Nanoparticle Synthesis and Their Integration into Polymer-Based Fibers for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

The potential of nanoparticles as effective drug delivery systems combined with the versatility of fibers has led to the development of new and improved strategies to help in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Nanoparticles have extraordinary characteristics that are helpful in several applications, including wound dressings, microbial balance approaches, tissue regeneration, and cancer treatment. Owing to their large surface area, tailor-ability, and persistent diameter, fibers are also used for wound dressings, tissue engineering, controlled drug delivery, and protective clothing. The combination of nanoparticles with fibers has the power to generate delivery systems that have enhanced performance over the individual architectures. This review aims at illustrating the main possibilities and trends of fibers functionalized with nanoparticles, focusing on inorganic and organic nanoparticles and polymer-based fibers. Emphasis on the recent progress in the fabrication procedures of several types of nanoparticles and in the description of the most used polymers to produce fibers has been undertaken, along with the bioactivity of such alliances in several biomedical applications. To finish, future perspectives of nanoparticles incorporated within polymer-based fibers for clinical use are presented and discussed, thus showcasing relevant paths to follow for enhanced success in the field.

Bioinspired photocatalytic systems towards compartmentalized artificial photosynthesis

“…For instance, the light-induced formation of electrochemical gradients across membranes is the crucial natural strategy of cells to harness solar energy and power cellular functions. Those systems are especially promising in the field of synthetic biology since they can be used to construct artificial cells to dissect the building blocks of a living system and the origin of life 7 , 8 , 11 , 40 – 52 , but also in biosensing 43 , 53 , and pharmaceutical-medicinal chemistry applications 7 , 13 , 43 , 54 – 57 . Moreover, in the recent years artificial vesicles have gained increasing interest to study the encapsulation of different biologic or synthetic catalysts and separate reactivity, with the potential to create very complex catalytic systems with synchronised reactivity towards chemical production but also in the field of energy 7 – 17 .…”

“…U. Schwaneberg and coworkers 121 , and the group of W. Meier 122 , 123 showed efficient transmembrane proton transfer in polymersomes with a reconstituted OmpF channel protein. Other examples include light-driven electron transfer across polymeric membranes in protein-polymersomes, where photosynthetic natural reaction centres have been reconstituted into the membrane 57 , 124 , 125 .…”