A 30-Year Review on Nanocomposites: Comprehensive Bibliometric Insights into Microstructural, Electrical, and Mechanical Properties Assisted by Artificial Intelligence

From 1990 to 2024, this study presents a groundbreaking bibliometric and sentiment analysis of nanocomposite literature, distinguishing itself from existing reviews through its unique computational methodology. Developed by our research group, this novel approach systematically investigates the evolution of nanocomposites, focusing on microstructural characterization, electrical properties, and mechanical behaviors. By deploying advanced Boolean search strategies within the Scopus database, we achieve a meticulous extraction and in-depth exploration of thematic content, a methodological advancement in the field. Our analysis uniquely identifies critical trends and insights concerning nanocomposite microstructure, electrical attributes, and mechanical performance. The paper goes beyond traditional textual analytics and bibliometric evaluation, offering new interpretations of data and highlighting significant collaborative efforts and influential studies within the nanocomposite domain. Our findings uncover the evolution of research language, thematic shifts, and global contributions, providing a distinct and comprehensive view of the dynamic evolution of nanocomposite research. A critical component of this study is the "State-of-the-Art and Gaps Extracted from Results and Discussions" section, which delves into the latest advancements in nanocomposite research. This section details various nanocomposite types and their properties and introduces novel interpretations of their applications, especially in nanocomposite films. By tracing historical progress and identifying emerging trends, this analysis emphasizes the significance of collaboration and influential studies in molding the field. Moreover, the "Literature Review Guided by Artificial Intelligence" section showcases an innovative AI-guided approach to nanocomposite research, a first in this domain. Focusing on articles from 2023, selected based on citation frequency, this method offers a new perspective on the interplay between nanocomposites and their electrical properties. It highlights the composition, structure, and functionality of various systems, integrating recent findings for a comprehensive overview of current knowledge. The sentiment analysis, with an average score of 0.638771, reflects a positive trend in academic discourse and an increasing recognition of the potential of nanocomposites. Our bibliometric analysis, another methodological novelty, maps the intellectual domain, emphasizing pivotal research themes and the influence of crosslinking time on nanocomposite attributes. While acknowledging its limitations, this study exemplifies the indispensable role of our innovative computational tools in synthesizing and understanding the extensive body of nanocomposite literature. This work not only elucidates prevailing trends but also contributes a unique perspective and novel insights, enhancing our understanding of the nanocomposite research field.

Biodegradable Microparticles for Regenerative Medicine: A State of the Art and Trends to Clinical Application

Tissue engineering and cell therapy are very attractive in terms of potential applications but remain quite challenging regarding the clinical aspects. Amongst the different strategies proposed to facilitate their implementation in clinical practices, biodegradable microparticles have shown promising outcomes with several advantages and potentialities. This critical review aims to establish a survey of the most relevant materials and processing techniques to prepare these micro vehicles. Special attention will be paid to their main potential applications, considering the regulatory constraints and the relative easiness to implement their production at an industrial level to better evaluate their application in clinical practices.

Synthesis and Properties of Phosphorus-Containing Pseudo-Poly(Amino Acid)sof Polyester Type Based on N-Derivatives of Glutaminic Acid

Poly(phosphoeter)s (PPE)s are a class of polymers possessing a high chemical functionality and biodegradability. Novel, glutamic acid based poly(phosphoeter)s were synthesized by the Steglich reaction. The developed synthetic approach allows controlling the composition and the structure of PPEs, and therefore their physical and colloidal properties. The studies on solubilization and cytotoxicity in vitro proved the potential of PPEs for drug delivery applications.

Head and Neck Cancer Treatments from Chemotherapy to Magnetic Systems: Perspectives and Challenges

BACKGROUND

Cancer is one of the diseases causing society's fears as a stigma of death and pain. Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) is a group of malignant neoplasms of different locations in this region of the human body. It is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Brazil, because these malignant neoplasias, in most cases, are diagnosed in late phases. Surgical excision, chemotherapy and radiotherapy encompass the forefront of antineoplastic therapy; however, the numerous side effects associated with these therapeutic modalities are well known. Some treatments present enough potential to help or replace conventional treatments, such as Magnetic Hyperthermia and Photodynamic Therapy. Such approaches require the development of new materials at the nanoscale, able to carry out the loading of their active components while presenting characteristics of biocompatibility mandatory for biomedical applications.

OBJECTIVE

This work aims to make a bibliographical review of HNSCC treatments. Recent techniques proven effective in other types of cancer were highlighted and raised discussion and reflections on current methods and possibilities of enhancing the treatment of HNSCC.

METHOD

The study was based on a bibliometric research between the years 2008 and 2019 using the following keywords: Cancer, Head and Neck Cancer, Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy, Photodynamic Therapy, and Hyperthermia.

RESULTS

A total of 5.151.725 articles were found, 3.712.670 about cancer, 175.470 on Head and Neck Cancer, 398.736 on Radiotherapy, 760.497 on Chemotherapy, 53.830 on Hyperthermia, and 50.522 on Photodynamic Therapy.

CONCLUSION

The analysis shows that there is still much room for expanding research, especially for alternative therapies since most of the studies still focus on conventional treatments and on the quest to overcome their side effects. The scientific community needs to keep looking for more effective therapies generating fewer side effects for the patient. Currently, the so-called alternative therapies are being used in combination with the conventional ones, but the association of these new therapies shows great potential, in other types of cancer, to improve the treatment efficacy.

Poly (butylene succinate) and derivative copolymer filled with Dendranthema grandiflora biolarvicide extract

Dengue is the most important infectious disease in the world and is a severe public health problem. The chikungunya is an arbovirus, in many cases, increased, which is transmitted by the same transmitter dengue vector, Aedes aegypti. The symptoms of both diseases are similar, and infections can be lethal. Although there is no preventive vaccine against any of the two diseases, therefore, it is extremely important to control the mosquito. The eggs of A. aegypti are very resistant and hatch into larvae, which later give rise to mosquitoes in any container with water. Natural plant extracts have come from active substances with larvicidal activity against A. aegypti. However, they tend to be highly hydrophobic and need some strategy to improve its affinity for water. Because of these factors, this research aims to synthesize and characterize polymeric materials with properties suitable for the release of hydrophobic principles with larvicidal action. The synthesized polymers are poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) and PBS block copolymer with polyethylene glycol (PEG). The synthesized polymers were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance, thermal analysis simultaneous, differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and diffraction of X-rays analysis. The analysis results showed that the synthesized materials have chemical composition and properties suitable for use in the controlled release of actives substances. Systems were prepared using the Dendranthema grandiflora extract, which has larvicidal activity was incorporated via fusion to polymers, to evaluate its release in aqueous media. The results proved that higher amounts of PEG in the copolymer chain speed up the delivery of the larvicidal extract. Besides that, the larvicidal extract concentration required to cause death larvae of A. aegypti was achieved from the first minutes of dissolution tests, indicating that the materials developed are promising tool to fight dengue and chikungunya. This new system is a vital tool for eliminating vectors, potentially contributing to saving millions of lives worldwide.