RESEARCH
Smart polymers synthesized through RAFT (Reversible Addition−Fragmentation Chain Transfer) polymerization have emerged as highly promising materials for advanced drug and gene delivery applications in cancer therapy and tissue engineering. RAFT polymerization enables precise control over polymer architecture, molecular weight, functionality, and responsiveness, allowing the development of well-defined biocompatible polymeric systems with tailored therapeutic performance.
These smart polymers can be engineered to respond to specific physiological or external stimuli such as pH, temperature, redox environment, enzymes, and light. Such stimuli-responsive behavior enables controlled and targeted release of therapeutic agents directly at diseased tissues, significantly improving treatment efficacy while minimizing systemic side effects. In cancer therapy, RAFT-derived polymeric nanocarriers, micelles, and hybrid nanoparticles are widely explored for targeted chemotherapy, gene delivery, phototherapy, and combined theranostic applications.
In tissue engineering, smart RAFT-based polymers contribute to the development of biomimetic scaffolds, hydrogels, and regenerative matrices capable of supporting cellular adhesion, proliferation, differentiation, and tissue regeneration. Their tunable physicochemical properties, biodegradability, and multifunctionality make them ideal candidates for next-generation biomedical applications, bridging advanced polymer chemistry with precision medicine and regenerative healthcare technologies.
Tissue engineering is an advanced interdisciplinary field that combines biomaterials, biology, and engineering to restore, repair, or regenerate damaged tissues and organs. The development of biocompatible and biodegradable scaffold materials plays a crucial role in supporting cellular growth, tissue regeneration, and functional healing. Modern tissue engineering strategies increasingly focus on sustainable and bioinspired materials for next-generation regenerative healthcare.
Biopolymers derived from plastic waste and natural polymers have emerged as highly promising materials for tissue engineering applications due to their sustainability, tunable properties, and biological compatibility. Plastic waste-derived polymers, particularly recycled PET-based biomaterials, can be transformed into high-value biodegradable polymeric systems through advanced chemical modification and polymerization techniques. When combined with natural polymers such as chitosan, collagen, alginate, cellulose, gelatin, and silk, these hybrid biomaterials exhibit enhanced mechanical strength, bioactivity, porosity, and cellular interaction.
These advanced biopolymeric systems are widely explored for the fabrication of hydrogels, porous scaffolds, nanofibers, and smart regenerative matrices for bone, cartilage, skin, vascular, and neural tissue engineering. Their eco-friendly nature, multifunctionality, and regenerative potential make them attractive candidates for sustainable biomedical applications, bridging environmental sustainability with innovative regenerative medicine technologies.
Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are highly porous crystalline materials composed of metal ions and organic linkers, known for their exceptionally high surface area, tunable pore structure, and multifunctional properties. Due to their structural versatility and controllable functionality, MOFs have gained significant attention in biomedical, environmental, and advanced materials research. Recent advances have also enabled the sustainable synthesis of MOFs from plastic waste-derived organic precursors, transforming environmental pollutants into high-value functional materials.
Plastic waste-derived MOFs have emerged as promising platforms for drug/gene delivery, tissue engineering, and wastewater treatment applications. Recycled PET and other plastic wastes can serve as valuable sources of aromatic organic ligands for MOF fabrication, supporting sustainable and circular-material approaches in advanced healthcare technologies.
In drug and gene delivery, MOFs exhibit high loading capacity, controlled release behavior, stimuli responsiveness, and targeted therapeutic potential for cancer therapy and precision medicine. In tissue engineering, MOF-based scaffolds and hybrid biomaterials promote cellular adhesion, proliferation, angiogenesis, and tissue regeneration due to their porous architecture and bioactive properties. Additionally, these advanced materials demonstrate excellent adsorption and catalytic performance for wastewater treatment through efficient removal of heavy metals, dyes, and organic pollutants.
The integration of sustainability, multifunctionality, and biomedical performance makes plastic waste-derived MOFs highly attractive for next-generation regenerative and environmental applications.
Carbon dots (CDs) are a class of fluorescent carbon-based nanomaterials known for their excellent photoluminescence, biocompatibility, water dispersibility, and low toxicity. Due to their tunable optical properties, facile synthesis, and multifunctionality, carbon dots have attracted significant attention in biomedical, environmental, and sensing applications. Recent advancements in metal-doped and polymer-functionalized carbon dots have further expanded their therapeutic and diagnostic potential.
Metal-doped carbon dots and RAFT/natural polymer-functionalized carbon dots offer enhanced stability, targeted delivery capability, stimuli responsiveness, and improved biological interaction for advanced healthcare applications. Functionalization with smart polymers and natural biopolymers such as chitosan, alginate, collagen, and PEG enables controlled drug/gene delivery, improved cellular uptake, and selective therapeutic action.
In cancer therapy, these advanced carbon nanoplatforms are widely explored for targeted drug delivery, gene therapy, photodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, and bioimaging applications. In regenerative medicine, carbon dot-integrated scaffolds and hydrogels support cell adhesion, proliferation, angiogenesis, and tissue regeneration due to their bioactive and antioxidant properties. Additionally, metal-doped carbon dots demonstrate exceptional sensitivity and selectivity for metal ion sensing and biosensing applications, enabling rapid detection of ions, biomolecules, pathogens, and disease biomarkers through fluorescent and electrochemical responses.
These multifunctional nanomaterials represent a promising platform for next-generation theranostic, regenerative, and environmental technologies.
Dental tissue engineering is an emerging field focused on the regeneration and repair of damaged dental tissues such as dentin, enamel, pulp, periodontal tissue, and alveolar bone using advanced biomaterials, cells, and bioactive molecules. The development of biocompatible and bioactive scaffold materials plays a crucial role in promoting tissue regeneration, mineralization, and long-term dental functionality. Modern dental biomaterials research increasingly emphasizes sustainable, regenerative, and minimally invasive therapeutic approaches.
Natural polymer-based biocomposites have gained significant attention for dental applications due to their excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, bioactivity, and structural similarity to the extracellular matrix. Natural polymers such as chitosan, collagen, alginate, gelatin, cellulose, silk, and hyaluronic acid are widely combined with bioactive fillers including hydroxyapatite, bioactive glass, nanocellulose, and silica to develop multifunctional dental biomaterials with enhanced mechanical and biological performance.
These advanced biocomposites are extensively explored for dental restoratives, periodontal regeneration, root canal sealers, dental adhesives, coatings, hydrogels, and bone tissue engineering applications. Their antimicrobial activity, remineralization capability, controlled degradation behavior, and ability to support cellular adhesion and proliferation make them highly promising for next-generation dentistry. Natural polymer-based dental biocomposites offer sustainable and patient-friendly solutions for regenerative and restorative dental healthcare technologies.