Antibacterial activity of a polysaccharide isolated from litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) pericarp against Staphylococcus aureus and the mechanism investigation

MXene‐based hydrogels represent a significant advancement in biomedical material science, leveraging the unique properties of 2D MXenes and the versatile functionality of hydrogels. This review discusses recent developments in the integration of MXenes into hydrogel matrices, focusing on their biomedical applications such as wound healing, drug delivery, antimicrobial activity, tissue engineering, and biosensing. MXenes, due to their remarkable electrical conductivity, mechanical robustness, and tunable surface chemistry, enhance the mechanical properties, conductivity, and responsiveness of hydrogels to environmental stimuli. Specifically, MXene‐based hydrogels have shown great promise in accelerating wound healing through photothermal effects, delivering drugs in a controlled manner, and serving as antibacterial agents. Their integration into hydrogels also enables applications in targeted cancer therapies, including photothermal and chemodynamic therapies, facilitated by their high conductivity and tunable properties. Despite the promising progress, challenges such as ensuring biocompatibility and optimizing the synthesis for large‐scale production remain. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of MXene‐based hydrogels in biomedical applications, highlighting the ongoing advancements and potential future directions for these multifunctional materials.

Recent Advances in Potential Biomedical Applications of MXene‐Based Hydrogels

Hamzehlouy,

Tavakoli Dare,

Shahi

et al. 2024

Recent Advances in Multifunctional Naturally Derived Bioadhesives for Tissue Engineering and Wound Management

Jafari,

Al‐Ostaz,

Nouranian

2024

Recent advancements in naturally derived bioadhesives have transformed their application across diverse medical fields, including tissue engineering, wound management, and surgery. This review focuses on the innovative development and multifunctional nature of these bioadhesives, particularly emphasizing their role in enhancing adhesion performance in wet environments and optimizing mechanical properties for use in dynamic tissues. Key areas covered include the chemical and physical mechanisms of adhesion, the incorporation of multi‐adhesion strategies that combine covalent and non‐covalent bonding, and bioinspired designs mimicking natural adhesives such as those of barnacles and mussels. Additionally, the review discusses emerging applications of bioadhesives in the regeneration of musculoskeletal, cardiac, neural, and ocular tissues, highlighting the potential for bioadhesive‐based therapies in complex biological settings. Despite substantial progress, challenges such as scaling lab‐based innovations for clinical use and overcoming environmental and mechanical constraints remain critical. Ongoing research in bioadhesive technologies aims to bridge these gaps, promising significant improvements in medical adhesives tailored for diverse therapeutic needs.

Smart Microneedles in Biomedical Engineering: Harnessing Stimuli‐Responsive Polymers for Novel Applications

Shahi,

Afshar,

Dawi

et al. 2024

This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of recent advancements in smart microneedles (MNs) within the biomedical field, focusing on the integration of stimuli‐responsive polymers for enhanced therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Conventional drug delivery and diagnostic methods are known to face limitations in precision, safety, and patient compliance, which can be addressed by the innovative features of smart MNs. Through the use of various stimuli‐responsive polymers, these MNs have been designed to react to environmental or physiological cues, allowing for on‐demand drug release, biomarker sensing, and localized therapeutic interventions. Fundamental materials used in the fabrication of these MNs, including metals, polymers, and composite hydrogels, are reviewed, and different categories of stimuli‐responsiveness, such as photo, electro, thermal, mechanical, and biochemical, are explored. Application‐specific designs of MNs in areas such as drug delivery, cancer therapy, diabetes management, and skin disease treatments are also examined. Through this discussion, it is highlighted that smart MNs are poised to play a significant role in advancing personalized and noninvasive medical treatments.