Sushma Kumari

Achieving a balanced combination of corrosion resistance, wear performance, and biological response in titanium-based biomaterials remains a significant challenge because enhancement in one property does not necessarily benefit the others. This study introduces a novel Ti-Zr-Cu-Zn quaternary alloy system and investigates the coupled effects of addition of Cu and Zn to achieve optimal properties. Unlike previous studies that primarily aimed at individual alloying additions, the present study is first of its kind aimed at synergistic optimization of electrochemical, tribological and biological responses. A series of alloy compositions were designed using the Taguchi method by systematically varying the composition of Cu and Zn, and synthesized using the powder metallurgy technique. The alloys were initially characterised through phase and microstructural analysis followed by evaluation of corrosion, wear and in-vitro cell viability. The results revealed significant changes in phase and microstructural features, showing the formation of α-(Ti, Zr), β-(Ti, Zr), Ti₂Cu, and Ti₂Zn phases. While Cu promoted the formation of β-(Ti, Zr) and Ti₂Cu phases, Zn exhibited a non-linear effect with 15 wt% Zn giving the maximum β-(Ti, Zr) and Ti ₂ Zn fractions. These variations were accompanied by pronounced changes in microstructures and β-phase area fractions. Among all the compositions studied, Ti–30Zr–6Cu–15Zn exhibited the optimal performance with lowest corrosion and wear rates, and highest cell viability. Statistical analysis using two way ANOVA and signal to noise ratio calculations proved the significant roles of Cu and Zn in enhancing the functional performance of the alloys.

Contemporary healthcare systems require advanced, sustainable, and patient-specific therapeutic solutions. We need advanced technologies, exemplified by 3D printing and biomaterials such as carbohydrates, to produce many 3D-bioprinted in vitro tissues and organ models for drug testing and regenerative medicine. In recent years, polysaccharide-based biomaterials have emerged as promising candidates for three-dimensional (3D) printing applications owing to their intrinsic biocompatibility, biodegradability, tunable physicochemical properties, and structural resemblance to native extracellular matrices (ECMs). In addition, recent progress in biomaterial modification and 3D printing methodologies has broadened their biomedical applications, particularly in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, organ model development for drug discovery, and in situ bioprinting. This review presents a comprehensive overview of widely utilized polysaccharides in regenerative medicine, 3D printing techniques, bioink formulations, and the biomedical applications of 3D systems. It highlights recent advancements in material design, fabrication strategies, and biological performance and addresses current challenges and future perspectives for translating these materials from laboratory research to clinical practice.

A delay in wound healing significantly impacts a patient’s quality of life. Although numerous materials have been developed for healing strategies, there remains a need to create a patient-friendly, patient-specific, and biocompatible product for the market. Biopolymer-based hydrogel dressings significantly influence wound healing by mimicking the extracellular matrix, promoting cell growth, regulating moisture levels, and preventing infection. In this study, biopolymers such as κ-carrageenan (κ-Ca) and gelatin (Gel) were chemically modified with methacrylic anhydride (MA) to produce photocurable κ-carrageenan methacrylate (κ-Ca-MA) and gelatin methacrylate (Gel-MA). A hydrogel patch was subsequently fabricated using visible-light photocrosslinking for wound-healing applications. The fabricated photocrosslinked composite hydrogel patch (PCHP) was comprehensively characterized with respect to its morphological structure, swelling, degradation behavior, and viscoelastic properties. The fabricated PCHP demonstrated gel-like behavior, good stability, and shear-thinning properties. Compression testing on PCHP revealed a compressive modulus of 234–239 kPa, demonstrating adequate mechanical integrity for wound-site application. Additionally, antibiotic-loaded PCHPs demonstrated slow, sustained antibiotic release with efficient bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus , as well as notable radical-scavenging activity. Scratch assays demonstrated effective promotion of wound healing through enhanced cell migration, resulting in complete wound closure within 24 h. NIH3T3 fibroblasts cultured on PCHPs showed greater than 95% viability and cell proliferation over 5 days. Furthermore, κ-Ca-MA- and Gel-MA-based hydrogels were suitable for 3D printing in a layer-by-layer manner using digital light processing (DLP), highlighting their potential for advanced biomedical applications. Therefore, the visible-light photocrosslinking approach enables the creation of a multifunctional product for wound-healing applications, thereby improving patients’ quality of life.

Chronic wounds such as diabetic ulcers remain significantly higher in global healthcare burden due to impaired angiogenesis, infection, and sustained inflammation. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are promising candidates for advanced wound-dressing applications due to their exceptional electrical conductivity, high mechanical strength, photothermal performance, and ease of surface modification. This review discusses recent progress in their functions in haemostasis, microbial protection, anti-inflammatory regulation, and tissue repair. We discussed research papers on CNT-based multifunctional hydrogels, electrospun scaffolds, and innovative dressings for bioactive agent delivery, electrical stimulation, and real-time monitoring of wound healing. We also discussed in vivo preclinical studies demonstrating significant re-epithelialization and increased angiogenesis, with accelerated wound closure in disease-impaired healing models, such as diabetes. Nevertheless, limitations such as cytotoxicity, impediments to scale-up manufacturing, and regulatory issues hinder direct clinical translation. To overcome these drawbacks, several approaches, such as chemical functionalization, biodegradable CNT derivatives, and hybrid nanocomposites, have been developed. Finally, we describe the translational path for CNT-based wound-healing applications and offer perspectives on future therapeutic interventions for chronic and complex wounds in the context of precision medicine.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing of bone scaffolds using digital light processing (DLP) bioprinting technology empowers the treatment of patients suffering from bone disorders and defects through the fabrication of cell-laden patient-specific scaffolds. Here, we demonstrate the visible-light-induced photo-crosslinking of methacrylate-κ-carrageenan (MA-κ-CA) mixed with bioactive silica nanoparticles (BSNPs) to fabricate 3D composite hydrogels using digital light processing (DLP) printing. The 3D printing of complex bone structures, such as the gyroid, was demonstrated with high precision and resolution. DLP-printed 3D composite hydrogels of MA-κ-CA-BSNP were prepared and systematically assessed for their macroporous structure, swelling, and degradation characteristics. The viscosity, rheological, and mechanical properties were also investigated for the influence of nanoparticle incorporation in the MA-κ-CA hydrogels. The in vitro study performed with MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblast-laden scaffolds of MA-κ-CA-BSNP revealed high cell viability, no cytotoxicity, and proliferation over 21 days with markedly enhanced osteogenic differentiation compared to neat polymeric scaffolds. Furthermore, no inflammation was observed in the 21-day study involving the in vivo examination of DLP-printed 3D composite scaffolds in a Wistar rat model. Overall, the observed results for the DLP-printed 3D composite scaffolds of MA-κ-CA and BSNP demonstrate their biocompatibility and suitability for bone tissue engineering.

We report the use of a molecular peroxidase mimic biuret FeTAML for chemoselective labeling of proteins and the subsequent visual detection (<0.1 pmoles) of the conjugate in a polyacrylamide gel by catalytic signal amplification.