Themed collection 2015 Journal of Materials Chemistry B Hot Papers

High-density lipoproteins are a class of natural nanostructures with multiple desirable properties to model in a drug delivery vehicle. Here we review the structure and function of high-density lipoproteins, and their use as therapeutic delivery systems.

A variety of antibodies, antibody fragments, and small peptides have been engineered to specifically target fibrin over its precursor fibrinogen.

Materials engineered to display immunomodulatory molecules including adhesion ligands, cytokines, and self-proteins, target receptors on immune cells to modulate their response to biomaterial implants.

The elasticity of the extracellular matrix has been increasingly recognized as a dominating factor of cell fate and activities. This review provides an overview of the general principles and recent advances in the field of matrix elasticity-dependent regulation of a variety of cellular activities and functions, the underlying biomechanical and molecular mechanisms, as well as the pathophysiological implications.

Biomaterials are of fundamental importance to in situ tissue regeneration, which has emerged as a powerful method to treat tissue defects. The development and perspectives of biomaterials for in situ tissue regeneration were summarized.

Differentiation methods of hPSCs into specific cell lineages. Differentiation of hPSCs via EB formation (types AB, A–D) or without EB formation (types E–H).

While in the past hyaluronic acid (HA) was considered a passive structural component, research over the past few decades has revealed its diverse and complex biological functions resulting in a major ideological shift. This review describes recent advances in biological interactions of HA with neural stem cells, with a focus on leveraging these interactions to develop advanced biomaterials that aid regeneration of the central nervous system.

In the field of polymer-based gene delivery, the tuning potential of polymers by using different architectures like graft- and star-shaped polymers as well as self-assembled block copolymers is immense. In the last years numerous new polymer designs showed enhanced transfections properties in combination with a good biocompatibility.

The triad of cell homing-based tissue engineering.

Current medical treatments of myocardial infarction (MI) face a serious shortcoming in that they cannot reverse the detrimental effects of ischemia induced necrosis.

This review addresses the advantages of remote triggers, e.g. ultrasounds, near infrared light and alternating magnetic fields, the fabrication of the hybrid nanovehicles, the release mechanisms and the next challenges.

Vaccination has a great impact on the prevention and control of infectious diseases. Nanoparticles can deliver immunoactive biomolecules to induce a virus-specific immune response.

In this review hydrogel-forming polymers that are suitable for extrusion-based 3D printing are evaluated.

Double network (DN) hydrogels as promising soft-and-tough materials intrinsically possess extraordinary mechanical strength and toughness due to their unique contrasting network structures, strong interpenetrating network entanglement, and efficient energy dissipation.

Mature tooth enamel is acellular and does not regenerate itself.

Conducting polymer hydrogels (CPHs) are conducting polymer-based materials that contain high water content and have physical properties, resembling the extracellular environment.

Recent progress pertaining to the surface treatment of implantable macro-scale biomaterials and using micro- and nano-biomaterials for disease diagnosis and drug/gene delivery is reviewed.

We discuss covalently cross-linked poly(2-oxazoline)s including gels, nanogels and capsules on the basis of their synthetic origin in a biomedical context.

The conversion of titania (TiO₂) nanotubes into titanium (Ti), while preserving their nanotubular structures is demonstrated for proposed application as bone implants and electrodes for combined local drug delivery and electrical stimulation therapy.

An AIE-active amphiphile containing a tetraphenylethene moiety and a quarternary ammonium salt group, with an ultra low CMC, desirable optical properties, good water dispersibility and excellent biocompatibility, was prepared and investigated, and the as-prepared amphiphile was successfully applied in cell imaging.

Patterning of encapsulated MSCs for the spatio-temporal guidance of angiogenesis for modelling and design of therapeutic biomaterials.

With inspirations from natural viruses, arginine-containing dendritic lipopeptides were designed for bioinspired fabrication.

A target-specific switchable fluorescent probe for cellular Mdm2 protein detection (off–on) and drug discovery applications (on–off) targeting the p53 pathway.

The effect of individual intercalations on DNA conductance is revealed electrically at the single-molecule level by using DNA-functionalized molecular junctions.

Two azide-functionalized AIE fluorogens are synthesized and used for detecting S-phase DNA synthesis and cell proliferation based on EdU assay.

Ultra-bright fluorescent carbon dots were rapidly synthesized for multifunctional bio-imaging including live cell staining, cell-specific targeting and in vivo imaging.

By varying the oligolysine units of chitosan-graft-oligoNIPAM-graft-oligolysine, high internal phase emulsions of different droplet sizes can be stabilized which can subsequently serve as template for macroporous polymers.

Nanocomposite physical hydrogels fabricated by a one-step polymerization show ultra-extensibility and toughness due to an effective strengthening mechanism.

This paper reports the first study on functional silsesquioxane-based hierarchical assemblies containing an ordered distribution of silver nanoparticles with a large number of {111} facets, obtained through sol–gel reaction, intended for antibacterial/antifungal coatings.

Two core–shell nanoparticles with a polyglycerol shell and sp³ carbon core but different core flexibilities were synthesized and compared for their encapsulation capacities.

Compartmentalized hydrogel microparticles with high production rate, uniform size and shape, and tunable ECM support were developed for various scalable 3D cell culture applications.

PEGylation of Au nanoshell/silica core (GNS) particles reduces the aggregation in cell culture and the generation of IL-1β and the influx of neutrophils in the mouse peritoneal cavity.

Micropatterning of silicon surface with bioinert yttria-stabilised zirconia or bioactive calcium phosphate ceramic by micromoulding in capillaries.

CS-g-PCL/PHBHH_x fiber blends show an optimal combination of strength, ductility, antibacterial activity and non-cytotoxicity, and thus are suitable as scaffolds for tissue engineering.

Semiconducting polymer dot micelles for MRI/photoacoustic imaging and single-laser-induced PDT/PTT therapy.

Placental extracellular matrix for osteochondral defects.

Calcium silicate-gelatin scaffolds stimulated the release of angiogenesis factors such as von Willebrand factor and angiopoietin-1 more than the calcium silicate scaffold.

The carboxylic groups of oxidised multi-walled carbon nanotubes were directly converted into amino functions without extending the lateral chain. These nanotubes have been investigated as carriers for siRNA delivery.

Cross-linked polymeric nanoassemblies are potential carrier systems for cytotoxic ruthenium complexes, and exhibit a combination of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions with the metal complexes that impact release rates, release percentages, and biological activity.

Metastable amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC), formed as a precursor of crystalline carbonated apatite/hydroxyapatite in human bone, can be stabilized by inorganic polyphosphate. The resulting CaCO₃/polyP, containing small amounts of vaterite, has osteogenic potential and potential application as a scaffold material for bone implants.

The contribution of the surface roughness and hydrophobic modification of silica nanoparticles to enhanced therapeutic protein delivery, including adsorption, sustained release, cellular uptake and endo/lysosomal escape.

The stemness of MSCs was significantly influenced by cell morphogenesis regulated by micropatterns, and was always accompanied with change of nuclear activity and cytoskeleton mediated nanomechanics.

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is a biodegradable polymer with good biocompatibility.

Highly luminescent graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are obtained by restoring the defects of GQDs via incorporation of B atoms into the graphene framework, which exhibits great potential in bio-imaging.

A highly biocompatible nanoplatform for the intracellular delivery of different proteins, exhibiting pH-responsive release and efficient endosomal escape.

Hyaluronic acid-modified Fe₃O₄/Au composite nanoparticles can be synthesized for targeted dual mode MR/CT imaging of tumors.

Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of nanospheres of a biodegradable zinc-imidazolate polymers (ZIPs) as a proof-of-concept delivery vehicle into human brain endothelial cells, the main component of the blood-brain barrier (BBB).

Superparamagnetic Fe³⁺-doped calcium phosphate cement (Fe-CPC) has prospective applications in bone remodeling due to its good hydration properties and significant effect on osteogenesis and angiogenesis.

Polysaccharide-based biodegradable, biocompatible and temperature-sensitive injectable hydrogels have been developed for the sustained delivery of proteins.

Positively and negatively surface charged nanoparticles were prepared by a facile PEC method composed of chondroitin sulfate and N-[(2-hydroxy-3-trimethylammonium)propyl]chitosan.

3D porous calcium deficient hydroxyapatite scaffolds with phytoestrogens were fabricated for osteoporotic bone tissue regeneration through a combination of 3D printing techniques and cement chemistry as a room temperature process.

PVC is derivatized with an ultrathin MEG coating with remarkable antithrombogenicity. Assessed upon exposure to fluorescently-labelled human blood, at various shear rates and contact periods, platelet aggregation/clotting coverage is reduced by >95–99% for coated vs. bare PVC surfaces.

In this work we have prepared surface coatings formulated with the antifungal drug caspofungin, an approved pharmaceutical lipopeptide compound of the echinocandin drug class.

Single component injectable degradable conductive hydrogels with excellent biocompatibility based on poly(caprolactone)–poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(caprolactone) and aniline tetramer were prepared via a thermo-gelling approach.

To design a new method for ‘seeing’ drug release and action behavior, we combined a rare-earth complex with a magnetic-core-coated phenyl mesoporous silica nanoparticles matrix, taking advantage of the drug coordination for real-time monitoring.

The high porosity and versatile composition of the benchmarked mesoporous metal (Fe, Al, Cr) trimesate metal–organic frameworks (MIL-100(Fe, Al, Cr)) make them very promising solids in different strategic industrial and societal domains (separation, catalysis, biomedicine, etc.).

Bi-functional nanocomposites consisting of upconversion nanoparticles and gold nanoparticles or gold nanorods are fabricated for oral cancer cell photothermal therapy.

Redox-responsive yolk–shell silica nanoparticles end-capped with rotaxane nanovalves were fabricated for targeted tumor therapy with high efficiency.

An engineered mussel glue MAP-RGD can be successfully used as a novel functional osteostimulating bone adhesive for titanium implants through improved osteoblastic cell behaviors, blood responses, and eventually enhanced bone regeneration.

Multifunctional PCL hybrid surfaces are developed by grafting of REDV–zwitterionic polycarboxybetaine conjugates via surface-initiated ATRP.

Co-delivery of DOX and PDTC using pH-sensitive pullulan–DOX conjugate nanoparticles helped to suppress growth and chemoresistance of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Type I collagen extracted from the swim bladder of Bester sturgeon forms an oriented hydrogel with mechanical and thermal stability by diffusion induced fast gelation.

Amorphous calcium phosphate vesicle-like nanospheres synthesized sonochemically using ATP can be used as pH-responsive drug nanocarriers.

Therapeutic microspheres are engineered by multiple noncovalent interactions mediated one-pot assembly, which may serve as effective and safe therapeutics for atherosclerosis.

We report the demonstration of antimicrobial conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) with high NIR absorbance for selective and efficient photothermal killing of bacteria over mammalian cells.

The expression of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α was efficiently downregulated with nanoparticles, opening a way to combat inflammatory reactions.

Specific imaging of lipid dense regions of live MCF-7 cells is achieved with two new Ru(II)-polypyridyl complexes 1 and 2. These visible light excitable reagents are stable towards photo-bleaching and large Stokes shifts are observed. Interestingly, these reagents were localized in the cell nucleus in PFA fixed MCF-7 cells.

The complexation of Zn(II) with a neutral pyridine-based amphiphile generates a potent bactericidal material for potential antibacterial and antibiofilm therapy.

A series of AIE-active D–A type conjugated polymers incorporating boron ketoiminate units were synthesized and applied for cell imaging.

Novel ultra-bright, stable NIR-emitting HgS/ZnS core/shell NCs with good biocompatibility for in vitro and in vivo imaging.