Themed collection Biomaterials Science Emerging Investigators 2021

55 items
Editorial

Biomaterials Science Emerging Investigators 2021

This themed collection in Biomaterials Science highlights the work of emerging investigators in the field of biomaterials science. Editor-in-Chief Jianjun Cheng and Executive Editor Maria Southall introduce the issue.

Graphical abstract: Biomaterials Science Emerging Investigators 2021
Minireview

Emerging on-chip surface acoustic wave technology for small biomaterials manipulation and characterization

Surface acoustic wave microfluidic technology has found great potential in biomaterials science thanks to its advantages in micro/nano manipulation and characterization.

Graphical abstract: Emerging on-chip surface acoustic wave technology for small biomaterials manipulation and characterization
Minireview

Biomaterial-assisted photoimmunotherapy for cancer

The biomaterials have been well designed as photoabsorbing/sensitizing agents or effective carriers to enhance the photoimmunotherapeutic efficacy and evade their side effects.

Graphical abstract: Biomaterial-assisted photoimmunotherapy for cancer
Review Article

Exploiting the role of nanoparticles for use in hydrogel-based bioprinting applications: concept, design, and recent advances

The illustration highlights the different functionalities of bioinks brought on by nanoparticles. Alongside, the figure also displays some of the applications of these nanoengineered bioinks.

Graphical abstract: Exploiting the role of nanoparticles for use in hydrogel-based bioprinting applications: concept, design, and recent advances
Review Article

Molecular engineering of antimicrobial peptide (AMP)–polymer conjugates

Engineering the architectures of antimicrobial peptide-polymer conjugates provides compelling opportunities to balance bactericidal activity with stability and biocompatibility, to address the critical need for innovative antimicrobial treatments.

Graphical abstract: Molecular engineering of antimicrobial peptide (AMP)–polymer conjugates
Open Access Review Article

Biomimetic hydrogels designed for cartilage tissue engineering

Cartilage-like hydrogels based on materials like gelatin, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid and polyethylene glycol are reviewed and contrasted, revealing existing limitations and challenges on biomimetic hydrogels for cartilage regeneration.

Graphical abstract: Biomimetic hydrogels designed for cartilage tissue engineering
From the themed collection: Biomaterials Science Most Popular 2021
Review Article

Electrospun hydrogels for dynamic culture systems: advantages, progress, and opportunities

Hydrogel nanofibers build on established soft biomaterials to enable design and control of unique, dynamic cell culture systems.

Graphical abstract: Electrospun hydrogels for dynamic culture systems: advantages, progress, and opportunities
Review Article

Hydrogels to engineer tumor microenvironments in vitro

Illustration of engineered hydrogel to recapitulate aspects of the tumor microenvironment.

Graphical abstract: Hydrogels to engineer tumor microenvironments in vitro
Review Article

Biomaterials for protein delivery for complex tissue healing responses

Recent advances in biomaterial delivery vehicles have increased the ability to tailor precise protein delivery to restore normal healing cascades and stimulate robust tissue repair.

Graphical abstract: Biomaterials for protein delivery for complex tissue healing responses
Review Article

Revisiting gene delivery to the brain: silencing and editing

Neurodegenerative disorders, ischemic brain diseases, and brain tumors are debilitating diseases that severely impact a person's life and could possibly lead to their demise if left untreated.

Graphical abstract: Revisiting gene delivery to the brain: silencing and editing
From the themed collection: CRISPR Biomaterials
Review Article

Biomaterial strategies to replicate gynecological tissue

Properties of native tissue can inspire biomimetic in vitro models of gynecological disease.

Graphical abstract: Biomaterial strategies to replicate gynecological tissue
Review Article

Engineered drug-loaded cells and cell derivatives as a delivery platform for cancer immunotherapy

Recent advances in improving cancer immunotherapy have been summarized with a focus on using functionalized intact cells and cell derivatives.

Graphical abstract: Engineered drug-loaded cells and cell derivatives as a delivery platform for cancer immunotherapy
Review Article

Hydrogel facilitated bioelectronic integration

Functional hydrogels show great potential for promoting the structural integration and signal transduction at bio/electronic interfaces.

Graphical abstract: Hydrogel facilitated bioelectronic integration
Review Article

Biomaterial-based approaches to engineering immune tolerance

The development of biomaterial-based therapeutics to induce immune tolerance holds great promise for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, allergy, and graft rejection in transplantation.

Graphical abstract: Biomaterial-based approaches to engineering immune tolerance
Open Access Review Article

Biomaterials-based approaches to model embryogenesis

Biomaterials are emerging as invaluable tools to investigate key mechanisms of human development using advance in vitro models. Nanomaterials can contribute to further refine these models.

Graphical abstract: Biomaterials-based approaches to model embryogenesis
Review Article

Engineering extracellular vesicles for cancer therapy: recent advances and challenges in clinical translation

Extracellular vesicles have shown great advantages in cancer therapy, but there are still huge challenges to be overcome to implement their wide clinical application.

Graphical abstract: Engineering extracellular vesicles for cancer therapy: recent advances and challenges in clinical translation
Open Access Review Article

Materials promoting viral gene delivery

This review discusses the progress in developing materials that enhance viral transduction, including polymers, peptides, lipids, nanoparticles, and small molecules.

Graphical abstract: Materials promoting viral gene delivery
Review Article

Evaluating medical device and material thrombosis under flow: current and emerging technologies

This review highlights the importance of flow in medical device thrombosis and explores current and emerging technologies to evaluate dynamic biomaterial Thrombosis in vitro.

Graphical abstract: Evaluating medical device and material thrombosis under flow: current and emerging technologies
Review Article

Immunostimulatory biomaterials to boost tumor immunogenicity

This review highlights recent progress to develop biomaterials that boost tumor immunogenicity and improve the response rate to cancer immunotherapies.

Graphical abstract: Immunostimulatory biomaterials to boost tumor immunogenicity
Open Access Review Article

A call for action to the biomaterial community to tackle antimicrobial resistance

The global surge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major concern for public health and proving to be a key challenge in modern disease treatment, requiring action plans at all levels.

Graphical abstract: A call for action to the biomaterial community to tackle antimicrobial resistance
Review Article

Functional zwitterionic biomaterials for administration of insulin

This review summarizes the structures and biomedical applications of zwitterionic biomaterials in the administration of insulin.

Graphical abstract: Functional zwitterionic biomaterials for administration of insulin
Review Article

Polydopamine free radical scavengers

This feature article summarizes the recent progress, challenges and future directions of free radical scavengers based on polydopamine, including the integrated mechanism, current regulating strategies, and kinds of biomedical applications.

Graphical abstract: Polydopamine free radical scavengers
Open Access Review Article

The regulation of nanomaterials and nanomedicines for clinical application: current and future perspectives

Nanomedicine research has increased drastically over the past ten years, however, before clinical translation many regulatory factors must be considered.

Graphical abstract: The regulation of nanomaterials and nanomedicines for clinical application: current and future perspectives
Paper

Spatial organization of biochemical cues in 3D-printed scaffolds to guide osteochondral tissue engineering

Peptide-functionalized 3D-printed scaffolds drive mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) differentiation towards osteogenesis or chondrogenesis based on the presence and organization of both cartilage-promoting and bone-promoting peptides.

Graphical abstract: Spatial organization of biochemical cues in 3D-printed scaffolds to guide osteochondral tissue engineering
Paper

Enhanced efficiency of nonviral direct neuronal reprogramming on topographical patterns

Using high-throughput screening, we were able to identify topographies that can significantly improve the efficiency of nonviral neuronal reprogramming.

Graphical abstract: Enhanced efficiency of nonviral direct neuronal reprogramming on topographical patterns
Paper

User-defined, temporal presentation of bioactive molecules on hydrogel substrates using supramolecular coiled coil complexes

The ability to spatiotemporally control the presentation of relevant biomolecules in synthetic culture systems has gained significant attention as researchers strive to recapitulate the endogenous extracellular matrix (ECM) in vitro.

Graphical abstract: User-defined, temporal presentation of bioactive molecules on hydrogel substrates using supramolecular coiled coil complexes
Open Access Paper

Encapsulating bacteria in alginate-based electrospun nanofibers

We developed GRAS nanofibers for the delivery of viable bacteria into the gut. Model bacterium were encapsulated in alginate-based nanofibers via electrospinning and a bacteria loading of 2.74 × 105 CFU g−1 of mat was achieved.

Graphical abstract: Encapsulating bacteria in alginate-based electrospun nanofibers
Paper

Topical delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs using nano-hybrid hydrogels to inhibit post-surgical tumour recurrence

A nano-hybrid oligopeptide hydrogel embedded with transfersomes is developed for topical delivery of anticancer drugs to inhibit the post-surgical tumour recurrence.

Graphical abstract: Topical delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs using nano-hybrid hydrogels to inhibit post-surgical tumour recurrence
Open Access Paper

Bicyclic RGD peptides enhance nerve growth in synthetic PEG-based Anisogels

aECMs imparting integrin selectivity (α5β1 and αvβ3) and directional guidance cues are developed using MMP degradable PEG hydrogels, functionalized with bicyclic RGD peptides, and including aligned magnetic, short fibers for 3D oriented nerve growth.

Graphical abstract: Bicyclic RGD peptides enhance nerve growth in synthetic PEG-based Anisogels
Paper

In silico design of additively manufacturable composite synthetic vascular conduits and grafts with tuneable compliance

In silico modelling can be a powerful design tool to predict the behaviour of additively manufacturable composite synthetic vascular conduits and grafts with tuneable compliance.

Graphical abstract: In silico design of additively manufacturable composite synthetic vascular conduits and grafts with tuneable compliance
Paper

Structural crystallisation of crosslinked 3D PEDOT:PSS anisotropic porous biomaterials to generate highly conductive platforms for tissue engineering applications

A new approach for obtaining highly conductive, yet biocompatible, 3D electroconductive porous scaffolds based on PEDOT:PSS and treated with sulphuric acid crystallisation, that can be processed with both isotropic and anisotropic microarchitecture.

Graphical abstract: Structural crystallisation of crosslinked 3D PEDOT:PSS anisotropic porous biomaterials to generate highly conductive platforms for tissue engineering applications
Paper

Effect of polymeric excipients on nucleation and crystal growth kinetics of amorphous fluconazole

Three chemically distinct polymeric excipients show significantly different effects on the nucleation and crystal growth kinetics of amorphous fluconazole, a classical antifungal drug.

Graphical abstract: Effect of polymeric excipients on nucleation and crystal growth kinetics of amorphous fluconazole
Paper

Switching energy dissipation pathway: in situ proton-induced transformation of AIE-active self-assemblies to boost photodynamic therapy

With the morphological transformation of fluorescent self-assembled nanostructures, their functions can be varied simultaneously.

Graphical abstract: Switching energy dissipation pathway: in situ proton-induced transformation of AIE-active self-assemblies to boost photodynamic therapy
Paper

Illuminating endosomal escape of polymorphic lipid nanoparticles that boost mRNA delivery

Galectin8-GFP cytosolic redistribution to bright puncta serve as sensor for LNP escape from endosomal compartments.

Graphical abstract: Illuminating endosomal escape of polymorphic lipid nanoparticles that boost mRNA delivery
Paper

Milk exosomes with enhanced mucus penetrability for oral delivery of siRNA

High-purity milk exosomes were engineered with surface PEGylation and siRNA encapsulation for enhanced oral drug delivery.

Graphical abstract: Milk exosomes with enhanced mucus penetrability for oral delivery of siRNA
Paper

Development of wound healing scaffolds with precisely-triggered sequential release of therapeutic nanoparticles

Collagen-glycosaminoglycan scaffolds are functionalized with alginate that responds to ultrasound by releasing nanoparticles on-demand for coordinated wound healing.

Graphical abstract: Development of wound healing scaffolds with precisely-triggered sequential release of therapeutic nanoparticles
Paper

Injectable nanofibrillar hydrogels based on charge-complementary peptide co-assemblies

CATCH(+/−) peptide co-assemblies form injectable, biocompatible hydrogels with sequence-dependent viscoelastic properties.

Graphical abstract: Injectable nanofibrillar hydrogels based on charge-complementary peptide co-assemblies
Paper

Guest–host interlinked PEG-MAL granular hydrogels as an engineered cellular microenvironment

We report the development of a polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogel scaffold that provides the advantages of conventional bulk PEG hydrogels for engineering cellular microenvironments and allows for rapid cell migration.

Graphical abstract: Guest–host interlinked PEG-MAL granular hydrogels as an engineered cellular microenvironment
Paper

A polymeric nanoformulation improves the bioavailability and efficacy of sorafenib for hepatocellular carcinoma therapy

A nanoparticle-based formulation of sorafenib (NP-sfb) significantly inhibited hepatocellular carcinoma by suppressing angiogenesis and promoting cytotoxic T lymphocyte infiltration.

Graphical abstract: A polymeric nanoformulation improves the bioavailability and efficacy of sorafenib for hepatocellular carcinoma therapy
Paper

Tunable, bacterio-instructive scaffolds made from functional graphenic materials

Functional graphenic material (FGM) scaffolds instruct bacterial attachment through electrostatic interactions with the bacterial cell wall.

Graphical abstract: Tunable, bacterio-instructive scaffolds made from functional graphenic materials
Paper

Surfactant location and internal phase volume fraction dictate emulsion electrospun fiber morphology and modulate drug release and cell response

Emulsion electrospinning is a versatile technique used to create tunable fibrous meshes for applications in drug delivery and tissue engineering.

Graphical abstract: Surfactant location and internal phase volume fraction dictate emulsion electrospun fiber morphology and modulate drug release and cell response
Paper

Helper lipid structure influences protein adsorption and delivery of lipid nanoparticles to spleen and liver

High-throughput in vivo screening identified several LNPs formulated with DOPE that preferentially accumulated in the liver, while identical LNPs formulated with DSPC preferentially accumulated in the spleen.

Graphical abstract: Helper lipid structure influences protein adsorption and delivery of lipid nanoparticles to spleen and liver
Paper

Development of a stacked, porous silk scaffold neuroblastoma model for investigating spatial differences in cell and drug responsiveness

Stacked porous silk scaffolds support spatial, cell-driven changes in an in vitro neuroblastoma model.

Graphical abstract: Development of a stacked, porous silk scaffold neuroblastoma model for investigating spatial differences in cell and drug responsiveness
Paper

Microenvironmental determinants of organized iPSC-cardiomyocyte tissues on synthetic fibrous matrices

This work provides microenvironmental design parameters to optimize iPSC-cardiomyocyte tissues formed on tunable synthetic matrices that mimic myocardial ECM.

Graphical abstract: Microenvironmental determinants of organized iPSC-cardiomyocyte tissues on synthetic fibrous matrices
From the themed collection: Biomaterials Science Most Popular 2021
Paper

Nanobody-displaying porous silicon nanoparticles for the co-delivery of siRNA and doxorubicin

Targeted delivery of chemotherapeutics to cancer cells has the potential to yield high drug concentrations in cancer cells while minimizing any unwanted side effects.

Graphical abstract: Nanobody-displaying porous silicon nanoparticles for the co-delivery of siRNA and doxorubicin
Paper

Silk fibroin photo-lyogels containing microchannels as a biomaterial platform for in situ tissue engineering

Silk photo-lyogels fabricated by di-tyrosine photo-crosslinking and ice-templating silk fibroin on 3D printed templates toward in situ tissue engineering applications.

Graphical abstract: Silk fibroin photo-lyogels containing microchannels as a biomaterial platform for in situ tissue engineering
Open Access Paper

Thermostabilization of viruses via complex coacervation

Complex coacervation shows promise as a strategy to improve the thermal stability of viruses for use in vaccine formulations.

Graphical abstract: Thermostabilization of viruses via complex coacervation
Paper

Engineering a macroporous fibrin-based sequential interpenetrating polymer network for dermal tissue engineering

Macroporous and mechanically reinforced sequential IPN hydrogels combine the biological activity of fibrin with the robust mechanical properties of PEG to generate advanced scaffolds for dermal tissue engineering.

Graphical abstract: Engineering a macroporous fibrin-based sequential interpenetrating polymer network for dermal tissue engineering
Paper

Peptide modified polycations with pH triggered lytic activity for efficient gene delivery

C6M3 peptide modified polycations can mediate efficient gene delivery through pH triggered lytic activity for endo/lysosomal escape.

Graphical abstract: Peptide modified polycations with pH triggered lytic activity for efficient gene delivery
Paper

Silver-decorated, light-activatable polymeric antimicrobials for combined chemo-photodynamic therapy of drug-resistant bacterial infection

In this article, we describe a silver-decorated, light-activatable polymeric antimicrobial with strong synergistic chemo-photodynamic effect to combat bacterial infections.

Graphical abstract: Silver-decorated, light-activatable polymeric antimicrobials for combined chemo-photodynamic therapy of drug-resistant bacterial infection
Paper

Polymer-loaded hydrogels serve as depots for lactate and mimic “cold” tumor microenvironments

Peptide hydrogels loaded with granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor and poly-(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microparticles can recapitulate lactate concentrations and the immunosuppressive nature of the tumor microenvironment.

Graphical abstract: Polymer-loaded hydrogels serve as depots for lactate and mimic “cold” tumor microenvironments
Paper

Fe3O4@GO magnetic nanocomposites protect mesenchymal stem cells and promote osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

Fe3O4@GO/BMP2 protecting mesenchymal stem cells by regulating reactive oxygen species and promoting osteogenic differentiation of cells.

Graphical abstract: Fe3O4@GO magnetic nanocomposites protect mesenchymal stem cells and promote osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells
Paper

Immune-modulatory alginate protects mesenchymal stem cells for sustained delivery of reparative factors to ischemic myocardium

Immune modulatory alginate encapsulation platform can be used in the pericardial space to provide enhanced therapeutic efficacy to the heart.

Graphical abstract: Immune-modulatory alginate protects mesenchymal stem cells for sustained delivery of reparative factors to ischemic myocardium
Paper

Synthesis of cyclic graft polymeric prodrugs with heterogeneous grafts of hydrophilic OEG and reducibly conjugated CPT for controlled release

A novel cyclic graft polymeric prodrug with heterogeneous grafts of hydrophilic oligo (ethylene glycol) and reducibly conjugated camptothecin was synthesized with greater in vitro cytotoxicity against cancer cells than the linear graft analogues.

Graphical abstract: Synthesis of cyclic graft polymeric prodrugs with heterogeneous grafts of hydrophilic OEG and reducibly conjugated CPT for controlled release
Paper

Characterization of regulatory T cell expansion for manufacturing cellular immunotherapies

Rapamycin encapsulated in mono-(6-amino-6-deoxy)-beta cyclodextrin efficiently expands regulatory T cells for cell-based immunotherapy.

Graphical abstract: Characterization of regulatory T cell expansion for manufacturing cellular immunotherapies
55 items

About this collection

Biomaterials Science is proud to present this 2021 Emerging Investigators collection. This collection gathers the very best work from biomaterials scientists in the early stages of their independent careers. The 2021 Biomaterials Science Emerging Investigators were individually nominated by members of the journal Editorial and Advisory Boards, and previous Emerging Investigators, in recognition of their potential to influence future directions in the field of biomaterials.

Articles will be added to this collection as and when they are ready to be published, accompanied by an Editorial piece in the coming months.

Congratulations to all those whose work is featured. Join us in celebrating their contributions!

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