Themed collection 2014 Journal of Materials Chemistry B Hot Articles
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The role of material structure and mechanical properties in cell–matrix interactions
Cellular interactions with the extracellular matrix (ECM) are of fundamental importance in many normal and pathological biological processes, including development, cancer, and tissue homeostasis, healing and regeneration.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 2345-2356
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TB21604G
Multi-modal delivery of therapeutics using biomaterial scaffolds
Functionalisation of biomaterials with therapeutic moieties (proteins, drugs, genes) is a pre-requisite to tissue regeneration and restoration of function following injury or disease.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 6692-6707
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TB00863D
Biomolecules-conjugated nanomaterials for targeted cancer therapy
Now and in the future, with the development of artificial biomolecules as well as nanomaterials, targeted drug delivery based on elegant biomolecule–nanomaterial conjugation approaches is being developed to achieve great versatility, additional functions, and further advances.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 8452-8465
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TB01263A
Engineering of biomimetic nanofibrous matrices for drug delivery and tissue engineering
Biomimetic nanofibrous matrices were fabricated by electrospinning, phase separation and molecular self-assembly for drug delivery and tissue engineering applications.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 7828-7848
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TB01464B
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Carbon nanomaterials as new tools for immunotherapeutic applications
The possibility to exploit carbon-based nanostructures such as carbon nanotubes and graphene as immunotherapeutic agents has interesting future prospects. In particular, their applications for anticancer treatment, imaging and vaccine development, together with their immunomodulator properties are highlighted.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 6144-6156
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TB00563E
Cellulose: from biocompatible to bioactive material
The immobilization of biomolecules onto cellulose paper turns this environmentally friendly material into a platform for diagnostic devices.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 4767-4788
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TB00431K
Intrinsically conducting polymer nanowires for biosensing
The fabrication of conductive polymer nanowires and their sensing of nucleic acids, proteins and pathogens is reviewed in this feature article.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 4593-4609
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TB00598H
NIR luminescent nanomaterials for biomedical imaging
We review the recent progress in near-infrared nanomaterials from fabrication to application in biomedical imaging.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 2422-2443
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TB21447H
Engaging adaptive immunity with biomaterials
How does one avoid, control, or exploit adaptive immune responses using biomaterials? A review.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 2409-2421
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TB21549K
Micro- and nano-motors for biomedical applications
Micro- and nano-motors, a class of miniaturized manmade machines that are able to convert chemical or external energy into mechanical motion have been discussed and their application in the biomedical field was critically reviewed.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 2395-2408
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TB21451F
Synthetically designed peptide-based biomaterials with stimuli-responsive and membrane-active properties for biomedical applications
This review comprehensively summarizes and discusses stimuli-responsive and membrane-active peptides for biomedical applications including therapeutics delivery and antibiotics.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 595-615
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TB21344G
Chemical modification of inorganic nanostructures for targeted and controlled drug delivery in cancer treatment
This review summarized the most advanced designs of stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems based on inorganic nanoparticles.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 452-470
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TB21196G
Metals & polymers in the mix: fine-tuning the mechanical properties & color of self-healing mussel-inspired hydrogels
Ways to orchestrate the mechanical properties and colors of mussel-inspired metal cross-linked hydrogels based on DOPA functionalized cationic polymers are demonstrated. This is achieved by systematically varying the hardness of the coordinating metal and/or the cationic polymer.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 8292-8297
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TB01503G
Bio-inspired nanotadpoles with component-specific functionality
Plasmonic nanotadpoles showed the tail length dependence of their cellular uptake, enabling photothermal treatment of cancer cells with high efficacy.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 6462-6466
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TB00964A
Rapid fabrication of silk films with controlled architectures via electrogelation
Through use of a closed-loop anode, we used electrogelation to fabricate silk films with controlled three-dimensional architectures.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 4983-4987
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TB00833B
A biomimetic hyperbranched poly(amino ester)-based nanocomposite as a tunable bone adhesive for sternal closure
A novel mussel-inspired adhesive can bond well to the surface of wet bone and be programmed to set in a suitable manner for sternal closure applications.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 4067-4071
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TB00155A
Metal-coordination: using one of nature's tricks to control soft material mechanics
Bio-inspired metal coordination allows tuning of aqueous polymer network mechanics via crosslink dynamics simply by the choice of coordinating metal.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 2467-2472
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TB21374A
Thermo- and photo-enhanced microtubule formation from Ru(bpy)32+-conjugated tubulin
Ru(bpy)32+-conjugated tubulin is able to substantially enhance polymerization to form microtubules with increased rate at lower temperatures.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 41-45
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TB21242D
Reinforcement of biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) with cellulose nanocrystal/silver nanohybrids as bifunctional nanofillers
Bifunctional cellulose nanocrystal/silver nanohybrids can simultaneously enhance the mechanical, thermal and antibacterial properties of PHBV nanocomposites for potential food packaging applications.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 8479-8489
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TB01372G
Lacritin-mediated regeneration of the corneal epithelia by protein polymer nanoparticles
Protein polymer nanoparticles decorated with the mitogenic human tear protein, lacritin, heal a defect in the corneal epithelium faster than a soluble control peptide.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 8131-8141
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TB00979G
Ultrasensitive QRS made by supramolecular assembly of functionalized cyclodextrins and graphene for the detection of lung cancer VOC biomarkers
A novel approach to control the selectivity of graphene-cyclodextrine sensors to cancer biomarkers by tailoring CD functionalization and assembly with graphene.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 6571-6579
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TB01041H
Presentation of HER2 epitopes using a filamentous plant virus-based vaccination platform
Farming of cancer vaccines: HER2-epitope display using the filamentous potato virus X platform yields HER2-specific sera in mice post-immunization.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 6249-6258
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TB00749B
Intrinsic peroxidase-like activity of mesoporous nickel oxide for selective cysteine sensing
Mesoporous NiO NFs show intrinsic peroxidase-like activity towards catalytic oxidation of TMB by H2O2 and, based on this process, cysteine can be detected with a LOD value ∼1.1 μM.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 6097-6105
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TB00968A
The preparation of an azo-substituted polyrotaxane end-capped with PNIPPAAm and its dual stimuli-responsive behavior for drug delivery applications
Micelles contracted and expanded alternately in response to UV/vis radiation, which offers a reversible on–off switch for controlling the drug release of the micelles.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 5746-5757
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TB00719K
Grafting zwitterionic polymer brushes via electrochemical surface-initiated atomic-transfer radical polymerization for anti-fouling applications
Grafting zwitterionic polymer brushes via electrochemically mediated-surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization for anti-bacterial and anti-fouling applications.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 5352-5357
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TB00816B
Facile non-hydrothermal synthesis of oligosaccharide coated sub-5 nm magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles with dual MRI contrast enhancement effects
A simple non-hydrothermal method was developed for synthesizing sugar coated 3 nm magnetic nanoparticles with dual T1–T2 MRI contrast enhancement and fast clearance.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 5344-5351
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TB00811A
Antibacterial activity studies of plasma polymerised cineole films
Costs associated with bacterial infections in medical devices exceed $US 30 billion each year in the United States alone due to device revisions and patient treatment.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 4993-5002
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TB00633J
Discrimination of homocysteine, cysteine and glutathione using an aggregation-induced-emission-active hemicyanine dye
An aggregation-induced-emission active hemicyanine dye, TPE-Cy, shows high selectivity to homocysteine over glutathione and other amino acids.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 3919-3923
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TB00551A
UV light-triggered unpacking of DNA to enhance gene transfection of azobenzene-containing polycations
Photoresponsive azobenzene-containing polycationic nonviral vectors synthesized by ATRP demonstrated enhanced gene transfection due to the increased endocytosis and UV light-triggered intracellular gene unpacking.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 3868-3878
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TB00294F
A fluorescent light-up probe with “AIE + ESIPT” characteristics for specific detection of lysosomal esterase
Fluorescent light-up probe with “AIE + ESIPT” characteristics for specific detection of lysosomal esterase.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 3438-3442
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TB00345D
Nanotopography as a trigger for the microscale, autogenous and passive lysis of erythrocytes
A mechano-responsive topology provides a highly active yet autogenous surface for erythrocyte lysis towards microfluidic haematology platforms.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 2819-2826
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TB00239C
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A modular approach to easily processable supramolecular bilayered scaffolds with tailorable properties
Electrospun bilayered scaffolds demonstrate how the specific properties of ureido-pyrimidinone (UPy) modified polymers and peptide building blocks are united in new supramolecular biomaterial assemblies via a mix-and-match approach.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 2483-2493
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TB21516D
Tailored biological retention and efficient clearance of pegylated ultra-small MnO nanoparticles as positive MRI contrast agents for molecular imaging
Ultra-small MnO nanoparticles pegylated with bis-phosphonate dendrons are efficient positive MRI contrast agents. They show prolonged vascular signal enhancement, followed by efficient excretion through the hepatobiliairy and urinary pathways. This considerably decreases the potential toxicity of MnO NPs.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 1779-1790
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TB21634A
A TiO2-Au–polymer hybrid system for the photoelectrochemical immunoassay of SirT1
A photoelectrochemical assay of SirT1 in different cell lines based on a semiconductor–polymer hybrid system was reported.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 1644-1652
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TB21471K
Synthesis, structures and properties of self-assembling quaternary ammonium dansyl fluorescent tags for porous and non-porous surfaces
Surface grafted silane, phosphate and benzophenone dansyl molecules.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 1509-1520
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TB21633K
Hydroxyapatite/gold/arginine: designing the structure to create antibacterial activity
Structural analogy with antibacterial peptides provides antibacterial property in newly developed HAp/Au/arginine nanocomposite. The material possesses: (i) high antibacterial activity, (ii) high cytocompatibility and (iii) good stability in physiological environment.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 1557-1564
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TB21612H
Synthesis of boronic acid-functionalized molecularly imprinted silica nanoparticles for glycoprotein recognition and enrichment
A novel method was developed for the synthesis of boronic acid-functionalized imprinted silica nanoparticles for recognition and enrichment of glycoproteins.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 637-643
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TB21520B
Noncytotoxic artificial bacterial flagella fabricated from biocompatible ORMOCOMP and iron coating
Noncytotoxic ABFs, made from biocompatible ORMOCOMP and iron, can precisely navigate under low-strength magnetic fields and have potential biomedical applications.
J. Mater. Chem. B, 2014,2, 357-362
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TB20840K
About this collection
This on-going web collection features all the articles published in Journal of Materials Chemistry B in 2014 marked as HOT, as recommended by referees. A selection of these is posted weekly on the Journal of Materials Chemistry Blog. Congratulations to all the authors whose articles are featured!