Cancer remains a significant threat to human health today. Even though starvation therapy and other treatment methods have recently advanced to a new level of rapid development in tumour treatment, their limited therapeutic effectiveness and unexpected side effects prevent them from becoming the first option in clinical treatment. With rapid advancement in nanotechnology, the utilization of nanomaterials in therapeutics offers the potential to address the shortcomings in cancer treatment. Notably, multifunctional metal-organic framework (MOF) has been widely employed in cancer therapy due to their customizable shape, adjustable diameter, high porosity, diverse compositions, large specific surface area, high degree of functionalization and strong biocompatibility. This paper reviews the current progress and success of MOF-based multifunctional nanoplatforms for cancer starvation therapy, as well as the prospects and potential barriers for the application of MOF nanoplatforms in cancer starvation therapy.

Injured bone tissues can be healed with bone grafts, but this procedure may cause intense pain to the patient. A slow and localized delivery of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) could help to reduce the pain without affecting bone regeneration. The objective of the present study was to use [Mg-Al]-layered double hydroxide (LDH) as a matrix for controlled release of sodium naproxen (NAP). This system could be applied in biomaterial formulations (such as bone grafts) to achieve a local delivery of naproxen. [Mg-Al]-LDH successfully incorporated up to 80% (w/w) of naproxen by the structural reconstruction route, with the [Mg-Al]-LDH interlayer space increasing by 0.55 nm, corresponding to the drug molecule size. The evaluation of the naproxen release kinetics showed that 40% of the drug was delivered over 48 h in aqueous medium (pH 7.4 ± 0.1), indicating the potential of [Mg-Al]-LDH/NAP for local release of naproxen at adequate concentrations. Kinetic modeling showed that the naproxen release process was closely related to the Higuchi model, which considers the drug release as a diffusional process based on Fick’s law. The chemical stability of NAP after the release tests was verified by 1H NMR. The [Mg-Al]-LDH/NAP also exhibited low cytotoxicity toward fibroblast cells (L929 cell line), without modifications in their morphology and adhesion capacity. These results describe a suitable approach for preparing efficient systems for local delivery of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for biomedical applications.

The application of biological materials in everyday design is gaining traction and designers are encouraged to employ biological systems through biodesign and biophilia. However, there is a deficiency in the understanding of potential consumers’ perceptions. This paper compares the perception of non-designers as well as designers towards design-embedded bio-materials. Data was collected from 234 respondents using an online survey. The findings were gathered by evaluating perception in terms of desirability, practicality, aesthetically, and familiarity with living and non-living biomaterials.

Herein, we report a synthetic route capable of producing superparamagnetic, stable and biocompatible glucosamine (GLU) nanocarriers, composed by colloidal iron oxide nanoparticles (ION, ~6 nm) surface-functionalized with GLU dispersed in physiological media (pH 7.2). The route consists first of the preparation of ION by aqueous alkaline co-precipitation of 1:2 Fe(II)/Fe(III) followed by surface treatment with citric acid, activation of acidic groups via carbodiimide intermediary and further amidation using GLU as the amine reactant. Results from cell viability tests performed with human dental pulp tissue cells suggest that ION–GLU nanocolloids are biocompatible and non-toxic for two different concentrations and several hours of incubation. Moreover, optical microscopy shows that ION–GLU adsorbs at the cells walls and also transposes them, reaching cytoplasm and nucleus as well. All findings point out the promising use of ION–GLU as biocompatible nanocarriers for GLU delivery such as in articulation diseases.

The ability to control the movement of molecules is both fascinating scientifically as well as being critically important to the well-being of our planet and its people. In particular, the sustained release of molecules over prolonged periods at controlled rates has had and will continue to have enormous implications for the delivery of substances in medicine, agriculture, the environment, nutrition, aquaculture, household consumer products, and numerous other areas. This field is advancing at a rapidly accelerating pace. In this article, I largely discuss our own work, starting 45 years ago, in enabling the controlled release of macromolecules from biocompatible polymers. I also discuss the synthesis of novel materials to affect molecular movement and I then examine external approaches for controlling the movement of molecules through materials, using forces such as electric, acoustic, and magnetic fields. I further discuss approaches for controlling molecular movement through physiologic barriers, such as the skin, lung, and intestine. Finally, I outline several future areas of this field, including how it can affect the developing world, the ability to control the movement of molecules into mammalian cells, and the design of intelligent approaches to control molecular delivery.

In this study, the effects of 3D-printed SiO2 and ZnO-doped tricalcium phosphate (TCP) scaffolds with interconnected pores were evaluated on the in vivo bone formation and healing properties of a rabbit tibial defect model. Pure and doped TCP scaffolds were fabricated by a ceramic powder-based 3D printing technique and implanted into critical sized rabbit tibial defects for up to 4 months. In vivo bone regeneration was evaluated using chronological radiological examination, histological evaluations, SEM micrographs, and fluorochrome labeling studies. Radiograph results showed that Si/Zn-doped samples had slower degradation kinetics than the pure TCP samples. 3D printing of TCP scaffolds improved bone formation. The addition of dopants in the TCP scaffolds improved osteogenic capabilities when compared to the pure scaffolds. In summary, our findings indicate that the addition of dopants to the TCP scaffolds enhanced bone formation and in turn leading to accelerated healing.

A novel freeze-cast porous chitosan conduit for peripheral nerve repair with highly-aligned, double layered porosity, which provides the ideal mechanical and chemical properties was designed, manufactured, and assessed in vivo. Efficacies of the conduit and the control inverted nerve autograft were evaluated in bridging 10-mm Lewis rat sciatic nerve gap at 12 weeks post-implantation. Biocompatibility and regenerative efficacy of the porous chitosan conduit were evaluated through the histomorphometric analysis of longitudinal and transverse sections. The porous chitosan conduit was found to have promising regenerative characteristics, promoting the desired neovascularization, and axonal ingrowth and alignment through a combination of structural, mechanical and chemical cues.

In disputes over the use and possession of the human body and its parts, there has been a marked reliance on property law concepts. Judges frequently resort to the language of “ownership”, “gifts”, “donations”, “trusts” and so on, in order to resolve disputes over the use of human biomaterials. When this happens, however, we observe certain recurring mistakes. Judges and academics writing in this area have sometimes misunderstood the basic rules governing the creation and operation of property rights. We do not seek to take a stance on the normative matters at stake. Our aim is to provide an accurate account of how property law could operate when applied in the context of human tissue use. We hope to redress some misconceptions, but our bigger goal is to provide a new methodology of how to work through the various questions that must be considered when determining how to regulate human tissue, by explaining how property principles would work at each stage. In this way, we seek to enable those who wish to debate whether property principles should be applied to human tissue the means to have accurate debates.

Nanoindentation technique has been used to measure the elastic modulus of virus capsids, capsules, vesicles, and tubules. The principle of the nanoindentation technique is based on the elastic solution of an isotropic, homogeneous, semi-infinite material, which limits the use of nanoindentation in measuring the mechanical properties of materials of small scales. To address this limitation, Reissner's thin shell model, which is based on the point indentation on a thin shell, has been used in analyzing the indentation of thin shells. In this work, the indentation of elastic hemispherical shells of various thicknesses by a rigid, spherical indenter is analyzed, using the finite element method. The simulation results reveal the limitation of the Reissner's thin shell model. A semi-analytical relationship between the indentation depth and the indentation load is proposed, which consists of the contributions of the Hertz's local deformation, the Reissner's local flattening, and the Pogorelov's deflection of the shell. This relationship provides an analytical basis of using nanoindentation to determine the nominal contact modulus of spherical shells. The comparison between the numerical results and the experimental results in literature supports the proposed semi-analytical relationship and reveals the effect of viscoelastic characteristic of shell structures on the indentation deformation.

Combining Bisphophonates (BPs) and Calcium Phosphate Cement (CPC) to form a new medical device for the local treatment of Osteoporosis is a promising challenge. Our formulation was optimized from an apatitic-type CPC and we have shown that the best solution consists in introducing the bisphosphonate (Alendronate) in the calcium deficient apatite (CDA), a solid component of the cement, through a chemical exchange reaction. The cement obtained was characterized by 31P NMR and high frequency impedance for monitoring the CPC setting. The presence of Alendronate in the cement was also demonstrated by 31P NMR which has been also used to characterize the chemical transformation of α-TCP (main component of the apatitic cement) during the setting process. BP absorption/desorption experiments have been realized on cement blocks, under continuous flow condition, to model the release profile of the Alendronate. In vivo experiments showed promising results in terms of resorbability of the Alendronate–loaded cement while promoting new bone formation. The same methodology is considered to introduce gallium, a potential inhibitor of osteoclastic resorption, in a CPC formulation. First experiments have shown that gallium can be incorporated in calcium phosphate ceramics (i.e. β-TCP) where gallium is part of the network.

The detailed molecular processes associated with postnatal remodelling of blood vessels are presently not understood. To characterize the response of the patients undergoing stenting of the patent arterial duct, we harvested samples of vascular tissue during surgical repair. Histological analysis of explanted ducts confirmed the patency of the ducts immediately after birth. As expected, a previously unstented duct that was examined 7 months after birth had become closed and ligamentous. Whole genome expression profiling of these samples showed that a large fraction, over 10%, of the gene sequences examined were expressed differentially between the samples taken from patients with open as opposed to the ligamentous duct. Interestingly, in 2 patients in whom closure was prevented by insertion of stents, one showed an expression profile that was similar to that of the patient initially having an unstented open duct, whereas the other was more closely related to the profile of the patient with a duct that had become ligamentous. Moreover, in 2 specimens obtained from patients with stented pulmonary arteries, a large fraction of the genes that were differentially expressed were identical to the pattern seen in the samples from the patients with open ducts. The gene regulation appeared to be independent of the nature of the respective malformations, and the site of implantation of the stents. These findings suggest that a set of differentially expressed genes are indicative for a transcriptional programme in neonatal remodelling of the arterial duct, which may also take place in patients in whom ductal closure is prevented by stents, or in those with stented pulmonary arteries. The differentially expressed genes included a significant number of extracellular matrix synthetic genes, and could therefore be predictive for vascular remodelling and neointimal formation.

The interaction of an Nd:YAG laser, operating at 532 nm with 40 ps pulse duration, with human teeth was studied. The results show that teeth were significantly modified at an energy fluence of about 11 J/cm2. Various surface morphologies of enamel and dentine were recorded. Features on enamel include crater (conical form) in the central part and cauliflower morphology at the periphery, whereas on dentine the crater looks like a stretched dome between sharp edges. The behavior of the enamel-dentine junction area showed different morphology with respect to both tooth enamel and dentine alone. Finally, the junction channel showed a removal of collagen fibers and the formation of a needle-like bottom structure. Generally, this investigation showed that the picosecond Nd:YAG laser can ablate a tooth surface practically instantaneously, implying that large tooth surfaces can be processed in short time.

Interaction of a Nd:YAG laser, operating at wavelengths of 1064 nm (23.6 J cm−2 fluence) or 532 nm (25.9 J cm−2 fluence), and pulse duration of 40 ps, with a titanium-based medical implant Ti6Al4V alloy was studied. Surface damage thresholds were estimated to be 0.9 J cm−2 and 0.25 J cm−2 at laser wavelengths 1064 nm and 532 nm, respectively. At both laser wavelengths, the energy absorbed was mostly converted into thermal energy, forming craters, albeit about 50 times deeper at 1064 nm than at 532 nm. Periodic surface structures (PSS) were also formed with both laser wavelengths, concentric, and radial at micrometer scale (3 µm to 15 µm period), parallel at nanometer scale (800 nm period with the 1064 nm laser, 400 nm with the 532 nm laser). In the case of the 532 nm laser, the concentric structures enlarge their period with accumulating laser pulse count. These features can help roughening of the implant surface and improve bio-compatibility.

The emergence of micro- and nanoscale science and engineering has provided new avenues for engineering materials with macromolecular and even molecular-scale precision, leading to diagnostic and therapeutic technologies that will revolutionize the way healthcare is administered. Biomaterials have evolved from off-the-shelf products to materials designed with molecular precision to exhibit the desired properties for a specific application, often mimicking biological systems. Controlling interactions at the level of natural building blocks, from proteins to cells, facilitates the novel exploration, manipulation, and application of living systems and biological phenomena. In addition, polymer networks with precisely engineered binding sites have been created via molecular imprinting, where functional monomers are preassembled with a target molecule and then the structure is locked with network formation. Nanoscale science and engineering have accelerated the development of novel drug delivery systems and led to enhanced control over how a given pharmaceutical is administered, helping biological potential to be transformed into medical reality. Micro- and nanoscale devices have been fabricated using integrated-circuit processing techniques, enabling strict temporal control over drug release. The advantages of these microdevices include simple release mechanisms, very accurate dosing, the capability of complex release patterns, the potential for local delivery, and possible biological drug stability enhancement by means of storage in a microvolume that can be precisely controlled. In particular, the development of polymer systems that are able to interact with their environment in a thermodynamically responsive manner has led to novel intelligent biomaterials and applications. Intelligent biomedical materials can be used for the delivery of drugs, peptides, and proteins; as targeting agents for site-specific delivery; or as components for the preparation of protein or drug conjugates. These intelligent materials are attractive options as functional components in micro- and nanodevices because of the ease with which recognition and actuation properties can be precisely tailored. Recent developments in intelligent materials and nano- or microdevices for drug delivery systems are the emphasis of this review, which addresses the use of intelligent biomedical materials as carriers for the development of novel pharmaceutical formulations.

This article celebrating Arthur von Hippel's career considers the expanding frontiers in the field of biomaterials, a subject that intrigued him given his interests in the molecular engineering of materials. The interface of materials science and biology started to develop decades ago when synthetic materials were first used to repair parts of the human body. An exciting transformation is now occurring in the field, as advances in biology are used to engineer bioactive materials at the molecular level. The transformation is going further to other frontiers that include the use of sophisticated materials to obtain biological information and learn biology, the creation of materials that imitate biological microstructures and functions, and the manipulation of organisms to create artificial materials.

This article introduces the November 2005 issue of MRS Bulletin on the life and works of Arthur Robert von Hippel, who pioneered the interdisciplinary approach to materials research. This issue of MRS Bulletin celebrates his long life, his large volume of work, and the overall impact he had on materials research as practiced today. This introductory article summarizes the start and progression of the various fields presented in this issue, and how many were inspired directly by von Hippel's work and ways, and how new fields continue to emerge based on the same foundations of interdisciplinarity. The articles in this issue cover research areas in which von Hippel was involved, namely, ferroelectrics and magnetism; fields that thrived on an interdisciplinary approach that von Hippel represented, such as semiconductors; and areas that reflect his own vision about materials research and interests later in life, including molecular design and biomaterials. Before the scientific work is presented, the issue begins with a personal sketch of von Hippel, contributed by his son Frank N. von Hippel.

Biomaterials can potentially enhance the delivery of viral and nonviral vectors for both basic science and clinical applications.Vectors typically consist of nucleic acids (DNA, RNA) packaged with proteins, lipids, or cationic polymers, which facilitate cellular internalization and trafficking. These vectors can associate with biomaterials that support cell adhesion, a process we term substrate-mediated delivery. Substrate immobilization localizes the DNA and the delivery vector to the cellular microenvironment.The interaction between the vector and substrate must be appropriately balanced to mediate immobilization, yet allow for cellular internalization. Balancing the binding between the biomaterial and the vector is dependent upon the surface chemistries of the material and the vector, which can be designed to provide both specific (e.g., biotin–avidin, the strongest known noncovalent interaction between a protein and its ligand) and nonspecific (e.g., van der Waals) interactions. In this review, we describe the biomaterial and vector properties that mediate binding and gene transfer, identify potential applications, and present opportunities for further development.

The following article is based on a presentation given by Samuel I. Stupp of Northwestern University as part of Symposium X—Frontiers of Materials Research on April 13, 2004, at the Materials Research Society Spring Meeting in San Francisco. Materials designed at the molecular and supramolecular scales to interact with cells, biomolecules, and pharmaceuticals will have a profound impact on technologies targeting the regeneration of body parts. Materials science is a great partner to stem cell biology, genomics, and proteomics in crafting the scaffolds that will effectively regenerate tissues lost to trauma, disease, or genetic defects. The repair of humans should be minimally invasive, and thus the best scaffolds would be liquids programmed to create materials inside our bodies. In this regard, self-assembling materials will play a key role in future technologies. This article illustrates how molecules are designed to assemble into cell scaffolds for human repair and provides examples relevant to brain damage, fractures of the skeleton, spinal cord injuries leading to paralysis, and diabetes.

This article is an edited transcript based on a presentation given by Rebecca M. Bergman (Medtronic Inc.) as part of Symposium X—Frontiers of Materials Research on November 30, 2004, at the Materials Research Society Fall Meeting in Boston. Materials innovations have been at the heart of many important advances in implantable medical devices. Miniaturization, improved durability and longevity, enhanced biocompatibility, and controlled delivery are several areas where materials innovations have been important in advancing medical products and therapies. The demands on materials used in the physiological environment are stringent and include requirements related to materials properties as well as safety, quality, and reliability. Looking ahead, materials will undoubtedly continue to be an enabling technology for future innovations in medicine, including novel therapies such as tissue engineering, cell therapy, and gene therapy.