Materials For Medical Applications Research Articles

Citrate-mediated impregnation of silver nanoparticles for durable antibacterial cellulosic fabric

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to apply silver nanoparticles on the cellulosic fabric via a green cross-linking approach to obtain antibacterial textiles. The cellulosic fabrics may provide an ideal enclave for microbial growth due to their biodegradable nature and retention of certain nutrients and moisture usually required for microbial colonization. The application of antibacterial finish on the textile surfaces is usually done via synthetic cross-linkers, which, however, may cause toxic effects and halt the biodegradation process.Design/methodology/approachHerein, we incorporated citrate moieties on the cellulosic fabric as eco-friendly crosslinkers for the durable and effective application of nanosilver finish. The nanosilver finish was then applied on the citrate-treated cellulosic fabric under the pad-dry-cure method and characterized the specimens for physicochemical, textile and antibacterial properties.FindingsThe results expressed that the as-prepared silver particles possessed spherical morphology with their average size in the nano range and zeta potential being −40 ± 5 mV. The results of advanced analytical characterization demonstrated the successful application of nanosilver on the cellulosic surface with appropriate dispersibility.Practical implicationsThe nanosilver-treated fabric exhibited appropriate textile and comfort and durable broad-spectrum antibacterial activity.Originality/valueThe treated cellulosic fabric expressed that the cross-linking, crystalline behavior, surface chemistry, roughness and amphiphilicity could affect some of its comfort and textile properties yet be in the acceptable range for potential applications in medical textiles and environmental sectors.

A REVIEW OF POLYMER-BASED MATERIALS USED IN BIOMATERIALS FOR MEDICAL APPLICATIONS

The research provides a concise overview of numerous biomedical and biomechanics uses for polymer-based materials in medical applications. Polymer-based materials are used to repair or enhance the functionality of tissues or organs damaged or disjointed in the context of implants and medical equipment, thereby enhancing patients’ well-being. The critical criterion for selecting the biomaterial is its appropriateness to the body. Polymer-based material must have certain essential characteristics to enable lengthy-term use. This family of materials, which may execute stimuli-induced active motions, includes shape-changing and shape-memory polymers as examples. Significant interest in the area of biomedicine has developed for these materials over the last 20 years, especially in minimally invasive surgeries. In this regard, the development of novel antimicrobial technologies for biomedical implementations depends heavily on polymeric biomaterials and would continue to do so. This review article focuses on the properties and applications of smart polymers application, biomolecule conjugates of smart polymers on surfaces, and Forms of smart polymeric biomaterials. This article presents an overview of the scope of application of the three polymeric-based materials.

Fabrication of Silver Nanoparticles Using Cordyline fruticosa L. Leave Extract Endowing Silk Fibroin Modified Viscose Fabric with Durable Antibacterial Property.

The current work presented a green synthetic route for the fabrication of silver nanoparticles obtained from aqueous solutions of silver nitrate using Cordyline fruticosa L. leaf extract (Col) as a reducing and capping agent for the first time. The bio-synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgCol) were investigated using UV–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The obtained data demonstrated that AgCol in spherical shape with an average size of 28.5 nm were highly crystalline and well capped by phytocompounds from the Col extract. Moreover, the bio-synthesized AgCol also exhibited the effective antibacterial activities against six pathogenic bacteria, including Escherichia coli (E. coli), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), Salmonella enterica (S. enterica), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) and Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis). The AgCol were applied as an antibacterial finishing agent for viscose fabric using a pad-dry curing technique. The AgCol-treated viscose fabrics exhibited a good synergistic antimicrobial activity against E. coli and S. aureus bacteria. Furthermore, the silk fibroin regenerated from Bombyx mori cocoon waste was utilized as an ecofriendly binder for the immobilization of AgCol on the viscose fabric. Thus, the antimicrobial efficacy of the AgCol and fibroin modified viscose fabric still reached 99.99% against the tested bacteria, even after 30 washing cycles. The colorimetric property, morphology, elemental composition, and distribution of AgCol on the treated fabrics were investigated using several analysis tools, including colorimetry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), Kjeldahl, and FTIR. Because of the excellent antimicrobial efficiency and laundering durability, as well as the green synthesis method, the AgCol and fibroin modified viscose fabric could be utilized as an antibacterial material in sportswear and medical textile applications.

Potent environmental-friendly virucidal medical textiles against coronavirus to combat infections during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The sudden outburst of Coronavirus disease 19 or COVID-19 has raised serious awareness about viral contamination on the environment, which is one of the major causes of the disease. Transmission via contaminated surfaces has been recognized as a significant route for spreading the virus. To suppress and control the spread of SARS-CoV-2, potent virucidal finishing agents for decontamination of medical textiles are urgently required. In this study, an environmental-friendly, economical, non-toxic, and practical finishing on medical textiles with potent virucidal activity was proposed with the combined concepts of a new green synthesis of TiO2@Ag core-shell nanostructures using ascorbic acid reduction and UV-curing process. In order to evaluate efficiency of virucidal activity, effects of the amount of TiO2@Ag NPs and contact time were determined against the coronavirus following ISO 18184:2019 standard. The finishing agent exhibited an excellent 99.9% virucidal efficacy. The stability of virucidal activity and mechanical properties were determined under repeated washing. The finished fabrics had the ability to retain their virucidal activity and tensile strength through 20 washes. The results suggested that the finishing agent had great potential as a potent and non-toxic virucide against the coronavirus for medical textile applications.

Characterisation of Selected Materials in Medical Applications.

Tissue engineering is an interdisciplinary field of science that has developed very intensively in recent years. The first part of this review describes materials with medical and dental applications from the following groups: metals, polymers, ceramics, and composites. Both positive and negative sides of their application are presented from the point of view of medical application and mechanical properties. A variety of techniques for the manufacture of biomedical components are presented in this review. The main focus of this work is on additive manufacturing and 3D printing, as these modern techniques have been evaluated to be the best methods for the manufacture of medical and dental devices. The second part presents devices for skull bone reconstruction. The materials from which they are made and the possibilities offered by 3D printing in this field are also described. The last part concerns dental transitional implants (scaffolds) for guided bone regeneration, focusing on polylactide–hydroxyapatite nanocomposite due to its unique properties. This section summarises the current knowledge of scaffolds, focusing on the material, mechanical and biological requirements, the effects of these devices on the human body, and their great potential for applications.

Validity of a Soft and Flexible 3D-Printed Nissen Fundoplication Model in Surgical Training

Rapid development of three-dimensional (3D) printing technique has enabled the production of many new materials for medical applications but the dry laboratory surgical training model made of soft and flexible materials is still insufficient. We established a new 3D-printed Nissen fundoplication training model of which materials simulate the real mechanical properties. In this study, 16 participants were divided into two groups: Experimental group and control group. The validity of model was tested using Likert scale by the experts and the experimental group. To evaluate the efficacy, performances of the experimental group were scored at the first, fourth, and eighth training by OSATS system and the duration of procedure was compared through the use of recorded video. Meanwhile, an ex vivo model was used to compare the performance of the experiment group and control group after the training in the same way. Our results showed that the 3D-printed model can support the future surgical applications, help improve surgical skills, and shorten procedure time after training.

Stabilization of Silver Nanoparticles on Polyester Fabric Using Organo-Matrices for Controlled Antimicrobial Performance.

Antimicrobial textiles are helpful tools to fight against multidrug-resistant pathogens and nosocomial infections. The deposition of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) onto textiles has been studied to achieve antimicrobial properties. Yet, due to health and environmental safety concerns associated with such formulations, processing optimizations have been introduced: biocompatible materials, environmentally friendly agents, and delivery platforms that ensure a controlled release. In particular, the functionalization of polyester (PES) fabric with antimicrobial agents is a formulation in high demand in medical textiles. However, the lack of functional groups on PES fabric hinders the development of cost-effective, durable systems that allow a controlled release of antimicrobial agents. In this work, PES fabric was functionalized with AgNPs using one or two biocompatible layers of chitosan or hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO). The addition of organo-matrices stabilized the AgNPs onto the fabrics, protected AgNPs from further oxidation, and controlled their release. In addition, the layered samples were efficient against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The sample with two layers of chitosan showed the highest efficacy against S. aureus (log reduction of 2.15 ± 1.08 after 3 h of contact). Against E. coli, the sample with two layers of chitosan showed the best properties. Chitosan allowed to control the antimicrobial activity of AgNPs, avoid the complete loss of AgNPs after washings and act in synergy with AgNPs. After 3 h of incubation, this sample presented a log reduction of 4.81, and 7.27 of log reduction after 5 h of incubation. The antimicrobial results after washing showed a log reduction of 3.47 and 4.88 after 3 h and 5 h of contact, respectively. Furthermore, the sample with a final layer of HMDSO also presented a controlled antimicrobial effect. The antimicrobial effect was slower than the sample with just an initial layer of HMDSO, with a log reduction of 4.40 after 3 h of incubation (instead of 7.22) and 7.27 after 5 h. The biocompatibility of the composites was confirmed through the evaluation of their cytotoxicity towards HaCaT cells (cells viability > 96% in all samples). Therefore, the produced nanocomposites could have interesting applications in medical textiles once they present controlled antimicrobial properties, high biocompatibility and avoid the complete release of AgNPs to the environment.

Advances in tannic acid-incorporated biomaterials: Infection treatment, regenerative medicine, cancer therapy, and biosensing

Polyphenol-based materials have attracted wide-spread interest from academic and industrial communities because of their unique structure and physicochemical properties. Tannic acid (TA), as a polyphenolic phytochemical with high level of galloyl groups, interacts with various substances (proteins, polysaccharides, and metals) through several modes including hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. Such hybrid or hybrid-like systems allow the preparation of various advanced materials with promising applications in medicine. In this review, we highlight the recent advances of TA-incorporated materials in medical applications including drug delivery, tissue engineering, treatment of infections, cancer therapy and biosensing. We believe that this review provides further investigation and development of TA as a promising natural compound to design new versatile architectures in the field of materials science.

The effect of hydroxyapatite concentration on the mechanical properties and degradation rate of biocomposite for biomedical applications

Biocomposite is a material that have potential to heal injured bones and teeth due to their biocompatible, non-toxic, non-inflammation, and bioactive properties which can prevent infections that occurs frequently during surgical processes. Biocomposites made of PLA, PCL, and HA from bovine bone as a substitute for metal materials in medical applications have been widely studied. However, there are limited studies on the biocomposites made of PLA, PCL, and HA from green mussel shells. Therefore, this study aims to produce biocomposites from Polylactic Acid (PLA), Polycaprolactone (PCL), and Hydroxyapatite (HA) from green mussel shells and to determine the effect of HA concentration on the mechanical properties and degradation rate of the resulting biocomposite. 80 ml of chloroform was used to dissolve 16 grams of a PLA/PCL mixture with a composition of 80% and 20%. After 30 minutes, the solution was agitated for 30 minutes with a magnetic stirrer at 50°C and 300 rpm. After obtaining a homogenous solution, hydroxyapatite was added in percentages of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% of the total weight of the PLA/PCL mixture. The resulting mixture is poured into a glass mold in accordance with ASTM D790. Three-point bending, density, and biodegradable test were performed to investigate the effect of HA content on the mechanical properties and degradation rate of the biocomposite. The results of this study indicate that the mechanical properties of the biocomposite improved with the HA concentration increases. However, the more HA content used, the faster the biocomposite degrades.

Preliminary Studies for One-Step Fabrication of Metallic Iron-Based Coatings on Magnesium as Temporary Protection in Biodegradable Medical Application

Iron and magnesium are being considered as promising candidates for biodegradable materials in medical applications, both materials having their specific advantages and challenges. A hybrid of metallic iron and magnesium in a layered composite is studied in the present work, to combine the merits of both metals. A single-step dip-coating method was employed to prepare the layered composite material. Morphology, composition, crystal structure and corrosion behavior of the Mg/Fe sheet were assessed by SEM, EDX, XRD, and electrochemical measurements. The Mg/Fe layered composite sheet is composed of the magnesium substrate, a 1–2 µm metallic iron coating, and a pompon-like Mg(OH)2/MgO top layer. Long-term open-circuit potential measurements revealed that the Mg/Fe sheet samples exhibit a “self-healing” effect in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium.

Antibacterial and UV Protection Properties of Modified Cotton Fabric Using a Curcumin/TiO2 Nanocomposite for Medical Textile Applications.

Medical textiles are one of the most rapidly growing parts of the technical textiles sector in the textile industry. This work aims to investigate the medical applications of a curcumin/TiO2 nanocomposite fabricated on the surface of cotton fabric. The cotton fabric was pretreated with three crosslinking agents, namely citric acid, 3-Chloro-2-hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (Quat 188) and 3-glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS), by applying the nanocomposite to the modified cotton fabric using the pad-dry-cure method. The chemistry and morphology of the modified fabrics were examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. In addition, the chemical mechanism for the nanocomposite-modified fabric was reported. UV protection (UPF) and antibacterial properties against Gram-positive S. aureus and Gram-negative E. coli bacterial strains were investigated. The durability of the fabrics to 20 washing cycles was also examined. Results demonstrated that the nanocomposite-modified cotton fabric exhibited superior antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria than Gram-positive bacteria and excellent UV protection properties. Moreover, a good durability was obtained, which was possibly due to the effect of the crosslinker used. Among the three pre-modifications of the cotton fabric, Quat 188 modified fabric revealed the highest antibacterial activity compared with citric acid or GPTMS modified fabrics. This outcome suggested that the curcumin/TiO2 nanocomposite Quat 188-modified cotton fabric could be used as a biomedical textile due to its antibacterial properties.

Mechanical Properties and Residual Stress Measurements of Grade IV Titanium and Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-13Nb-13Zr Titanium Alloys after Laser Treatment.

Nowadays, surface engineering focuses on research into materials for medical applications. Titanium and its alloys are prominent, especially Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-13Nb-13Zr. Samples made of pure grade IV titanium and the titanium alloys Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-13Nb-13Zr were modified via laser treatment with laser beam frequency f = 25 Hz and laser beam power P = 1000 W during a laser pulse with duration t = 1 ms. Subsequently, to analyze the properties of the obtained surface layers, the following tests were performed: scanning electron microscopy, chemical and phase composition analysis, wetting angle tests and roughness tests. The assessment of the impact of the laser modification on the internal stresses of the investigated materials was carried out by comparing the values of the stresses of the laser-modified samples to those of the reference samples. The obtained results showed increased values of tensile stresses after laser modification: the highest value was found for the Ti-6Al-4V alloy at 6.7434 GPa and the lowest for pure grade IV titanium at 3.742 GPa. After laser and heat treatment, a reduction in the stress was observed, together with a significant increase in the hardness of the tested materials, with the highest value for Ti-6Al-4V alloy at 27.723 GPa. This can provide better abrasion resistance and lower long-term toxicity, both of which are desirable when using Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-13Nb-13Zr alloys for implant materials.

Knitted cardiac mesh to support left ventricular hypertrophy: an in vivo experimental study: supporting left ventricular hypertrophy using cardiac support mesh

Purpose The purpose of this work is to perform an application study on experimental animals (dogs) to investigate the efficiency of using weft knitted mesh fabric as cardiac support mesh to support left ventricular hypertrophy. Design/methodology/approach In this work, weft-knitted mesh sample “Knitted Cardiac Support Mesh” manufactured using Nylon (6, 6) yarns, with count 20 Denier and medium mesh size, was placed around the two ventricles to prevent further dilatation, support and reduce left ventricular wall stress. Findings Medical textile is a rapidly expanding field in technical textiles that are widely used in a variety of medical applications. One of these medical textile applications is “Knitted Cardiac Support Mesh”, which is used in the treatment of Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Originality/value After the implantation of the manufactured Knitted Cardiac Support Mesh around the myocardium, all dogs survived for three months before being euthanized, and some clinical examinations were performed to investigate and evaluate the sample performance. It was demonstrated from the experimental application, that the nylon mesh sample performed the best during the surgical operation due to its good ability to stretch and recover at a moderate rate, as well as the textile mesh lightweight.

Antibacterial Activity of Biodegradable Plastic from Chromolaena odorata (Pokok Kapal Terbang) Leaves

The aim of this research project was to develop antimicrobial films from blends of C. odorata and PVA and test the films for microbial activity using broth dilution methods for Gram-negative (E. coli) and Gram-positive (S. aureus) bacteria. The result shows that CO/PVA80 successfully inhibit the growth of target bacteria. In antibacterial activity analysis, CO/PVA80 showed 50% higher compare with pure PVA film, PVA100. Other than that, the high percentage of PVA in the blend films, the greater the thickness, Tensile Strength (TS) and Young’s Modulus (YM), while the Elongation Break (EB) of the prepared films decreased. The 0.5 mm CO/PVA80 film shows a good result in mechanical properties which is TS 6.55 MPa, YM 182 MPa and EB is 7.47%. A CO/PVA80 were show a smooth texture, lacked of macropore and good characteristic with a SEM analysis. These results suggest that CO/PVA80 films have good compatibility to form an antimicrobial film as a new material for medical application especially for wound healing.

Formation of diamond like carbon films on materials for medical application

The aim of this experimental work is to identify how the surfaces of materials that are most often used inmedical implants and prostheses, affect the properties of the deposited amorphous carbon films. The DLCfilms were formed on the stainless steel, aluminium, polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and polycaprolactone(PCL) surfaces by PECVD method using C2H2 gas plasma and their properties was compared with the filmsdeposited on silicon. The differences of the films properties were determined by a null-ellipsometry and Ramanspectroscopy. It was found that the thicknesses of the carbon coatings deposited on metallic substratesare larger than on the silicon when the deposition conditions were the same. When the films are formed athigh bias voltage the refractive index of the DLC films deposited on stainless steel are lower compared tothe coatings on silicon but the extinction coefficients are higher. Raman spectra shows that sp2 bonds concentrationis higher in this case. When the ion energy is lowest (bias voltage -400 V), Raman spectroscopyshows that D peak isn’t observed on the Si-deposited carbon coating, while the typical carbon amorphouscoating is formed on the Al substrate. The thickness of amorphous carbon coatings deposited on the polymersdepends on the bias voltage, and the optical properties depend on the type of polymer. The coatingsdeposited on PCL have a much higher refractive index than on PEEK. Key words: amorphous carbon films, steel, aluminum, polyetheretherketone, polycaprolactone, Ramanspectroscopy.

Preparation and Electron-Beam Surface Modification of Novel TiNi Material for Medical Applications

A new approach to fabricate TiNi surfaces combining the advantages of both monolithic and porous materials for implants is used in this work. New materials were obtained by depositing a porous TiNi powder onto monolithic TiNi plates followed by sintering at 1200 °C. Then, further modification of the material surface with a high-current-pulsed electron beam (HCPEB) was carried out. Three materials obtained (one after sintering and two after subsequent beam treatment by 30 pulses with different pulse energy) were studied by XRD, SEM, EDX, surface profilometry, and by means of electrochemical measurements, including OCP and EIS. Structural and compositional changes caused by HCPEB treatment were investigated. Surface properties of the samples during their storage in saline for 10 days were studied and a model experiment with cell growth (MCF-7) was carried out for the unmodified sample with an electron beam to detect cell appearance on different surface locations.

Characterization of a natural surfactant from an essential oil from neem (Azadirachta indicaA. Juss) for textile industry applications

Surfactants are multipurpose active compounds and are ubiquitously present in detergents. Detergent demand spiked due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, further alerting to the need to replace petrochemical synthetic surfactants with natural and renewable surfactants to mitigate further environmental damage. The neem tree ( Azadirachta indica A. Juss) is a fast-growing tree that provides a multitude of commodities, namely neem oil. Neem oil possesses insecticidal and medicinal activity. This work reports the extraction and characterization of a surfactant from neem oil (SNO), displaying a yield of approximately 100%. SNO exhibited suitable detergent characteristics with a high potential to be used as a cleansing agent for textile applications, such as high pH value (10.1), suitable foaming of 1.5 cm and a critical micelle concentration of nearly 0.12 g mL−1. In addition, SNO showed a moderate bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli and bacteriostatic activity against Staphylococcus aureus, both common nosocomial pathogens. Therefore, SNO has a good potential to be used in medical textile applications due to its detergent and bactericidal properties. Finally, an economical overview of the SNO production process was assessed, underscoring its viability.

Spectroscopic studies of UV-irradiated poly(vinyl alcohol)/elastin blends

The blends of synthetic and natural polymers are extensively investigated as materials for medical applications. Synthetic component usually ensures appropriate mechanical and physical properties while biopolymer improves biocompatibility of the material. In our work, we decided to use poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)—water-soluble, chemically stable, elastic polymer and elastin—a fibrous protein present in the extracellular matrix of connective tissues. The aim of our work was to study the influence of UV light on spectroscopic properties of poly(vinyl alcohol)/elastin hydrolysates blends. PVA is a rather photostable polymer while elastin possesses various chromophores in the structure capable of absorption of light λ > 200 nm. As a result of the blending, some interactions between the synthetic and biological components occur and cause the changes of photochemical stability of the new material. Our study demonstrates that the poly(vinyl alcohol)/elastin mixtures are more sensitive to UV irradiation than both components separately.

A Review on Gelatin Based Hydrogels for Medical Textile Applications

Hydrogels are hydrophilic polymer networks that absorb any kind of liquid including biological fluids. Natural polymers and their derivatives along with synthetic polymers are used to form the hydrogels. Networks that constitute the hydrogels are created by the crosslinking of either synthesized polymers starting from monomers or already developed polymers. Crosslinking can be developed either physically if secondary intermolecular forces are involved or chemically in which a covalent bond between polymeric chains is created. Gelatins are natural driven protein polymers. One of the main biopolymers used for producing hydrogels is gelatin. Gelatin has a very wide application other than hydrogels. In this review, hydrogels and their property and synthesis mechanism, as well as their application in biomedical along with gelatin chemistry and application, are reviewed. Due to its nonimmunogenicity, nontoxicity, low cost, and high availability gelatin-based hydrogels could find applications in drug delivery carrier, bioink, transdermal therapy, wound healing, and tissue repair. The beneficiation of gelatin can result in their sustainable conversion into high-value biomaterials on the proviso of the existence or development of cost-effective, sustainable technologies for converting this biopolymer into useful bioproducts.

Comparative analysis of total phenolic content and antimicrobial activity of some plants of Garo hills, Meghalaya

Eethanolic and aqueous extracts of some plants commonly found in Garo hills of Meghalaya and known for their medicinal value were analysed for total phenolic content and antimicrobial activity. Total content of phenols was quantitatively estimated from extracts of lemon grass, tamarind, Ber, starfruit and Beetle nut. Antimicrobial activity and yield of these plant extracts was also determined. Further, ethanolic extracts have revealed better total phenolic content and antimicrobial activity against test pathogens in comparison to aqueous extracts. Among the plant extracts investigated Beetle nut exhibited highest content of phenols and also best antimicrobial properties. The results show that use of the natural antimicrobial inherent properties occurring in plants extracts is a viable option for the textile finishing industry for functional textile applications. The plant extracts showed high antimicrobial activity which indicates that these extracts may be useful natural remedies for antimicrobial textile finishes for treatment of various types of skin/wound infections and medical textile applications.