A summary of the most important technological applications employing reduced graphene oxide.

It is well known that surface topography plays an important role in cell behavior, including adhesion, migration, orientation, elongation, proliferation and differentiation. Studying these cell functions is essential in order to better understand and control specific characteristics of the cells and thus to enhance their potential in various biomedical applications. This review proposes to investigate the extent to which various surface relief patterns, imprinted in biopolymer films or in polymeric films coated with biopolymers, by utilizing specific lithographic techniques, influence cell behavior and development. We aim to understand how characteristics such as shape, dimension or chemical functionality of surface relief patterns alter the orientation and elongation of cells, and thus, finally make their mark on the cell proliferation and differentiation. We infer that such an insight is a prerequisite for pushing forward the comprehension of the methodologies and technologies used in tissue engineering applications and products, including skin or bone implants and wound or fracture healing.

Pathogenic microbes are the main cause of various undesired infections in living organisms, including humans. Most of these infections are favored in hospital environments where humans are being treated with antibiotics and where some microbes succeed in developing resistance to such drugs. As a consequence, our society is currently researching for alternative, yet more efficient antimicrobial solutions. Certain natural and synthetic polymers are versatile materials that have already proved themselves to be highly suitable for the development of the next-generation of antimicrobial systems that can efficiently prevent and kill microbes in various environments. Here, we discuss the latest developments of polymeric structures, exhibiting (reinforced) antimicrobial attributes that can be assembled on surfaces and coatings either from synthetic polymers displaying antiadhesive and/or antimicrobial properties or from blends and nanocomposites based on such polymers.