Vocal fold injection is a preferred treatment in glottic insufficiency because it is relatively quick and cost-saving. However, researchers have yet to discover the ideal biomaterial with properties suitable for human vocal fold application. The current systematic review employing PRISMA guidelines summarizes and discusses the available evidence related to outcome measures used to characterize novel biomaterials in the development phase. The literature search of related articles published within January 2010 to March 2021 was conducted using Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), Google Scholar and PubMed databases. The search identified 6240 potentially relevant records, which were screened and appraised to include 15 relevant articles based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The current study highlights that the characterization methods were inconsistent throughout the different studies. While rheologic outcome measures (viscosity, elasticity and shear) were most widely utilized, there appear to be no target or reference values. Outcome measures such as cellular response and biodegradation should be prioritized as they could mitigate the clinical drawbacks of currently available biomaterials. The review suggests future studies to prioritize characterization of the viscoelasticity (to improve voice outcomes), inflammatory response (to reduce side effects) and biodegradation (to improve longevity) profiles of newly developed biomaterials.

Glottic insufficiency is widespread in the elderly population and occurs as a result of secondary damage or systemic disease. Tissue engineering is a viable treatment for glottic insufficiency since it aims to restore damaged nerve tissue and revitalize aging muscle. After injection into the biological system, injectable biomaterial delivers cost- and time-effectiveness while acting as a protective shield for cells and biomolecules. This article focuses on injectable biomaterials that transport cells and biomolecules in regenerated tissue, particularly adipose, muscle, and nerve tissue. We propose Wharton’s Jelly mesenchymal stem cells (WJMSCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (IP-SCs), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and extracellular vesicle (EV) as potential cells and macromolecules to be included into biomaterials, with some particular testing to support them as a promising translational medicine for vocal fold regeneration.

Nanotechnology is a greatly advancing field of scientific research due to its largely untapped potential, which may apply to various clinical uses. This book chapter focuses on the potential use of nanocollagen, graphene, and antibiotic components in biomaterial fabrication for wound healing. Nanocollagen is simply regular collagen broken down to the nanometer scale. Its nanocollagen-based biomaterials also conform to the ideals of tissue engineering, which are excellent biocompatibility with a high bioabsorption rate and little to no antigenicity while having an extensively cross-linked structure suitable for cellular growth and metabolism. Nanocollagen can be fabricated through electrospinning, nanolithography, self-assembly, and others. The physiology of wound healing follows specific proceedings, which are haemostasis, inflammation, and remodelling stages. The wound healing process may be improved through the use of nanocollagen biomaterials, together with the addition of graphene and antibiotics. Nanocollagen biomaterials aid in acting as a barrier for the wound against infections while providing collagen in the nanoscale to accelerate healing. The addition of antibiotics into the nanocollagen biomaterial aids in preventing bacterial infection by the inhibition of biofilm formation. Graphene, specifically in its oxide form, also acts as an antibacterial agent while potentially providing mechanical durability to the biomaterial scaffold. Along with the benefits of graphene oxide application in wound healing, its challenges are discussed in this book chapter. With that, this book chapter suggests the beneficial combinatorial factors of nanocollagen, graphene, and antibiotics that can potentially produce biomaterials with strong antibacterial properties while accelerating wound healing.