxygenated amorphous carbon-graphite buckypapers with gas sensitivity to polar and non-polar VOCs
Full text linkTo precisely control the emission limit of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) even at trace amounts, reactive nanomaterials of, e.g., carbon are demanded. Particularly, considering the polar/non-polar nature of VOCs, amphiphilic carbon nanomaterials with a huge surface area could act as multipurpose VOC sensors. Here, for the first time, a buckypaper sensor composed of oxygenated amorphous carbon (a-COx)/graphite (G) nanofilaments is developed. Presence of the oxygen-containing groups rises the selectivity of the sensor to polar VOCs, such as ethanol and acetone through formation of hydrogen bonding, affecting the electron withdrawing ability of the group, the hole carrier density, and, thus, the resistivity. On the other hand, the electrostatic interactions between the toluene aromatic ring and the electrons of the graphitic crystals cause a formation of charge-transfer complexes, which could be the main mechanism of high responsiveness of the sensor towards non-polar toluene. To the best of my knowledge, an amphiphilic carbon nanofilamentous buckypaper has never been reported for gas sensing, and my device sensing polar/non-polar VOCs is state of the art for environmental control.</p
Water Treatment with New Nanomaterials
No full textGiven that the threat of water shortage is expanding across the globe, the evolution of advanced technologies that enable water purification and, thus, water re-use in an energy and resource efficient manner are of great importance. In this regard, nanomaterials have been playing a crucial role and offering new opportunities for the construction of permeable and selective membranes and adsorbents. Such features are of paramount importance, particularly given the limited available energy resources. In this book, several recent studies are introduced that deal with water treatment via nanomaterial-based technologies. Such state-of-the-art technologies have employed nanomaterials that are made of polymer, composite, ceramic, and carbon, etc., and are shaped in various dimensionalities and forms such as particle (0D), fiber (1D), and film (2D–3D). The nanostructured membranes and adsorbents as well as photocatalytic nanosystems capable of active photodecomposition of organic pollutants, e.g., dyes, are the main focal points of discussion
Water treatment with new nanomaterials
Full text linkThe studies introduced in this special issue aim to provide a state-of-the-art vision for nanomaterials-based technology that could profit the water treatment industry. Given the expanding crisis of water shortages across the world, this perspective is invaluable and of paramount importance. No doubt, as the environmental challenges are going to be more complicated and to extend to as-yet unconsidered areas, we need to upgrade our facilities and knowledge to address them properly. Nanomaterials are indeed promising building blocks for such advanced technologies that enable them to purify water streams from complex pollutants in an energy, cost and time-effective manner. The focus of the (review and original research) articles collected in this issue is on various kinds of nanomaterials made of carbon, polymer, metal, and metal oxides (magnetic and photocatalyst), that are employed for adsorption and photodegradation of heavy metals and organic pollutants, respectively. Here, I briefly review the insights given in these precious studies and suggest new directions for future research in this field.</p
Book review: crashed: how a decade of financial crises changed the world by Adam Tooze (part 2)
No full textIn Crashed: How a decade of financial crises changed the world, author Adam Tooze proposes a remarkably consistent narrative of the 2008 financial crisis and its political, geopolitical consequences - one that attempts a coherent interpretation of the global and European crises. In part two of his review of this seminal work, Shahin Vallée examines Tooze's take on the crisis of transatlantic finance and the existential crisis for Europe that ensued
Book review: crashed: how a decade of financial crises changed the world by Adam Tooze (part 1)
No full textIn Crashed: How a decade of financial crises changed the world, author Adam Tooze proposes a remarkably consistent narrative of the 2008 financial crisis and its political, geopolitical consequences - one that attempts a coherent interpretation of the global and European crises. In part one of his review of this seminal work, Shahin Vallée examines Tooze's take on the collapse of the financial system, and saving the economy at the cost of our politics
Hybrid and Composite Nanofibrous Materials for Wound Healing Applications
No full textNanofibrous wound dressings offer distinct advantages over traditional wound care materials by providing an extracellular matrix mimicking structure and the ability to deliver biochemical cues. This comprehensive book introduces the latest developments in composite and hybrid nanofibrous wound healing materials reinforced with bioactive particles, drugs, proteins, and antimicrobial agents. Covering a wide range of formulations, it explores composite nanofibers containing bioactive glasses, metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, carbon nanomaterials, and natural compounds like cellulose and honey. It also explores hybrid systems such as core–shell, biomineralized, protein/polysaccharide loaded, and antimicrobial peptide loaded nanofibers. With contributions from leading international experts, this is an essential reference for biomaterials scientists, clinicians, and industry on the emerging frontiers of advanced nanofiber-based wound care. The commercialization challenges and prospects are also discussed, providing a roadmap for translating these innovations into clinical products
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