Nanoclay Reinforced Biomaterials for Mending Musculoskeletal Tissue Disorders

Abstract

Nanoclay‐reinforced biomaterials have sparked a new avenue in advanced healthcare materials that can potentially revolutionize treatment of musculoskeletal defects. Native tissues display many important chemical, mechanical, biological, and physical properties that engineered biomaterials need to mimic for optimal tissue integration and regeneration. However, it is time‐consuming and difficult to endow such combinatorial properties on materials via feasible and nontoxic procedures. Fortunately, a number of nanomaterials such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, MXenes, and nanoclays already display a plethora of material properties that can be transferred to biomaterials through a simple incorporation procedure. In this direction, the members of the nanoclay family are easy to functionalize chemically, they can significantly reinforce the mechanical performance of biomaterials, and can provide bioactive properties by ionic dissolution products to upregulate cartilage and bone tissue formation. For this reason, nanoclays can become a key component for future orthopedic biomaterials. In this review, we specifically focus on the rapidly decreasing gap between clinic and laboratory by highlighting their application in a number of promising in vivo studies.

Graphene and its Derivatives for Bone Tissue Engineering: In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of Graphene-Based Scaffolds, Membranes and Coatings

“…At the same time, surface properties of implants such as porosity, hydrophilicity, biomineralization ability, cell adsorption can be enhanced to improve the interaction between implants and bone tissue interface (De Marco et al, 2017). In addition, the osteoconductive and osteoinductive properties of GDs facilitate the new bone formation and promote the new bone integration with the surrounding bone tissue (Erezuma et al, 2021).…”

Progress in Gelatin as Biomaterial for Tissue Engineering

“…One of the main advantages of nanoclays consists in improving the gelatin's poor mechanical properties. In addition, the multilayer structure can facilitate the release of biological agents, and the combination of 3D printing leads to new configurations that better mimic the tissue of origin [52]. As a proof of concept, Quint et al engineered VEGF-releasing gelatin methacrylol-based scaffolds including embedded laponite nanoparticles [16].…”

“…Therefore, the freeze-drying process could help to produce highly porous and mechanically stable gelatin-based structures (Figure 3). the tissue of origin [52]. As a proof of concept, Quint et al engineered VEGF-releasing gelatin methacrylol-based scaffolds including embedded laponite nanoparticles [16].…”

Sustainable and safer nanoclay composites for multifaceted applications

“…7 They are emerging two-dimensional (2D) inorganic silicates with an atomically thin layered structure, unique shape, high surface-to-volume ratio, charge characteristics, swelling capacity, biocompatibility, and well-defined composition. 8,9 Their relative abundance and cost-effectiveness have been extensively exploited by their use in batteries, [10][11][12][13] supercapacitors, [14][15][16][17][18] flexible electronics, 19 dye discoloration, 17,20 biomedical applications, 21,22 drug delivery and bio-imaging, 23 oil adsorbers, 17,24 catalysis, 17,[25][26][27][28] agriculture, 17 bio-based flame retardants, 29 electrochemical nanosensors, 30,31 energy storage and conversion devices, 32 orthopedic biomaterials, 33 bioremediation, [34][35][36] and synthetic endeavors, 27 especially under solvent-free conditions. [37][38][39][40] Recent advances in assorted nanostructures with intriguing properties have illustrated that nanotechnologies may help optimize the properties of various materials, [41][42][43]…”

“…[91][92][93] Environmental remediation is crucial for cleaning our planet's harmful pollutants, and nanoclays have found predominant usage in this area. [94][95][96][97] Research has advanced from the deployment of nanoclay as fillers 33,35,98 to self-propelled nanorobots 99 for the remediation of contaminants. The shearthinning properties of nanoclays upon fusion with both natural/synthetic polymers renders them ideal for both 3D and 4D printing.…”