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Silk fibroin (SF), a natural protein derived from silkworms, has emerged as a promising biomaterial due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, degradation rate, and tunable mechanical properties. This review delves into the intrinsic attributes of SF that make it an attractive candidate for scaffold development in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The distinctiveness of this comprehensive review resides in its detailed exploration of recent advancements in the fabrication techniques of SF‐based fibrous scaffolds, namely electrospinning, freeze‐drying, and 3D printing. An in‐depth analysis of these fabrication techniques is conducted to illustrate their versatility in customizing essential scaffold characteristics, such as porosity, fiber diameter, and mechanical strength. The article meticulously discusses process parameters, advantages, and challenges of each fabrication technique, highlighting the innovative advancements made in the respective field. Furthermore, the review goes beyond fabrication techniques to provide an overview of the latest biomedical applications and research endeavors utilizing SF‐derived scaffolds. From nerve regeneration and wound healing to drug delivery, bone regeneration, and vascular tissue engineering, the diverse applications underscore the versatility of SF in adopting various biomedical challenges. Finally, the article emphasizes the need for standardized characterization techniques, scalable manufacturing processes, and long‐term in vivo studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming is one of the alarming issues, which is impacting humans globally. It is preferred to adopt a lifestyle that promotes heat dissipation from the human body. One approach to cool a human body is improvement in personal apparel, which can help the human body to cool quickly. The required characteristic for cooling performance can be achieved by employing materials with excellent thermal conductivity. Nanodiamonds (ND) have exceptional thermal conductivity properties and can help overcome the poor thermal conductivity of fabrics. This manuscript presents a study on a one‐sided coated fabric where NDs are applied to the skin side of the fabric to promote heat dissipation toward the atmosphere while the other side of the fabric, exposed to the hot atmosphere, remains uncoated to delay the transfer of out from atmosphere to human body. ND was applied onto cotton fabric through electrospraying polyurethane (PU) and carboxylated ND (NDCOOH). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and optical microscopy images indicated a homogeneous distribution of the sprayed ND/PU solution over the fabric surface. The samples were chemically analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The thermal resistance was measured by a sweating guarded hot plate (SGHP), which confirmed lower thermal resistance of fabric from the ND‐coated side to atmosphere as compared to control, and thermal resistance from the uncoated to atmosphere was the same for both controlled and treated samples. Similarly, thermal conductivity, radiant heat transfer, and infrared spectroscopy characterizations strengthened the findings of SGHP results. Real‐life simulated experiments were also conducted to verify the performance of developed samples. The electrosprayed samples also showed higher ultraviolet protection than the control sample. Air permeability and moisture absorption of the samples slightly decreased after applying the coating but remained within an acceptable range of comfortability. The developed fabric can promote energy conservation, as it will warm slowly but cool quickly. This allows home or office temperature setpoints for localized cooling to be 2–3°C lower with a projected energy savings between 20% and 30%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) are one of the leading causes of substantial impairment around the globe. Complete recovery of nerve function after an injury is challenging. Currently, autologous nerve grafts are being used as a treatment; however, this has several downsides, for example, donor site morbidity, shortage of donor sites, loss of sensation, inflammation, and neuroma development. The most promising alternative is the development of a nerve guide conduit (NGC) to direct the restoration and renewal of neuronal axons from the proximal to the distal end to facilitate nerve regeneration and maximize sensory and functional recovery. Alternatively, the response of nerve cells to electrical stimulation (ES) has a substantial regenerative effect. The incorporation of electrically conductive biomaterials in the fabrication of smart NGCs facilitates the function of ES throughout the active proliferation state. This article overviews the potency of the various categories of electroactive smart biomaterials, including conductive and piezoelectric nanomaterials, piezoelectric polymers, and organic conductive polymers that researchers have employed latterly to fabricate smart NGCs and their potentiality in future clinical application. It also summarizes a comprehensive analysis of the recent research and advancements in the application of ES in the field of NGC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zein, which accounts for around 80% of the total protein composition in corn, is a biocompatible and biodegradable substance derived from renewable sources. Although insoluble in water, its amphiphilic characteristics are utilized to generate nanoparticles, nanofibers, microparticles, and even films. Numerous recent studies have demonstrated the potential of zein as a prospective biomaterial to develop fibrous scaffolds for biomedical functions owing to its biocompatibility, fibrous formation, and encapsulating qualities. Fabrication of zein‐based fibrous scaffolds for biomedical applications is achieved by a wide variety of techniques, including electrospinning, wet spinning, freeze drying, and additive manufacturing. This article overviews current advancements in manufacturing techniques for zein‐based fibrous scaffolds. In addition, it summarizes the most recent biomedical applications and research activities utilizing zein‐based fibrous scaffolds. Overall, zein is proposed as a potential biomaterial for the production of fibrous scaffolds that stimulate cell adhesion and proliferation in a number of exciting biomedical applications due to its biodegradability, biocompatibility, and other unique features related to its structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polypropylene (PP) based hernia mesh often shows multiple post‐surgery complications due to lack of biocompatibility, poor cell attachment, and unwanted tissue adhesion. These limitations can be addressed by material designing and surface modification of a mesh with side‐specific properties such as the visceral side (facing intestine) with low protein and cell attachment and the parietal side (facing incision) with improved cell attachment properties for normal healing. However, the development of dual‐sided mesh is very challenging because of its porous structure. Herein, a dual‐sided biocompatible mesh with protein anti‐adsorption and cell attachment properties on two different sides is developed by grafting highly hydrophilic 2‐methcryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine polymer (PMPC) on the plasma‐activated visceral side, while the parietal side is coated with bioactive chitosan and functionalized nanodiamond (Chi/FND) using a temporary polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) mold. The PMPC‐grafted side demonstrated excellent resistance to protein adsorption (96% reduction compared to PP) and cell attachment. However, the bioactive coating on the parietal side has significantly improved cell attachment and proliferation properties. In addition, both sides confirmed the presence of the respective biomaterials after an accelerated degradation study for 28 days. Hence, the newly developed dual‐sided mesh by semi‐solid polymer mold (SSPM) method is a promising candidate to address the long‐existing multiple issues of hernia mesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of cooling textiles has a significant impact on energy saving and cost‐effectiveness in the context of global warming. Engineering textiles with cooling performance while maintaining their intrinsic traits, for example, lightweight, washable, comfort, and durability, is a great challenge in developing personal cooling garments. Here, the synthesis of nanodiamond/polydopamine/wool (ND‐PDA‐wool) nanocomposites through a facile dip‐coating approach is demonstrated. Different types of ND including detonation ND (DND), carboxylated ND (ND‐COOH) and hydroxylated ND (ND‐OH), are used, and dopamine templating is applied to achieve strong adhesion and bonding between fiber and ND. The morphology, structure, and properties of the as‐coated fabrics are characterized, and the cooling performance together with comfort are measured. Due to the excellent thermal conductivity of ND, the temperature difference between the coated fabrics and uncoated ones is around 2.4–3.9 °C within a short time span of 30 min. The coated ND‐PDA‐Wool fabrics demonstrated enhanced thermal stability and improved mechanical properties with excellent durability, and the water absorbency is greatly enhanced with well‐maintained air permeability. ND‐PDA‐wool composite fabrics offer a strategy to develop durable, lightweight, washable, and comfortable cooling textiles with immense potential in energy saving and reducing space cooling costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gallium and its alloys, such as eutectic gallium indium alloy (EGaIn), a form of liquid metal, have recently attracted the attention of researchers due to their low toxicity and electrical and thermal conductivity for biomedical application. However, further research is required to harness EGaIn‐composites advantages and address their application as a biomedical scaffold. In this research, EGaIn‐polylactic acid/polycaprolactone composites with and without a second conductive filler, MXene, were prepared and characterized. The addition of MXene, into the EGaIn‐composite, can improve the composite's electrochemical properties by connecting the liquid metal droplets resulting in electrically conductive continuous pathways within the polymeric matrix. The results showed that the composite with 50% EGaIn and 4% MXene, displayed optimal electrochemical properties and enhanced mechanical and radiopacity properties. Furthermore, the composite showed good biocompatibility, examined through interactions with fibroblast cells, and antibacterial properties against methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Therefore, the liquid metal (EGaIn) polymer composite with MXene provides a first proof‐of‐concept engineering scaffold strategy with low toxicity, functional electrochemical properties, and promising antimicrobial properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polypropylene (PP) mesh is most commonly used for the treatment of hernia and pelvic floor construction. However, some of the patients have a few complications after surgery due to the rejection or infection of the implanted meshes. The poor biocompatibility of PP mesh, low wettability results in poor cell attachment/proliferation and restricts the loading of antibacterial agent, leading to a slow healing process and high risk of infection after surgery. Here in this study, a new technique has been employed to develop a novel antimicrobial and biocompatible PP mesh modified with bioactive chitosan and functionalized nanodiamond (FND) for infection inhibition and acceleration of the healing process. An oxygen plasma treatment PP mesh was used then chitosan was strongly attached to the surface of the PP fibers. Subsequently, FND as an antibacterial agent was loaded into the chitosan modified PP fiber to provide desired antibacterial functions. The meshes were characterised with XRD, FTIR, SEM, EDX, water contact angle, confocal, and optical microscopy. The modified PP mesh with chitosan and FND showed a significant increase in its hydrophilicity and L929 fibroblast cell attachment. Furthermore, the modified mesh exhibited great antibacterial efficiency against Escherichia coli. Therefore, the newly developed technique to modify PP mesh could be a promising technique to generate a biocompatible PP mesh to accelerate the healing process and reduce the risk of infection after surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biocompatibility of materials is the determining factor for them to be applied in biomedical areas. Nanodiamond (ND) has gained increasing interest in this area due to its biocompatibility, ease of surface functionalization and excellent mechanical performance. ND has been widely used to reinforce biopolymers, and the resultant biocomposites have found applications in bone tissue engineering, chemotherapeutic drug delivery, and wound healing. Fluorescent ND, when combined with biopolymers, is serving for bioimaging and sensing applications. Herein, we contribute a description of ND, recent trends in its adoption for biopolymers, functionalization methods, amalgamation techniques of ND with biopolymers, potential applications of these composites in the biomedical field and future perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, we describe the synthesis, material characteristics, and cytocompatibility of conducting poly (ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL)-based nano-composite films. Electrically conducting carbon nano-fillers (carbon nano-fiber (CNF), nano-graphite (NG), and liquid exfoliated graphite (G)) were used to prepare porous film type scaffolds using modified solvent casting methods. The electrical conductivity of the nano-composite films was increased when carbon nano-fillers were incorporated in the PCL matrix. CNF-based nano-composite films showed the highest increase in electrical conductivity. The presence of an ionic solution significantly improved the conductivity of some of the polymers, however at least 24 h was required to absorb the simulated ion solutions. CNF-based nano-composite films were found to have good thermo-mechanical properties compared to other conducting polymer films due to better dispersion and alignment in the critical direction. Increased nano-filler content increased the crystallisation temperature. Analysis of cell viability revealed no increase in cell death on any of the polymers compared to tissue culture plastic controls, or compared to PCL polymer without nano-composites. The scaffolds showed some variation when tested for PC12 cell attachment and proliferation, however all the polymers supported PC12 attachment and differentiation in the absence of cell adhesion molecules. In general, CNF-based nano-composite films with highest electrical conductivity and moderate roughness showed highest cell attachment and proliferation. These polymers are promising candidates for use in neural applications in the area of bionics and tissue engineering due to their unique properties. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 853-865, 2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study the degradation of woven fabrics of meta-aramid and the blend of para-aramid and polybenzimidazole fibers when exposed to environmental conditions has been investigated under accelerated ageing conditions. Generally, these polymeric materials have been used for the outer layer of protective clothing, particularly for fire-fighting. The performance of these fabrics plays an important role in preventing burn-injuries to fire fighters. Frequent exposure of these materials to various environmental conditions (especially sunlight) can degrade the polymeric chain and affect their performance properties. Hence, the degradation of the fabrics has been studied in terms of loss of tensile and tear strength; reduction in abrasion resistance; and extension at break. It was observed that ultraviolet (UV) irradiation negatively impacted on the mechanical properties of both the polymeric materials significantly. This can be attributed to chemical changes in the polymeric chains due to the photo-oxidation of the polymer. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed surface decomposition of the filaments due to UV irradiation. Exposure of polybenzimidazole resulted in rapid loss of mechanical and chemical properties in comparison with meta-aramid. However, decomposition and degradation of polybenzidimazole was not statistically significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]