2 research outputs found
Bio-inspired materials for electrochemical devices
Natural macromolecules are very promising row materials to be used in modern technology including security and
defense. They are abundant in nature, easy to extract and possess biocompatibility and biodegradability properties. These
materials can be modified throughout chemical or physical processes, and can be doped with lithium and rare earth salts,
ionic liquids, organic and inorganic acids. In this communication samples of DNA and modified DNA were doped with
Prussian Blue (PB), poly(ethylene dioxythiophene) (PEDOT), europium and erbium triflate and organic dyes such as
Nile Blue (NB), Disperse Red 1 (DR1) and Disperse Orange 3 (DO3). The colored or colorless membranes were
characterized by electrochemical and spectroscopic measurements, and they were applied in electrochromic devices
(ECDs) and dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC). ECDs change the color under applied potential, so they can modulate the
intensity of transmitted light of 15 to 35%. As the electrochromic materials, WO3 or Prussian blue (PB), are usually blue
colored, the color change is from transparent to blue. DNA, and the complexes: DNA-CTMA, DNA-DODA and DNAPEDOT:PSS
were also investigated as either hole carrier material (HTM) or polymer electrolyte in dye-sensitized solar
cells (DSSC). The DNA-based samples as HTM in small DSSCs revealed a solar energy conversion efficiency of 0.56%.
Polymer electrolytes of DNA-CTMA and DNA-DODA, both with 10 wt% of LiI/I2, applied in small DSSC, exhibited
the efficiencies of 0.18 and 0.66%, respectively. The obtained results show that natural macromolecules-based
membranes are not only environmentally friendly but are also promising materials to be investigated for several
electrochemical devices. However, to obtain better performances more research is still needed.The authors are indebted to FAPESP, CNPq (Proc. No. 201820/2014-5), CAPES, and European Community for FP7-
PEOPLE-2009-IRSES Biomolec – 247544 and STATOIL for the financial support given to this research.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Potential of Natural Biomaterials in Nano-scale Drug Delivery
Background: The usage of natural biomaterials or naturally derived materials intended for interface with biological systems has steadily increased in response to the high demand of amenable materials, which are suitable for purpose, biocompatible and biodegradable. There are many naturally derived polymers which overlap in terms of purpose as biomaterials but are equally diverse in their applications.
Methods: This review examines the applications of the following naturally derived polymers; hyaluronic acid, silk fibroin, chitosan, collagen and tamarind polysaccharide (TSP); further focusing on the biomedical applications of each as well as emphasising on individual novel applications.
Results: Each of the polymer was found to demonstrate a wide variety of successful biomedical applications fabricated as wound dressings, scaffolds, matrices, films, sponges, implants or hydrogels to suit the therapeutic need. Interestingly, blending and amelioration of polymer structures were but two of a selection of strategies to modify the functionality of the polymers to suit the purpose. Further these polymers have shown promise to deliver small molecule drugs, proteins and genes as nano-scale delivery systems.
Conclusion: The review highlights the breadth and depth of applications of the aforementioned polymers as biomaterials. Hyaluronic acid, silk fibroin, chitosan, collagen and TSP have been successfully utilised as biomaterials in the subfields of implant enhancement, wound management, drug delivery, tissue engineering and nanotechnology. Whilst there are a number of associated advantages (i.e. biodegradability, biocompatibility, non-toxic, non-antigenic as well as amenability) the select disadvantages of each individual polymer provide significant scope for their further exploration and overcoming challenges like feasibility of mass production at a relatively low cost