Table Of ContentIntelligent Polymers
for Nanomedicine and
Biotechnologies
First Edition
Intelligent Polymers
for Nanomedicine and
Biotechnologies
First Edition
Edited by
Magdalena Aflori
CRC Press
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Aflori, Magdalena, editor.
Title: Intelligent polymers for nanomedicine and biotechnologies / [edited
by] Magdalena Aflori.
Description: Boca Raton : Taylor & Francis, 2018. | Includes bibliographical
references.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017026587| ISBN 9781138035225 (hardback : alk. paper) |
ISBN 9781138746459 (pbk. : alk. paper) | ISBN 9781315268903 (ebook)
Subjects: | MESH: Polymers--chemistry | Surface Properties | Biocompatible
Materials | Nanostructures | Theranostic Nanomedicine
Classification: LCC R857.P6 | NLM QT 37.5.P7 | DDC 610.28/4--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017026587
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Contents
Preface ....................................................................................................................vii
Editor .......................................................................................................................xi
Contributors .........................................................................................................xiii
1. Opportunities and Challenges in Polymer–Noble Metal
Nanocomposites ..............................................................................................1
Luiza M. Gradinaru, Mihaela Mandru, Constantin Ciobanu,
and Magdalena Aflori
2. Advances in Polymer Nanofibers Containing Metal Oxide
Nanoparticles .................................................................................................23
Petronela Dorneanu, Anton Airinei, and Nicolae Olaru
3. Recent Developments in ZnO–Polyurethane Nanomaterials ..............45
Stelian Vlad, Luiza M. Gradinaru, Robert V. Gradinaru,
and Constantin Ciobanu
4. Smart Materials with Phosphorus and Nitrogen Functionalities
Suitable for Biomedical Engineering ........................................................65
Diana Serbezeanu, Tachita Vlad-Bubulac, Maria Butnaru,
and Magdalena Aflori
5. Key Considerations in the Design of Polymeric Micro- and
Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery Systems ...............................................81
Marieta Constantin and Gheorghe Fundueanu
6. Guided Bone Repair Using Synthetic Apatites–Biopolymer
Composites ...................................................................................................111
Irina M. Pelin and Dana M. Suflet
7. Stimuli-Responsive Polymeric Biomaterials .........................................145
Maria Bercea, Mirela Teodorescu, and Simona Morariu
8. Intelligent Amide- and Imide-Based Polymeric Materials
for Biomedical Applications .....................................................................167
Radu Dan Rusu, Mariana Dana Damaceanu,
and Catalin Paul Constantin
v
vi Contents
9. Tailoring Protein-Based Materials for Regenerative Medicine
and Tissue Engineering .............................................................................191
Mioara Drobota, Maria Butnaru, and Magdalena Aflori
10. Inside of the Transport Processes in Biomedical Systems ..................209
Maria Spiridon and Magdalena Aflori
Index .....................................................................................................................217
Preface
Nowadays, the study of intelligent polymers has become reference work in
the fields of biotechnologies and nanomedicine, due to the ability of these
materials to “adapt” their structure to the biological environment in which
they are inserted. These polymers can undergo fast and reversible physical
or chemical modifications in response to external stimuli action or change
in environmental conditions: temperature, pH, redox potential, magnetic
or electric field, ionic strength, light, enzyme, etc. Multistimuli responsive
polymeric materials, which are sensitive to a combination of two or more
external stimuli, attract much interest in designing biomaterials with tun-
able response in physiological conditions. Many efforts were made to ensure
specificity, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and high efficacy in order to
improve their life quality. In this context, the book attempts to cover a wide
range of polymers that respond intelligently to physical, chemical, or biologi-
cal stimuli, adopting a multidisciplinary approach to bridge chemistry, mate-
rials science, physics, pharmacology, engineering sciences, biology, and other
related sciences. This work offers a convincing and understandable approach
to such interesting and versatile materials in different forms—in solution, on
surfaces, or as solids—reflecting the maturation of the field and the demand
for the development of new, smart polymer systems. This book provides a
comprehensive study of the designing and analysis of smart polymers, from
nanocomposites to polymers with different functionalities for target appli-
cations like artificial implants, orthopedics, ocular devices, dental implants,
drug delivery systems, and burns and wounds.
Chapter 1 focuses on the structure–property relationship, basic remarks on
synthesis and applications on modern research fields of noble metal bion-
anoconjugates, with respect to the great numbers of scientific papers, books,
and journal contributions on nanoscience and nanotechnology. For a funda-
mental understanding of the nanoparticles’ effects on the cells, tissues, and
organs, it is necessary to highlight their physicochemical properties, as each
metal nanoparticle behaves differently and has specific properties depend-
ing on its size, shape, and composition. Chapter 2 is devoted to the study
of designing and analysis of polymer nanofibers containing metal oxide
nanoparticles, a new class of materials combining the advantages of both
components and having special properties through reinforcing or modifying
each other. The incorporation of undoped/doped metal oxide nanoparticles
in a polymer matrix is obtained by using electrospinning for producing fibers
with diameters in the range from a few microns to nanometers. Chapter 3 is
focused on the preparation and properties of different polyurethane–ZnO
nanomaterials, highlighting the mechanism of nanoparticles action as bac-
tericidal and antifungal agents and their potential applications. Chapter 4
vii
viii Preface
makes a brief rundown of the interest for synthesis and characterization of
novel phosphorus-based materials and gold nanoparticles incorporated into
electrospun polymeric matrices. The compounds containing phosphorus or
nitrogen functionalities in the main and/or side chain are recommended for
applications in top fields of biomedicine (biosensors, drug controlled release,
tissue engineering). Chapter 5 deals with the synthesis, characterization, and
biomedical applications of micro- and nanoparticles based on polysaccha-
rides as an important kind of smart materials: drug delivery systems. These
particulate systems can transport a drug to the desired place and maintain
its concentration in the required therapeutic domain, the release rate being
controlled by varying the surface/size/weight ratio. The flexibility of the
route of administration is another major advantage; these particles can be
administered by any route of access in an organism: oral inhalation, topical,
intra-arterial, and intravenous. In addition, the use of bioadhesive proper-
ties of microparticulate systems gives them the possibility of other routes of
administration: ocular, nasal, anal, vaginal, etc. In addition, Chapter 6 contin-
ues with an overview of the composites based on biopolymers and synthetic
apatites used in the orthopedic and dental fields. These materials, shaped
in various forms such as injectable hydrogel, pastes, or scaffolds, should be
well integrated at the fracture site and must possess specific properties such
as bioactivity, osteoconductivity, and osteoinductivity. These composites
can also be used as drug delivery systems able to treat bone infections or
to slow down bone resorption in some pathologies. The composites can be
made by controlling not only the size and morphology of the components
but also their physicochemical properties, ultimately being able to incor-
porate specific elements such as bioactive principles, bone cells, or growth
factors to guide bone repair. Chapter 7 presents the most recent and rel-
evant investigations on natural and synthetic intelligent polymer systems
that respond to different stimuli, mainly temperature and pH conditions.
Also, multiple stimuli-responsive polymeric materials are reviewed and dis-
cussed. Chapter 8 attempts to touch on some deep insights into the consider-
able potential of polymeric materials based on amidic and imidic building
blocks in several biomedical areas by reviewing some of the new concepts
of molecular design, physical and chemical features of interest for the envis-
aged area, functionalization potential, processing opportunities, and some
clinical trials. Chapter 9 illustrates the contribution of natural materials and
natural materials–based protein delivery systems to regenerative medicine
research and their application for cell growth and growth factor delivery
in skin regeneration research. In Chapter 10, topics like passive transport,
active transport, endocytic processes, pore transport, persorption, and mass
transfer models are discussed as they bring huge benefits to the investiga-
tion, prevention, treatment, and even optimization and design of implants,
artificial organs, and testing and investigation instruments.
With contributions from leading researchers as well as extensive end-of-
chapter references, this book offers a comprehensive overview of the current
Preface ix
state of the art in the field and the potential for future developments. The
topics presented in this book are addressed to those working as researchers,
PhD students in doctoral or postdoctoral schools, and engineers, and they
can be considered as a source of information on all mentioned aspects.
The editor and the authors acknowledge the financial support for this
research through the European Regional Development Fund, Project
POINGBIO, ID P_40_443, Contract no. 86/8.09.2016.
