Preparation of chitin/MXene/poly(L-arginine) composite aerogel spheres for specific adsorption of bilirubin

Progress in chitin/chitosan and their derivatives for biomedical applications: Where we stand

Chitin and its deacetylated form, chitosan, have demonstrated remarkable versatility in the realm of biomaterials. Their exceptional biocompatibility, antibacterial properties, pro- and anticoagulant characteristics, robust antioxidant capacity, and anti-inflammatory potential make them highly sought-after in various applications. This review delves into the mechanisms underlying chitin/chitosan's biological activity and provides a comprehensive overview of their derivatives in fields such as tissue engineering, hemostasis, wound healing, drug delivery, and hemoperfusion. However, despite the wealth of studies on chitin/chitosan, there exists a notable trend of homogeneity in research, which could hinder the comprehensive development of these biomaterials. This review, taking a clinician's perspective, identifies current research gaps and medical challenges yet to be addressed, aiming to pave the way for a more sustainable future in chitin/chitosan research and application.

Research progress on blood compatibility of hemoperfusion adsorbent materials

This comprehensive review examines the latest developments in improving the blood compatibility of hemoperfusion adsorbents. By leveraging advanced coating and modification techniques, including albumin-collodion, cellulose, hydrogel, and heparin coatings, notable enhancements in blood compatibility have been achieved across diverse adsorbent types, such as carbon-based, resin-based, and polysaccharide-based materials. Despite promising laboratory results, the intricate manufacturing processes and elevated costs present significant challenges for broad clinical application. Therefore, future endeavors should focus on cost-benefit analysis, large-scale production strategies, in-depth exploration of blood-material interactions, and innovative technologies to propel the development of safer and more effective blood purification therapies.

Graphene-Based Aerogels for Biomedical Application

Aerogels are three-dimensional solid networks with incredibly low densities, high porosity, and large specific surface areas. These aerogels have both nanoscale and macroscopic interior structures. Combined with graphene, the aerogels show improved mechanical strength, electrical conductivity, surface area, and adsorption capacity, making them ideal for various biomedical applications. The graphene aerogel has a high drug-loading capacity due to its large surface area, and the porous structure enables controlled drug release over time. The presence of graphene makes it a suitable material for wound dressings, blood coagulation, and bilirubin adsorption. Additionally, graphene's conductivity can help in the electrical stimulation of cells for improved tissue regeneration, and it is also appropriate for biosensors. In this review, we discuss the preparation and advantages of graphene-based aerogels in wound dressings, drug delivery systems, bone regeneration, and biosensors.

Metal-organic framework (UiO-66 and UiO-66-NH2)-based adsorbents for bilirubin removal used in hemoperfusion

Excessive accumulation of bilirubin in patients with hyperbilirubinemia can lead to tissue and organ damage and neurological diseases, and is even life-threatening in severe cases. Hemoperfusion is an effective method for removing bilirubin, but clinically used hemoperfusion adsorbents have unsatisfactory adsorption capacity and kinetics. In order to obtain a safe and efficient bilirubin adsorbent, Zr-based Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) material UiO-66 with high specific surface area and aqueous medium stability was prepared and modified with varying degrees of amination to improve its adsorption capacity. According to adsorption experiments in aqueous solution and simulated plasma, it was confirmed that the unsaturated coordinated zirconium in UiO-66 can effectively induce the aggregation and precipitation of free bilirubin unbound to albumin and the amino group on UiO-66-NH2 has a strong affinity for albumin bound bilirubin. The adsorption effect of UiO-66-NH2 with a high degree of amino modification is significantly stronger than that of UiO-66-NH2 with a low degree of modification. In simulated plasma with a bilirubin concentration of 40 mg dL-1, the adsorption capacities of UiO-66 and UiO-66-NH2-1.9 can reach 69.08 mg g-1 and 81.13 mg g-1. The adsorption isotherm fitting and adsorption kinetics fitting results also show that UiO-66 and UiO-66-NH2 are good adsorbents for bilirubin. In dynamic adsorption, the adsorbents also showed good performance and did not affect the protein in the plasma. The hemolysis test, coagulation time test, and cytotoxicity test confirmed that the bilirubin adsorbents based on UiO-66 and UiO-66-NH2 have good blood compatibility and biocompatibility. This study provides new ideas for the development of a novel bilirubin adsorbent and a theoretical basis for the study of bilirubin adsorption mechanisms.

Fabrication, Performance, and Potential Applications of MXene Composite Aerogels

Aerogel, known as one of the remarkable materials in the 21st century, possesses exceptional characteristics such as high specific surface area, porosity, and elasticity, making it suitable for a diverse range of applications. In recent years, MXene-based aerogels and MXene composite aerogels as functional materials have solved some limitations of traditional aerogels, such as improving the electrical conductivity of biomass and silicon aerogels, further improving the energy storage capacity of carbon aerogels, enhancing polymer-based aerogels, etc. Consequently, extensive research efforts have been dedicated to investigating MXene-based aerogels, positioning them at the forefront of material science studies. This paper provides a comprehensive review of recent advancements in the preparation, properties, and applications of MXene-based composite aerogels. The primary construction strategies employed (including direct synthesis from MXene dispersions and incorporation of MXene within existing substrates) for fabricating MXene-based aerogels are summarized. Furthermore, the desirable properties (including their applications in electrochemistry, electromagnetic shielding, sensing, and adsorption) of MXene composite aerogels are highlighted. This paper delves into a detailed discussion on the fundamental properties of composite aerogel systems, elucidating the intricate structure-property relationships. Finally, an outlook is provided on the opportunities and challenges for the mass production and functional applications of MXene composite aerogels in the field of material engineering.