Themed collection Open access articles from Biomaterials Science

Glycan-decorated biomaterials binding lectins are applied in bioimaging, targeted drug delivery, diagnostic and analytic methods. They comprise glycosylated nanoparticles, quantum dots, glycoarrays, glycopolymer clusters, micelles, and scaffolds based on aromatic, calixarene cores, glycopeptides or polysaccharides.

Liposome-encapsulated hydrogels have emerged as an attractive strategy for medical and pharmaceutical applications.

Biomimetic bundled fibre: Multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) reinforced bundled gel fibre is reported to obtain a cell culture scaffold with enhanced mechanical and electrical properties.

The discovery of heat shock proteins as candidates for human pluripotent stem cell culture using high throughput screening.

Functionalised nanomaterials are useful as drug delivery vehicles and, in particular, mucus penetrating nanoparticles may improve drug bioavailability via the oral route.

Ice growth inhibiting polymers are shown to enhance the (non-vitrifying) cryopreservation of several cell lines and also primary hepatocytes.

MAX8 β-hairpin peptide hydrogel is a solid, preformed gel that can be syringe injected due to shear-thinning properties and can recover solid gel properties immediately after injection.

Synthetic steps and subsequent preparation of oseltamivir-conjugated micelles capable of targeting and triggering receptor-induced endocytosis in cancer cells.

Lumican derived peptide amphiphiles can stimulate cells to produce greater amounts of collagen when used in an aggregated form. Moreover this effect is maintained following dilution suggesting that the aggregated forms are kinetically trapped when formed at high concentration.