Hemorrhage is a detrimental event present in traumatic injury, surgery, and disorders of bleeding that can become life-threatening if not properly managed. Moreover, uncontrolled bleeding can complicate surgical interventions, altering the outcome of surgical procedures. Therefore, to reduce the risk of complications and decrease the risk of morbidity and mortality associated with hemorrhage, it is necessary to use an effective hemostatic agent that ensures the immediate control of bleeding. In recent years, there have been increasingly rapid advances in developing a novel generation of biomaterials with hemostatic properties. Nowadays, a wide array of topical hemostatic agents is available, including chitosan-based biomaterials that have shown outstanding properties such as antibacterial, antifungal, hemostatic, and analgesic activity in addition to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and wound-healing effects. This review provides an analysis of chitosan-based hemostatic biomaterials and discusses the progress made in their performance, mechanism of action, efficacy, cost, and safety in recent years.

The main objective of this research is to prove the viability of obtaining magnesium (Mg) filled polylactic acid (PLA) biocomposites as filament feedstock for material extrusion-based additive manufacturing (AM). These materials can be used for medical applications, thus benefiting of all the advantages offered by AM technology in terms of design freedom and product customization. Filaments were produced from two PLA + magnesium + vitamin E (α-tocopherol) compositions and then used for manufacturing test samples and ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) screws on a low-cost 3D printer. Filaments and implant screws were characterized using SEM (scanning electron microscopy), FTIR (fourier transform infrared spectrometry), and DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) analysis. Although the filament manufacturing process could not ensure a uniform distribution of Mg particles within the PLA matrix, a good integration was noticed, probably due to the use of vitamin E as a precursor. The results also show that the composite biomaterials can ensure and maintain implant screws structural integrity during the additive manufacturing process.

Bone defects characterized by limited regenerative properties are considered a priority in surgical practice, as they are associated with reduced quality of life and high costs. In bone tissue engineering, different types of scaffolds are used. These implants represent structures with well-established properties that play an important role as delivery vectors or cellular systems for cells, growth factors, bioactive molecules, chemical compounds, and drugs. The scaffold must provide a microenvironment with increased regenerative potential at the damage site. Magnetic nanoparticles are linked to an intrinsic magnetic field, and when they are incorporated into biomimetic scaffold structures, they can sustain osteoconduction, osteoinduction, and angiogenesis. Some studies have shown that combining ferromagnetic or superparamagnetic nanoparticles and external stimuli such as an electromagnetic field or laser light can enhance osteogenesis and angiogenesis and even lead to cancer cell death. These therapies are based on in vitro and in vivo studies and could be included in clinical trials for large bone defect regeneration and cancer treatments in the near future. We highlight the scaffolds’ main attributes and focus on natural and synthetic polymeric biomaterials combined with magnetic nanoparticles and their production methods. Then, we underline the structural and morphological aspects of the magnetic scaffolds and their mechanical, thermal, and magnetic properties. Great attention is devoted to the magnetic field effects on bone cells, biocompatibility, and osteogenic impact of the polymeric scaffolds reinforced with magnetic nanoparticles. We explain the biological processes activated due to magnetic particles’ presence and underline their possible toxic effects. We present some studies regarding animal tests and potential clinical applications of magnetic polymeric scaffolds.

Magnesium alloys as bioresorbable materials with good biocompatibility have raised a growing interest in the past years in temporary implant manufacturing, as they offer a steady resorption rate and optimal healing in the body. Magnesium exhibits tensile strength properties similar to those of natural bone, which determines its application in load-bearing mechanical medical devices. In this paper, we investigated the biodegradation rate of Mg-Zn-Mn biodegradable alloys (ZMX410 and ZM21) before and after coating them with hydroxyapatite (HAP) via the electrophoretic deposition method. The experimental samples were subjected to corrosion tests to observe the effect of HAP deposition on corrosion resistance and, implicitly, the rate of biodegradation of these in simulated environments. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) provided detailed information on the quality, structure, and morphology of the HAP coating. The obtained results demonstrate that coating of Mg-Zn-Mn alloys by HAP led to the improvement of corrosion resistance in simulated environments, and that the HAP coating could be used in order to control the biodegradation rate.

Wound dressings for skin lesions, such as bedsores or pressure ulcers, are widely used for many patients, both during hospitalization and in subsequent treatment at home. To improve the treatment and shorten the healing time and, therefore, the cost, numerous types of wound dressings have been developed by manufacturers. Considering certain inconveniences related to the intolerance of some patients to antibiotics and the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and curative properties of certain essential oils, we conducted research by incorporating these oils, based on polyvinyl alcohol/ polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVA/PVP) biopolymers, into dressings. The objective of this study was to study the potential of a polymeric matrix for wound healing, with polyvinyl alcohol as the main material and polyvinyl pyrrolidone and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) as secondary materials, together with additives (plasticizers poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and glycerol), stabilizers (Zn stearate), antioxidants (vitamin A and vitamin E), and four types of essential oils (fennel, peppermint, pine, and thyme essential oils). For all the studied samples, the combining compatibility, antimicrobial, and cytotoxicity properties were investigated. The obtained results demonstrated a uniform morphology for almost all the samples and adequate barrier properties for contact with suppurating wounds. The results show that the obtained samples containing essential oils have a good inhibitory effect on, or antimicrobial properties against, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, and Candida albicans ATCC 10231. The MTT assay showed that the tested samples were not toxic and did not lead to cell death. The results showed that the essential oils used provide an effective solution as active substances in wound dressings.