Fabrication of polymeric microspheres for biomedical applications.

Polymeric microspheres (PMs) have attracted great attention in the field of biomedicine in the last several decades due to their small particle size, special functionalities shown on the surface and high surface-to-volume ratio. However, how to fabricate PMs which can meet the clinical needs and transform laboratory achievements to industrial scale-up still remains a challenge. Therefore, advanced fabrication technologies are pursued.

Three lines of defense: A multifunctional coating with anti-adhesion, bacteria-killing and anti-quorum sensing properties for preventing biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Surfaces of synthetic materials are highly susceptible to pathogenic bacteria colonization and further biofilm formation, leading to device failure in both biomedical and industrial applications. Complete elimination of the mature biofilms formed on the surfaces, however, remains a great challenge due to the complexity of chemical composition and physical structure. Therefore, prevention of biofilm formation becomes a preferred strategy for solving the biofilm-associated problems.

The construct of triple responsive nanocomposite and its antibacterial effect.

The current serious mismatch between the increasing severity of bacterial infections and antibiotic production capacity urgently requires the emergence of novel antimicrobial materials. In this paper, dopamine methacrylamide (DMA) and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) were polymerized as the monomers into a block copolymer poly(dopamine methacrylamide-block-N-isopropylacrylamide) (P(DA-NIP)) and then encapsulated with polydopamine-coated magnetic nanoparticle clusters (MNC) to produce an antibacterial nanocomposite (MNC@P(DA-NIP)). This nanocomposite has triple responses respectively to light, heat and magnetism, which endow MNC@P(DA-NIP) with the abilities to kill bacteria effectively and capture/release bacteria conveniently.

A Photothermal Nanoplatform with Sugar-Triggered Cleaning Ability for High-Efficiency Intracellular Delivery.

Intracellular delivery of functional molecules is of great importance in various biomedical and biotechnology applications. Recently, nanoparticle-based photothermal poration has attracted increasing attention because it provided a facile and efficient method to permeabilize cells transiently, facilitating the entry of exogenous molecules into cells. However, this method still has some safety concerns associated with the nanoparticles that bind to the cell membranes or enter the cells.

Universal Antifouling and Photothermal Antibacterial Surfaces Based on Multifunctional Metal-Phenolic Networks for Prevention of Biofilm Formation.

Biofilms formed from the pathogenic bacteria that attach to the surfaces of biomedical devices and implantable materials result in various persistent and chronic bacterial infections, posing serious threats to human health. Compared to the elimination of matured biofilms, prevention of the formation of biofilms is expected to be a more effective way for the treatment of biofilm-associated infections. Herein, we develop a facile method for endowing diverse substrates with long-term antibiofilm property by deposition of a hybrid film composed of tannic acid/Cu ion (TA/Cu) complex and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG).

Dual-Functional Surfaces Based on an Antifouling Polymer and a Natural Antibiofilm Molecule: Prevention of Biofilm Formation without Using Biocides.

Pathogenic biofilms formed on the surfaces of implantable medical devices and materials pose an urgent global healthcare problem. Although conventional antibacterial surfaces based on bacteria-repelling or bacteria-killing strategies can delay biofilm formation to some extent, they usually fail in long-term applications, and it remains challenging to eradicate recalcitrant biofilms once they are established and mature. From the viewpoint of microbiology, a promising strategy may be to target the middle stage of biofilm formation including the main biological processes involved in biofilm development.