Search Results (10,732)

This study investigates the influence of physiological body fluids on the mass stability and tribological performance of polylactic acid (PLA) samples produced by Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printing. Body fluid exposure was simulated using Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) under controlled conditions. Black PLA filament was printed with three infill densities (15%, 20%, and 90%) and immersed in DMEM for 7 days at 37 ± 1 °C. Mass measurements revealed that lower infill densities resulted in significantly higher mass loss, with the 15% infill samples exhibiting the greatest reduction (5.07%), while the 90% infill samples showed negligible change (0.17%). Tribological testing using a CSM nanotribometer under loads of 5 mN, 500 mN, and 1000 mN demonstrated that infill density critically affects friction and wear behavior. The 90% infill samples exhibited the lowest wear volumes and the most stable tribological response, while the 15% infill samples showed degradation-dominated contact behavior. Although the friction measurements for the 15% infill samples were consistent, their interpretation should be approached with caution due to pronounced surface deterioration and debris-mediated sliding. This behavior is attributed to structural weakening caused by immersion in DMEM, which promoted material degradation and influenced the tribological response. These findings confirm the critical role of structural density in wear resistance. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to systematically investigate the combined effect of hydrolytic degradation and tribological behavior of FDM-printed PLA as a function of infill density under simulated physiological conditions. These findings provide a scientific basis for optimizing infill density in the design of PLA-based surgical instrument guides, where both degradation resistance and tribological performance under body fluid exposure are essential. The findings should be interpreted within the limitations of the experimental design. Full article

Additively manufactured lattice structures have become a staple of optimized structural parts and are increasingly common in biomedical and chemical applications that require consideration of flow through porous architectures. However, design principles governing transport performance trail those established for mechanical optimization. Here, we introduce two complementary design frameworks that modify symmetry at both the unit cell and part scales to systematically tune internal transport. These approaches are further extended into patterned lattice structures, where multiple unit cell designs can be combined in one, two, or three dimensions to further regulate the internal flow. We find that identical global lattice geometries can arise from different unit cell basis and voxel plane orientations, with minimal changes in bulk geometric properties. Yet in parts with diameters of 12–35 mm, hydraulic diameters of 1–4 mm, and porosities ~80%, these design selections significantly affect the hydraulic tortuosity and fluid transport behavior. We further demonstrate performance from select designs that yield a new class of anisotropic lattices with strong sensitivity to flow direction that is tuned by the projected area perpendicular to flow. Collectively, these symmetry-informed, multi-order combinatorial design approaches enable predictable, direction-dependent transport design and expand the functional potential of lattice architectures across disciplines. Full article

Biosensors have emerged as a rapidly evolving area of research, offering transformative potential across biomedical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and pharmaceutical applications. Among the diverse range of biosensing technologies, graphene-based surface plasmonic resonance (SPR) biosensors have attracted particular interest due to their exceptional sensitivity, scalability for mass production, and cost-effective fabrication processes. This study explores the operational principles and current design methodologies of graphene-based SPR biosensors, with a special emphasis on the role of electrolyte gating and its impact on sensor performance. Furthermore, the influence of graphene’s quantum capacitance is investigated as a critical parameter for improving the accuracy and reliability of performance predictions in the proposed sensor configuration. Computational analysis of sensitivity and key performance metrics was conducted. Notably, key performance metrics of the sensor improved upon incorporating quantum capacitance effects into the simulation framework. At a β₂-microglobulin concentration of 0.00118 g/L, the sensitivity increased to 174 GHz·g/L, the figure of merit reached 0.55 L/g, the quality factor was 0.01, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) rose to 0.008, and the detection accuracy (DA) reached 0.08 L/THz, demonstrating the significant impact of quantum capacitance on the sensor’s performance. These findings highlight the potential of quantum-electrostatic considerations to enhance the precision and efficacy of graphene-based SPR biosensors, paving the way for the development of next-generation biosensing platforms with improved analytical capabilities. Unlike conventional graphene SPR biosensors, which primarily detect refractive index changes near the graphene surface, our model explicitly considers the electrostatic effect of biomolecules on graphene’s Fermi energy. By modelling β2-microglobulin as a charged species, we compute the resulting electric double layer and incorporate quantum capacitance in series. This amplifies the charge-induced modulation of graphene’s optical conductivity, and, combined with a graphene perfect absorber design, leads to enhanced plasmonic resonance shifts. Consequently, our approach achieves higher sensitivity and more precise detection of biomolecular interactions compared to traditional simulations. Full article

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is one of the most extensively investigated biodegradable polymers for biomedical applications, owing to its tunable degradation kinetics, established biocompatibility, and regulatory approval. In implantology, PLGA-based systems have emerged as versatile platforms for scaffolds, coatings, and localized drug delivery, aimed at enhancing osseointegration and tissue regeneration. This review provides a focused and up-to-date analysis of PLGA applications in dental and orthopedic implantology, with particular emphasis on advances reported over the past decade. Unlike previous reviews that predominantly address general drug delivery or broad tissue engineering applications, this work establishes a direct correlation between polymer composition (LA:GA ratio), processing strategies, and biological outcomes, including degradation behavior, mechanical performance, and host response. Special attention is given to multifunctional PLGA systems incorporating antibiotics, growth factors, and bioactive nanoparticles, highlighting their role in improving antibacterial efficacy and osteogenesis. Emerging technologies such as nanostructured composites, additive manufacturing, and stimuli-responsive delivery platforms are critically evaluated. Key limitations—including acidic degradation by-products, burst release kinetics, and translational barriers—are discussed in the context of clinical applicability. By integrating physicochemical design with biological performance and recent clinical trends (2024–2025), this review proposes a framework for the rational development of next-generation PLGA-based implant systems. Full article

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used in cancer research, enabling integrative analysis of complex biomedical data to identify actionable therapeutic vulnerabilities. This review specifically examines how AI advances mechanistic cancer target discovery and translational drug development, focusing on: (1) the processing of large-scale genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, single-cell profiling, spatial, and clinical datasets using machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) algorithms; (2) the identification of candidate biomarkers, driver genes, dysregulated pathways, tumor dependencies, and molecular targets that traditional methods often miss; (3) the integration of multi-omics data, network biology, causal inference, and systems-level modeling to refine mechanistic understanding of cancer progression and separate functional driver events from passengers; and (4) applications in drug development, including virtual screening, molecular modeling, structure-informed target validation, drug repurposing, synthetic lethality prediction, and de novo drug design, which collectively may enhance early-stage drug discovery efficiency. The review underscores that AI serves as both a predictive tool and a platform for linking molecular mechanisms to hypothesis generation, target prioritization, and rational treatment design. Challenges such as data heterogeneity, algorithmic bias, interpretability, reproducibility, regulatory requirements, and patient privacy must be addressed for robust translation and clinical use. Future directions may focus on hybrid approaches that integrate causal modeling, explainable AI, multimodal data, and experimental validation to yield mechanistically grounded, clinically actionable insights. AI-driven approaches ultimately aim to accelerate mechanism-based cancer target discovery and enable more precise, biologically informed anticancer therapies. Full article

Polyurethanes (PUs) are widely used in biomedical applications; however, their surface properties critically determine bacterial colonization and cell response. In this study, medical-grade PU films were modified using low-pressure C₃H₂F₄ plasma (50 W, 300 s, 0.2 mbar), and the resulting changes in surface chemistry, wettability, topography, bacterial adhesion, and cell compatibility were evaluated. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis confirmed the incorporation of fluorine-containing groups (CF₂, CF₃) and the appearance of an F 1s signal at ~688.3 eV. Plasma treatment increased the water contact angle from 92.6° ± 5.6° to 97.9° ± 3.1° and elevated the root mean square (RMS) surface roughness (Sq) from 39.0 nm to 77.3 nm. Surface free energy slightly decreased after plasma treatment due to reductions in both polar and dispersive components. Quantitative adhesion assays revealed strain-dependent effects. For S. aureus DSM 4910, S. epidermidis DSM 28319, and P. aeruginosa DSM 22644, no consistent reduction in adhesion was observed on plasma-treated surfaces. In contrast, E. coli DSM 18039 demonstrated significantly higher adhesion on modified PU at all incubation times, reaching 5.96 ± 0.44 logCFU/mL after 240 min compared to 5.05 ± 0.27 log colony-forming units per milliliter (logCFU/mL) on unmodified PU. Fluorescence microscopy confirmed increased surface coverage by E. coli on fluorinated samples. Biocompatibility studies using A549 cells showed no cytotoxic effects. Cell spreading area remained comparable between surfaces (1188.6 vs. 1185.1 µm²; p = 0.958). However, cells on plasma-treated PU exhibited reduced major axis length (38.6 vs. 46.7 µm; p < 0.001) and decreased focal adhesion area (8.88 vs. 10.94 µm²; p = 0.002), indicating moderate alterations in cell morphology without compromised viability. These results demonstrate that C₃H₂F₄ plasma fluorination moderately increases PU hydrophobicity and nanoscale roughness, induces strain-dependent changes in bacterial adhesion—particularly enhancing E. coli colonization—while fully preserving mammalian cell viability and showing no cytotoxic effects of the modified surface. Full article

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings are increasingly explored as a practical route to enhance the surface performance of biomedical implants and tissue engineering scaffolds, particularly when combined with additive manufacturing. Rather than serving only as protective layers, DLC coatings allow for independent tuning of surface properties without modifying the bulk structure, which is especially relevant for complex 3D-printed components. This flexibility is often what makes them attractive for biomedical design. This review is structured around two main application areas: DLC coatings for prosthetic implants and DLC coatings for tissue engineering scaffolds. Within this context, the influence of DLC structure (e.g., sp²/sp³ bonding, hydrogen content, and doping) on mechanical, tribological, and biological behavior is discussed. Particular attention is given to additively manufactured metallic implants and porous scaffolds, where large surface area and internal architectures complicate coating uniformity and adhesion. Reports show that DLC coatings can improve corrosion resistance, reduce wear, and influence biological responses, such as antibacterial activity and cell interactions. Several challenges remain to be solved, especially in achieving uniform coating penetration in porous networks and in ensuring long-term stability under physiological conditions. The combination of additive manufacturing and DLC coatings has been shown to offer the potential to become an enabling technology for next-generation biomedical devices. Full article

The development of efficient and biocompatible sorbent nanomaterials for cesium removal is critical for environmental and biomedical decontamination. Here, hybrid composites based on ultra-small Prussian blue or Zn Prussian blue-type nanoparticles confined within porous chitosan beads are proposed for Cs⁺ extraction. Nanoparticle confinement ensures homogeneous dispersion and improved accessibility of ion-exchange sites, while preserving the porous polymeric network, as confirmed by physicochemical characterization. Cs⁺ adsorption was investigated under neutral and acidic conditions (pH 7.2 and 1.2), at concentrations of 0–9 mmol/L and contact times of 0–50 h, showing efficient uptake and favorable kinetics, with confirmed stability in simulated gastric fluid. In vivo performance was assessed in a mouse model of cesium contamination (70 mg Cs⁺/kg). Treatment with nanocomposites (225 mg/kg) was compared to bulk Prussian blue (75 mg/kg), revealing enhanced detoxification efficiency. Histological analysis of liver, spleen, and kidney tissues showed no detectable structural damage, consistent with unchanged systemic biomarkers. Overall, the proposed chitosan-confined Prussian blue-type nanocomposites combine high Cs⁺ removal efficiency, kinetic accessibility, and in vivo safety, highlighting their potential for decorporation applications. Full article

Background: Terahertz (THz) waves exhibit both photon-like and electron-like properties, showing emerging potential in biomedical applications. Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is one of the most common skin tumors. Studies have reported that THz waves can induce apoptosis in cancer cells or ablate tumor tissues. Our previous studies also confirmed that 0.1 THz radiation could significantly promote apoptosis in cutaneous melanoma cells, while it had no apparent effect on fibroblast viability, proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. However, the effects of 0.1 THz radiation on CSCC cells have not yet been explored. Furthermore, there remains a lack of investigation into the structural and functional effects on fibroblasts. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a systematic study to evaluate the influence of 0.1 THz radiation on both CSCC cells and fibroblasts in order to better understand its potential therapeutic applications in the treatment of skin cancer. Purpose: This study aims to explore the biological effects of 0.1 THz radiation on SCC-7 cells and to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying THz-induced apoptosis, as well as its potential effect on L-929 cells. Methods: Cell viability was evaluated through the CCK-8 assay, while cell cycle distribution was analyzed with the DNA content detection kit. Wound healing assays were performed to assess cell migration, and Annexin V-FITC staining was used to detect apoptosis. Caspase-3 activity was measured using the caspase-3 activity assay kit. Cell morphology was observed using the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) and the Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Alterations in membrane potential were detected with the M09 membrane potential probe kit, and intracellular Ca²⁺ levels were quantified using the Fluo-8 AM fluorescent probe. Mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening was assessed with the MPTP detection kit, mitochondrial membrane potential changes were measured using the JC-1 probe kit, and cellular ATP levels were measured with the enhanced ATP assay kit. Subsequently, proteomic analysis was performed. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were quantified with the ROS detection kit, and cytochrome c (Cyt c) release was quantified using the mouse Cyt c ELISA kit. Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) expression was analyzed at both mRNA and protein levels by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and Western blot. AIF expression in CSCC tissues was further evaluated based on the GSE42677 and GSE45164 databases. Finally, cyclosporin A (CsA) was used to inhibit mPTP, and in combination with the iMAC inhibitor, the Aifm1 expression and Cyt c release were examined. Results: Our results showed that THz waves significantly disrupted the membrane integrity of SCC-7 cells and induced mitochondrial structural and functional damage. This resulted in a significant increase in ROS levels and the activation of mPTP and the mitochondrial apoptosis channel (MAC). THz radiation promoted the release of Cyt c and AIF from mitochondria, triggering a noncanonical caspase-3-dependent apoptosis pathway. Notably, L-929 cells did not show significant phenotypic or apoptotic changes under the same irradiation conditions. Bioinformatics analysis of the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database revealed that AIF expression was significantly altered in CSCC tissues compared to normal skin tissues. Conclusions: These findings indicated that 0.1 THz radiation effectively induced apoptosis in SCC-7 cells by triggering mitochondrial dysfunction and ROS generation, which led to the release of AIF. Furthermore, the dysregulation of AIF in CSCC tissues suggested its potential as a promising biomarker. These results provided important molecular insights into the therapeutic potential of THz radiation, particularly for the treatment of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Full article

This study applies selective laser melting (SLM) to fabricate stainless steel 316L (SS316L) structures on the distribution plate of a Venturi-type nozzle in a pressurized dissolution microbubble generator. SLM is employed because the fabricated structures are approximately hundreds of micrometers in size, making them difficult to produce using conventional milling or other machining methods. These structures are designed to enhance cavitation and gas–liquid interaction, thereby enhancing microbubble generation. Various conditions of the SLM process are conducted, and the combination of 140 W laser power, 100 mm/s scan speed, 30 µm layer thickness, and 120 µm hatch distance achieves the highest relative density while maintaining the austenite phase of SS316L, thus being selected as the optimal SLM process parameters. Microbubble generation test are conducted under three different dissolution tank pressure conditions (0.20, 0.25, and 0.30 MPa) using nozzles with and without the SLM structures. The generated microbubbles in both nozzles ranges from 1 to 110 µm, satisfying the size conditions for microbubbles. The average microbubble size is smaller in the SLM-assisted nozzle (31.8 µm) compared with the plain nozzle (38.8 µm). Furthermore, under the dissolution tank pressure of 0.30 MPa for 30 s, the SLM-assisted nozzle generates a maximum of 52,368 microbubbles, representing approximately a 102.1% increase compared with the plain nozzle (25,907 microbubbles). These results demonstrate that incorporating SLM structures to Venturi-type nozzle effectively enhances microbubble generation, offering promising potential for applications in water treatment, biomedical processes, and chemical engineering. Full article

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have emerged as a promising class of carbon-based nanomaterials owing to their unique optical properties, tunable surface chemistry, excellent biocompatibility, and high physicochemical stability. These features make GQDs particularly attractive for the development of advanced biosensing platforms. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent progress in the design, synthesis, and functionalization of GQDs, with a primary focus on their applications in biomedical and biosensors. Various synthesis approaches, including top-down, bottom-up, and chemical methods, are critically discussed in relation to their impact on structural and optical properties. The role of surface engineering and heteroatom doping in modulating sensitivity, selectivity, and signal transduction mechanisms is also highlighted. Furthermore, recent advances in GQD-based biosensors for the detection of clinically relevant biomarkers, environmental analytes, and pathogens are systematically summarized, with emphasis on analytical performance metrics such as sensitivity, selectivity, and limit of detection. In addition, complementary biomedical applications, including bioimaging and therapeutic platforms, are briefly discussed to provide a broader context for the multifunctionality of GQDs. Finally, current challenges and future perspectives toward the rational design of high-performance GQD-based biosensors are outlined. Full article

The rapid and reliable detection of dopamine (DA) is crucial for clinical diagnostics and neurochemical research. Here, we present an advanced electrochemical sensor fabricated by integrating 3D printing technology with bimetallic nanomaterials to achieve high sensitivity, selectivity, and reproducibility. A conductive polylactic acid (PLA) electrode was 3D-printed and subsequently activated to expose electroactive carbon domains. The surface was then modified with AgPt bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs), synthesized via a one-step solvothermal method, and coated with Nafion^TM 117 to form the AgPt@A-3DPE sensor platform. Morphological and structural characterization confirmed the formation of uniform, quasi-spherical AgPt nanoparticles with excellent dispersion. The sensor exhibited outstanding electrochemical performance, including a wide linear detection range for DA (0.5–100 µM), a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.037 µM, and a significantly enhanced electroactive surface area (1.04 cm²). Furthermore, it demonstrates high selectivity in complex matrices, with minimal interference from common biomolecules such as ascorbic acid, uric acid, and glucose. Moreover, the practical applicability of the AgPt@A-3DPE sensor was successfully validated through the analysis of real human urine samples. This work demonstrates a low-cost, scalable, and highly efficient sensing approach, opening new avenues for personalized diagnostics and real-time monitoring of neurotransmitters in biomedical applications. Full article

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have gained significant interest across various areas arising from their multifunctional mechanisms. Biomedical applications are one of the areas where the therapeutic and diagnostic potential of AgNPs are highlighted. Considering the expansion of biomedical use of AgNPs, nervous system-based applications, including neuroimaging, neural implant coatings and development of neural tissue-targeted drug delivery systems are some of the potential applications of AgNPs in the current research. However, growing interest in these nervous system related applications and the limited regenerative capacity of neural tissues make it essential to carefully evaluate the potential neurotoxic effects of AgNPs. AgNP-induced responses in neural tissues may differ according to key physicochemical and exposure-related parameters, specifically particle size, shape, surface chemistry, coating properties, protein corona formation, exposure route, dose, and duration. Among the possible mechanisms that may contribute to these responses are blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and glial activation, and cell death processes such as apoptosis, autophagy, and ferroptosis. In this review, in the context of the potential neurotoxic effects of AgNPs on the nervous system, the main parameters that determine AgNP neurotoxicity and the possible mechanisms involved are examined in detail, where recent scientific developments in this field are evaluated based on current in vitro and in vivo studies. Full article

This study focuses on the development and comprehensive evaluation of the physicochemical, mechanical, and biological properties of composites based on polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), chitosan (Ch), and hydroxyapatite (HA) for biomedical applications. DSC and FTIR spectroscopy showed that the addition of hydroxyapatite did not significantly affect the structure of the materials, but AFM data revealed a change in the surface morphology. Variations in RMS roughness ranging from 13 to 150 nm were observed for chitosan and the composites. The density of the HA-containing samples was 0.06–0.067 g/cm³, which is higher than that of the unfilled composite (0.056 g/cm³). Optimal hydrophilic properties (contact angle 38.9°) and elasticity (damping factor 0.064) were recorded for the sample with 10% HA (PChHA10). The water absorption varied: the addition of chitosan increased the value to 7.5 g/g, compared to 2.7 g/g for pure PHB, while HA slowed the swelling kinetics (more than 180 min). A biodegradation study revealed that samples containing 10–20% HA exhibited the highest stability in an enzymatic environment, while further increases in HA content resulted in increased degradation rates. The PChHA10 is considered to offer the balanced combination of properties. The potential applications of this material in medicine include its use as a scaffold for the in vitro cultivation of osteoblasts and chondrocytes, as well as for implantation in models of bone and cartilage defects in vivo. Full article

This study demonstrates how synthesis conditions and bacterial cellulose (BC) functionalization influence the physicochemical properties and antibacterial performance of BC membranes containing green-synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Mint and avocado-seed extracts enabled AgNP formation in aqueous media but differed in composition. UV–Vis screening across pH and temperature revealed inefficient synthesis at acidic pH, whereas higher temperatures produced broader localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) bands. Neutral conditions generated the most intense and narrow LSPR signals. Under optimized conditions (pH 7, 23 °C), AgNPs were confirmed by TEM, and their colloidal properties differed between extracts: mint-derived particles exhibited smaller hydrodynamic diameters and lower polydispersity than avocado-derived AgNPs. Two BC functionalization strategies were evaluated: immersion in pre-formed AgNP dispersions and in situ synthesis within the BC matrix. In situ membranes displayed stronger and better-defined LSPR peaks. Agitation released nanoparticles from all BC-AgNP membranes, with smaller species released from in situ systems. Antibacterial assays against E. coli showed greater bactericidal activity for in situ membranes. Avocado-derived in situ BC-AgNPs produced larger inhibition halos and prevented bacterial regrowth in liquid culture. Overall, in situ green synthesis within BC provides an effective route to robust and sustainable antibacterial BC membranes. Full article