Exploration of BioMat-X

Special Issue Topic

Nature-Based Biomaterials for Biomedical Applications

Submission Deadline: June 30, 2025

Guest Editor

Jayachandran Venkatesan E-Mail

Assistant Professor at Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya University, Mangalore, India

Research Keywords: Biomaterials, tissue engineering, drug delivery, alginate, chitosan

About the Special Issue

Natural-based biomaterials have gained significant attention from researchers and clinicians for therapeutic applications due to their bioactivity and biocompatibility. Various proteins, polysaccharides, and ceramic materials from seaweed, plants, and crustaceans have been extensively studied for tissue engineering, drug delivery, and biosensor applications. Bone graft substitutes, cardiac stents, and skin graft materials from natural substances are translated into clinical practice and commercialized. We wish to highlight recent and advanced technologies in natural-based biomaterials for clinical applications in this special issue. The special issue will cover various materials and applications, including: alginate, carrageenan, cellulose, collagen, chitosan, fucoidan, gelatin, hydroxyapatite, ulvan, silk fibroin, tissue engineering, drug delivery, biosensor.

Keywords: Antimicrobials, biosensors, cancer, drug delivery, tissue engineering

Call for Papers

Published Articles

Open Access

Review

Chitosan-based composite scaffolds for accelerated epidermal-dermal wound healing
This review highlights the challenges of current wound healing methods, such as scar formation and limited regeneration, and emphasizes the potential of tissue engineering to address these issues. C [...] Read more.

This review highlights the challenges of current wound healing methods, such as scar formation and limited regeneration, and emphasizes the potential of tissue engineering to address these issues. Chitosan, a biopolymer derived from chitin, has garnered significant attention in epidermal-dermal wound healing due to its exceptional biocompatibility, biodegradability, and versatile functional properties. This review article delves into the diverse roles of chitosan, with a particular focus on its use as a scaffold material with fine-tunable physicochemical and biological properties for accelerated wound healing. While bare chitosan provides a suitable microenvironment for cell adhesion and proliferation, it exhibits limited mechanical strength and drug-delivery properties. However, combining it with other natural and synthetic polymers and nanoparticles facilitates drug and biosignal delivery and enhances biocompatibility and antibacterial activity. Furthermore, the review covers various chemical modifications of chitosan, including quaternization and methacrylation, to improve biocompatibility, water solubility and mechanical strength, for developing advanced wound dressings for effective skin regeneration. The review also discusses various types of smart chitosan hydrogels and the clinical translation of chitosan based scaffolds for wound healing and tissue regeneration applications. Finally, it discusses the integration of 3D bioprinting techniques for creating complex, cell-incorporated scaffolds for advanced wound healing therapies.

Athira S. Dev ... Renu Mohan

Published: April 24, 2025 Explor BioMat-X. 2025;2:101336
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37349/ebmx.2025.101336

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This review highlights the challenges of current wound healing methods, such as scar formation and limited regeneration, and emphasizes the potential of tissue engineering to address these issues. Chitosan, a biopolymer derived from chitin, has garnered significant attention in epidermal-dermal wound healing due to its exceptional biocompatibility, biodegradability, and versatile functional properties. This review article delves into the diverse roles of chitosan, with a particular focus on its use as a scaffold material with fine-tunable physicochemical and biological properties for accelerated wound healing. While bare chitosan provides a suitable microenvironment for cell adhesion and proliferation, it exhibits limited mechanical strength and drug-delivery properties. However, combining it with other natural and synthetic polymers and nanoparticles facilitates drug and biosignal delivery and enhances biocompatibility and antibacterial activity. Furthermore, the review covers various chemical modifications of chitosan, including quaternization and methacrylation, to improve biocompatibility, water solubility and mechanical strength, for developing advanced wound dressings for effective skin regeneration. The review also discusses various types of smart chitosan hydrogels and the clinical translation of chitosan based scaffolds for wound healing and tissue regeneration applications. Finally, it discusses the integration of 3D bioprinting techniques for creating complex, cell-incorporated scaffolds for advanced wound healing therapies.

Open Access

Original Article

Preparation and characterization of stearyl glycyrrhetinate/cyclodextrin complex using co-grinding
Aim: In this study, the physicochemical properties of stearyl glycyrrhetinate/β-cyclodextrin (SG/βCD) and SG/γCD complexes were characterized, and the complexes were prepared using the co-milling [...] Read more.

Aim:

In this study, the physicochemical properties of stearyl glycyrrhetinate/β-cyclodextrin (SG/βCD) and SG/γCD complexes were characterized, and the complexes were prepared using the co-milling method. The molecular interactions within the SG/CD complexes were also investigated using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements to determine the mode of interaction.

Methods:

Here, we evaluated the physicochemical properties of SG complexes with CDs prepared by ground mixtures (GM SG/βCD or γCD = 1/1, 1/2).

Results:

Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) showed that the characteristic SG and CD peaks disappeared after co-grinding with GM (SG/CD = molar ratio of 1/2), indicating a halo pattern. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements showed that after co-grinding, the endothermic peak due to SG melting, as well as the dehydration peak and the endothermic peak due to SG melting, disappeared. Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy results showed that the peaks of SG-derived –CH moieties and CD-derived –OH and –CH moieties broadened in GM, suggesting their involvement in complex formation through SG/CDs intermolecular interactions. In GM (SG/CDs), NMR measurements showed broadened H-A and H-F peaks of the steroid skeleton derived from SG. In GM (SG/βCD = 1/2), the doublet peak, especially OH-3 at the wide edge of CD, shifted to a singlet peak. In GM (SG/γCD = 1/2), the H-3 peak, which is the wide edge of γCD, and the H-6 peak, which is the narrow edge, shifted to broad peaks, suggesting that γCD is deeply encapsulated in the steroidal structure.

Conclusions:

These findings suggest that complex formation occurred in SG/CDs and that inclusion behavior is different between GM (SG/βCD = 1/2) and GM (SG/γCD = 1/2).

Momoko Ebisawa ... Yutaka Inoue

Published: February 26, 2025 Explor BioMat-X. 2025;2:101330
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37349/ebmx.2025.101330

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Aim:

In this study, the physicochemical properties of stearyl glycyrrhetinate/β-cyclodextrin (SG/βCD) and SG/γCD complexes were characterized, and the complexes were prepared using the co-milling method. The molecular interactions within the SG/CD complexes were also investigated using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements to determine the mode of interaction.

Methods:

Here, we evaluated the physicochemical properties of SG complexes with CDs prepared by ground mixtures (GM SG/βCD or γCD = 1/1, 1/2).

Results:

Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) showed that the characteristic SG and CD peaks disappeared after co-grinding with GM (SG/CD = molar ratio of 1/2), indicating a halo pattern. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements showed that after co-grinding, the endothermic peak due to SG melting, as well as the dehydration peak and the endothermic peak due to SG melting, disappeared. Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy results showed that the peaks of SG-derived –CH moieties and CD-derived –OH and –CH moieties broadened in GM, suggesting their involvement in complex formation through SG/CDs intermolecular interactions. In GM (SG/CDs), NMR measurements showed broadened H-A and H-F peaks of the steroid skeleton derived from SG. In GM (SG/βCD = 1/2), the doublet peak, especially OH-3 at the wide edge of CD, shifted to a singlet peak. In GM (SG/γCD = 1/2), the H-3 peak, which is the wide edge of γCD, and the H-6 peak, which is the narrow edge, shifted to broad peaks, suggesting that γCD is deeply encapsulated in the steroidal structure.

Conclusions:

These findings suggest that complex formation occurred in SG/CDs and that inclusion behavior is different between GM (SG/βCD = 1/2) and GM (SG/γCD = 1/2).

Open Access

Original Article

Fabrication and characterization of pHEMA hydrogel conduit containing GelMA-HaMA IPN for peripheral nerve regeneration
Aim: Small defects after any injury to the periperal nerves results in self-regeneration. However, for larger defects, suturing or grafting are necessary, which may have limitations. Thus, resear [...] Read more.

Aim:

Small defects after any injury to the periperal nerves results in self-regeneration. However, for larger defects, suturing or grafting are necessary, which may have limitations. Thus, research on nerve guidence conduits is needed without drawbacks. The aim of the study was to develop hydrogel-based conduits containing interpenetrating network (IPN).

Methods:

Methacrylated gelatin (GelMA)-methacrylated hyaluronic acid (HaMA) IPN was filled the poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate) (pHEMA) the outer conduit. Schwann cells (SCs) were used on the pHEMA and the distal end of the tube was injected with netrin-1 to support model SH-SY5Y cells.

Results:

¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) showed that methacrylation degrees were 94% ± 2% for GelMA and 60% ± 7% for HaMA. The fraction of HaMA increased the degradation rate; pure HaMA degraded in 3 weeks, while pure GelMA in more than 5 weeks. An increase in the fraction of 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) from 20% to 56% decreased the porosity and the pore size, significantly. SH-SY5Y cells migrated along the conduit in the presence of netrin-1. NeuN expression was increased in 2 weeks indicating neuronal activity.

Conclusions:

SH-SY5Y cells produced neurites in the IPN. pHEMA conduit including GelMA-HaMA IPN is a good candidate for peripheral nerve regeneration applications. As future studies, the conduit will be tested in vivo for nerve regeneration.

Damla Arslantunali Sahin ... Vasif Hasirci

Published: February 26, 2024 Explor BioMat-X. 2024;1:34–57
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37349/ebmx.2024.00005

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Aim:

Small defects after any injury to the periperal nerves results in self-regeneration. However, for larger defects, suturing or grafting are necessary, which may have limitations. Thus, research on nerve guidence conduits is needed without drawbacks. The aim of the study was to develop hydrogel-based conduits containing interpenetrating network (IPN).

Methods:

Methacrylated gelatin (GelMA)-methacrylated hyaluronic acid (HaMA) IPN was filled the poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate) (pHEMA) the outer conduit. Schwann cells (SCs) were used on the pHEMA and the distal end of the tube was injected with netrin-1 to support model SH-SY5Y cells.

Results:

¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) showed that methacrylation degrees were 94% ± 2% for GelMA and 60% ± 7% for HaMA. The fraction of HaMA increased the degradation rate; pure HaMA degraded in 3 weeks, while pure GelMA in more than 5 weeks. An increase in the fraction of 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) from 20% to 56% decreased the porosity and the pore size, significantly. SH-SY5Y cells migrated along the conduit in the presence of netrin-1. NeuN expression was increased in 2 weeks indicating neuronal activity.

Conclusions:

SH-SY5Y cells produced neurites in the IPN. pHEMA conduit including GelMA-HaMA IPN is a good candidate for peripheral nerve regeneration applications. As future studies, the conduit will be tested in vivo for nerve regeneration.

Guest Editor

About the Special Issue

Call for Papers

Published Articles

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