In this review, we focus on recent developments in biomaterials of poly(lactic acid)-poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(lactic acid) (PLA-PEO-PLA) triblock copolymers. This system has been widely explored for a number of applications in controlled and sustained release of drugs and in tissue engineering devices. New insights into self-assembly of these materials have resulted in new PLA-PEOPLA solutions and gels with novel structural, mechanical, and drug release properties. Recent innovations include hydrogels with nanoscale crystalline domains, solutions and gels based on PLA stereocomplexes, and nanoparticle-copolymer assemblies. We first briefly review synthetic approaches to these materials. We then describe characterization of the solution properties, formation of micelles, drug release characteristics, and investigation of the sol-gel transition. The properties of PLA-PEO-PLA hydrogels are then discussed, including the effect of crystalline domains on the gel microstructure and efforts to tune the elastic modulus and degredation properties of gels through the addition of chemical crosslinks. In the second half of the review, we discuss the wide variety of biomedical applications currently being pursued for PLA-PEO-PLA triblock copolymer systems. Polymer-nanoparticle complexes have been investigated to facilitate the formation of metal nanoclusters used as biosensors, as well as to enhance the elastic modulus of hydrogels. Thin polymer films have also been investigated for use as tissue engineering scaffolds and as drug-eluding coatings for stents and other medical implants. Finally, we discuss future directions for biomedical applications of this system, including new strategies for improving the specificity and cell affinity of PLA-based biomaterials.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986711798347324 | DOI Listing |
Adv Sci (Weinh)
January 2025
Department of Hepatic Surgery, Center of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China.
Polybromo-1 (PBRM1) serves as a crucial regulator of gene transcription in various tumors, including intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA). However, the exact role of PBRM1 in iCCA and the mechanism by which it regulates downstream target genes remain unclear. This research has revealed that PBRM1 is significantly downregulated in iCCA tissues, and this reduced expression is linked to aggressive clinicopathological features and a poor prognosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLangmuir
January 2025
CNNFM Lab, School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 11155-4563 Tehran, Iran.
This study investigates the impact of cell dynamics on mixing efficiency within a microfluidic droplet, emphasizing the relationship between cell motion, deformability, and resultant asymmetry in velocity and concentration fields. Simulations were conducted for droplets containing encapsulated cells at varying Peclet numbers ( = 100-800) and coupling constants ( = 0.0025, 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInvest Radiol
January 2025
From the Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA (K.W., M.J.M., A.M.L., A.B.S., A.J.H., D.B.E., R.L.B.); Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA (K.W.); GE HealthCare, Houston, TX (X.W.); GE HealthCare, Boston, MA (A.G.); and GE HealthCare, Menlo Park, CA (P.L.).
Objectives: Pancreatic diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) has numerous clinical applications, but conventional single-shot methods suffer from off resonance-induced artifacts like distortion and blurring while cardiovascular motion-induced phase inconsistency leads to quantitative errors and signal loss, limiting its utility. Multishot DWI (msDWI) offers reduced image distortion and blurring relative to single-shot methods but increases sensitivity to motion artifacts. Motion-compensated diffusion-encoding gradients (MCGs) reduce motion artifacts and could improve motion robustness of msDWI but come with the cost of extended echo time, further reducing signal.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLoS One
January 2025
College of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Hainan Normal University, HaiKou, China.
We have successfully prepared a significant number of nanowires from non-toxic silicon sources. Compared to the SiO silicon source used in most other articles, our preparation method is much safer. It provides a simple and harmless new preparation method for the preparation of silicon nanowires.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Adv
January 2025
Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano and IU.NET, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy.
Neurological disorders are a substantial global health burden, affecting millions of people worldwide. A key challenge in developing effective treatments and preventive measures is the realization of low-power wearable systems with early detection capabilities. Traditional strategies rely on machine learning algorithms, but their computational demands often exceed what miniaturized systems can provide.
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