Advanced pullulan nanofibers reinforced by cellulose fibrils as drug carriers for salicylic acid.

The goal of the current work is to showcase the synthesis of homogeneous pullulan nanofibers that are strengthened by the addition of cellulose nanofibrils (CNF). One of the main difficulties this study faced was determining the ideal water/organic solvent ratio for the electrospinning process, which would allow for the maximum reduction in the amount of organic solvent (DMF or DMSO) needed. The rheological behavior of electrospinning solutions was modulated by varying both, the pullulan concentration and solvent system composition.

Thermosensitive Polyurethane-Based Hydrogels as Potential Vehicles for Meloxicam Delivery.

Meloxicam (MX) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used mainly to reduce pain, inflammation, and fever. In the present study, thermosensitive polyurethane (PU)-based hydrogels with various excipients (PEG, PVP, HPC, and essential oil) were prepared and loaded with MX. Rheological investigations were carried out on the PU-based formulations in various shear regimes, and their viscoelastic characteristics were determined.

Influence of ZnO Nanoparticles on the Properties of Ibuprofen-Loaded Alginate-Based Biocomposite Hydrogels with Potential Antimicrobial and Anti-Inflammatory Effects.

Hydrogels are a favorable alternative to accelerate the burn wound healing process and skin regeneration owing to their capability of absorbing contaminated exudates. The bacterial infections that occur in burn wounds might be treated using different topically applied materials, but bacterial resistance to antibiotics has become a major problem worldwide. Therefore, the use of non-antibiotic treatments represents a major interest in current research.

Self-Healing of Pluronic® F127 Hydrogels in the Presence of Various Polysaccharides.

Thermoresponsive Pluronic® F127 (PL) gels in water were investigated through rheological tests in different shear conditions. The gel strength was tuned with the addition of 1% polysaccharide solution. In the presence of xanthan gum (XG), the viscoelastic behavior of PL-based hydrogels was improved in aqueous environment, but the rheological behavior was less changed with the addition of XG in PBS solutions, whereas in the presence of 0.

Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Pullulan Composite Hydrogels as a Potential Platform for Wound Dressing Applications.

Hydrogels are 3D networks with an excellent ability to retain a high amount of water or biological fluids, representing suitable candidates for wound dressing applications. They can provide a protective barrier and a moist environment, facilitating wound treatment. The present paper focuses on physical hydrogels obtained from poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and pullulan (PULL) mixtures in different weight ratios by using the freezing/thawing method.

Chitosan Membranes Containing Plant Extracts: Preparation, Characterization and Antimicrobial Properties.

The main strategy of this study was to combine the traditional perspective of using medicinal extracts with polymeric scaffolds manufactured by an engineering approach to fabricate a potential dressing product with antimicrobial properties. Thus, chitosan-based membranes containing and extracts were developed and their suitability as novel dressing materials was investigated. The morphology of the chitosan-based films was assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the chemical structure characterization was performed via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).

Diversity of Bioinspired Hydrogels: From Structure to Applications.

Hydrogels are three-dimensional networks with a variety of structures and functions that have a remarkable ability to absorb huge amounts of water or biological fluids. They can incorporate active compounds and release them in a controlled manner. Hydrogels can also be designed to be sensitive to external stimuli: temperature, pH, ionic strength, electrical or magnetic stimuli, specific molecules, etc.

Development of Polyurethane/Peptide-Based Carriers with Self-Healing Properties.

In situ-forming gels with self-assembling and self-healing properties are materials of high interest for various biomedical applications, especially for drug delivery systems and tissue regeneration. The main goal of this research was the development of an innovative gel carrier based on dynamic inter- and intramolecular interactions between amphiphilic polyurethane and peptide structures. The polyurethane architecture was adapted to achieve the desired amphiphilicity for self-assembly into an aqueous solution and to facilitate an array of connections with peptides through physical interactions, such as hydrophobic interactions, dipole-dipole, electrostatic, π-π stacking, or hydrogen bonds.

Hybrid Hydrogels for Neomycin Delivery: Synergistic Effects of Natural/Synthetic Polymers and Proteins.

This paper reports new physical hydrogels obtained by the freezing/thawing method. They include pullulan (PULL) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as polymers, bovine serum albumin (BSA) as protein, and a tripeptide, reduced glutathione (GSH). In addition, a sample containing PULL/PVA and lysozyme was obtained in similar conditions.

Tailoring Thermal and Electrical Properties of Jeffamine Segmented Polyetherimide Composite Films Containing BaTiO particles.

The continuous advancement of materials science has highlighted the ongoing need for additional studies on the main composite materials topics, particularly in the field of multifunctional nano-composites, towards improving their capability to meet multifaceted requirements in order to stimulate both scientific and technological development. In this study, we report the preparation and characterization of polyetherimides (PEIs) derived from 4,4'-(4,4'-isopropylidenediphenoxy) bis (phthalic anhydride) following a two-step polycondensation reaction using either 4,4'-(1,3-phenylenedioxy) dianiline, or Jeffamine ED-600 as comonomers, or a mixture of the two diamines. Based on the PEI containing flexible Jeffamine segments, polymer composite films were developed by incorporating BaTiO particles.

The Development and Study of Some Composite Membranes Based on Polyurethanes and Iron Oxide Nanoparticles.

To improve the performance of composite membranes, their morphology can be tailored by precise control of the fabrication methods and processing conditions. To this end, the aim of this study was to develop novel high-performance composite membranes based on polyurethane matrix and magnetic nanoparticles with the desired morphology and stability, by selecting the proper method and fabrication systems. These well-prepared composite membranes were investigated from the point of view of their morphological, physico-chemical, mechanical, dielectric, and magnetic properties.

Composite Materials Based on Gelatin and Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for MRI Accuracy.

The majority of recent studies have focused on obtaining MRI materials for internal use. However, this study focuses on a straightforward method for preparing gelatin-based materials with iron oxide nanoparticles (G-FeO and G-FeO) for external use. The newly obtained materials must be precisely tuned to match the requirements and usage situation because they will be in close touch with human/animal skin.

Composite Materials Based on Iron Oxide Nanoparticles and Polyurethane for Improving the Quality of MRI.

Polyether urethane (PU)-based magnetic composite materials, containing different types and concentrations of iron oxide nanostructures (FeO and FeO), were prepared and investigated as a novel composite platform that could be explored in different applications, especially for the improvement of the image quality of MRI investigations. Firstly, the PU structure was synthetized by means of a polyaddition reaction and then hematite (FeO) and magnetite (FeO) nanoparticles were added to the PU matrices to prepare magnetic nanocomposites. The type and amount of iron oxide nanoparticles influenced its structural, morphological, mechanical, dielectric, and magnetic properties.

Matching the Cellulose/Silica Films Surface Properties for Design of Biomaterials That Modulate Extracellular Matrix.

The surface properties of composite films are important to know for many applications from the industrial domain to the medical domain. The physical and chemical characteristics of film/membrane surfaces are totally different from those of the bulk due to the surface segregation of the low surface energy components. Thus, the surfaces of cellulose acetate/silica composite films are analyzed in order to obtain information on the morphology, topography and wettability through atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and contact angle investigations.

Preparation and Characterization of Electrospun Collagen Based Composites for Biomedical Applications.

Electrospinning is a widely used technology for obtaining nanofibers from synthetic and natural polymers. In this study, electrospun mats from collagen (C), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and a blend of the two (C-PET) were prepared and stabilized through a cross-linking process. The aim of this research was to prepare and characterize the nanofiber structure by Fourier-transform infrared with attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) in close correlation with dynamic vapor sorption (DVS).

Preparation and Evaluation of Nanofibrous Hydroxypropyl Cellulose and β-Cyclodextrin Polyurethane Composite Mats.

A series of nanofibrous composite mats based on polyurethane urea siloxane (PUUS), hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was prepared using electrospinning technique. PUUS was synthesized by two steps solution polymerization procedure from polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG), dimethylol propionic acid (DMPA), 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and 1,3-bis-(3-aminopropyl) tetramethyldisiloxane (BATD) as chain extender. Then, the composites were prepared by blending PUUS with HPC or βCD in a ratio of 9:1 (w/w), in 15% dimethylformamide (DMF).

Versatile poly(vinyl alcohol)/clay physical hydrogels with tailorable structure as potential candidates for wound healing applications.

Physical poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels containing up to 3% Laponite RD (LRD) were obtained by freezing/thawing method. The structure and the morphology of PVA/LRD hydrogels were evaluated by ATR-FTIR and SEM measurements, respectively. The morphological analysis of the hydrogels revealed the formation of clay agglomerates and large size aggregates at LRD concentrations above 2.