Due to their particular water absorption capacity, hydrogels are the most widely used scaffolds in biomedical studies to regenerate damaged tissue. Hydrogels can be used in tissue engineering to design scaffolds for three-dimensional cell culture, providing a novel alternative to the traditional two-dimensional cell culture as hydrogels have a three-dimensional biomimetic structure. This material property is crucial in regenerative medicine, especially for the nervous system, since it is a highly complex and delicate structure. Hydrogels can move quickly within the human body without physically disturbing the environment and possess essential biocompatible properties, as well as the ability to form a mimetic scaffold in situ. Therefore, hydrogels are perfect candidates for biomedical applications. Hydrogels represent a potential alternative to regenerating tissue lost after removing a brain tumor and/or brain injuries. This reason presents them as an exciting alternative to highly complex human physiological problems, such as injuries to the central nervous system and neurodegenerative disease.
1 January 2025 in International Journal of Biomaterials
Metallic nanoparticles (NPs) possess unique physicochemical properties that have enabled their engineering for loading drugs, contrast agents, and targeting moieties for cellular and intracellular components, highlighting their emerging role as versatile tools in managing neurological disorders. In therapeutic applications, the surface plasmon resonance characteristics of gold and silver NPs and the responsiveness of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) to external magnetic fields facilitate the disruption of protein aggregates and the eradication of cancer cells. For diagnostic purposes, the inherent high electron density of metallic NPs makes them effective contrast agents in imaging technologies. Moreover, these NPs have proven their capability to traverse the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and interact with central nervous system (CNS) components. Despite their extensive scientific exploration and promising applications, metallic NPs have not yet achieved widespread clinical implementation, especially in comparison to polymer‐based NPs. This article presents an in‐depth examination of the physicochemical properties of metallic NPs relevant to neurological applications. It summarizes their roles in diagnosis and therapy, focusing on gold, magnetic, silver, titanium, and cerium NPs. Additionally, this document explains the incorporation of metal NPs in their application and their effect on the human body.