Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA.
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA.
Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Feb 3;25(3):1861. doi: 10.3390/ijms25031861.
Recent advances in biomedical research, particularly in optical applications, have sparked a transformative movement towards replacing synthetic polymers with more biocompatible and sustainable alternatives. Most often made from plastics or glass, these materials ignite immune responses from the body, and their production is based on environmentally harsh oil-based processes. Biopolymers, including both polysaccharides and proteins, have emerged as a potential candidate for optical biomaterials due to their inherent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and sustainability, derived from their existence in nature and being recognized by the immune system. Current extraction and fabrication methods for these biomaterials, including thermal drawing, extrusion and printing, mold casting, dry-jet wet spinning, hydrogel formations, and nanoparticles, aim to create optical materials in cost-effective and environmentally friendly manners for a wide range of applications. Present and future applications include optical waveguides and sensors, imaging and diagnostics, optical fibers, and waveguides, as well as ocular implants using biopolymers, which will revolutionize these fields, specifically their uses in the healthcare industry.
生物医学研究的最新进展，特别是在光学应用方面，引发了一场变革性的运动，旨在用更具生物相容性和可持续性的替代材料来取代合成聚合物。这些材料通常由塑料或玻璃制成，会引发身体的免疫反应，而且它们的生产基于对环境有害的石油基工艺。生物聚合物，包括多糖和蛋白质，由于其固有的生物相容性、可生物降解性和可持续性，源自它们在自然界中的存在并被免疫系统所识别，已成为光学生物材料的潜在候选材料。目前，这些生物材料的提取和制造方法，包括热拉伸、挤压和打印、模铸、干喷湿纺、水凝胶形成和纳米颗粒，旨在以经济高效且环保的方式为广泛的应用创造光学材料。目前和未来的应用包括光学波导和传感器、成像和诊断、光纤和波导以及使用生物聚合物的眼部植入物，这将彻底改变这些领域，特别是它们在医疗保健行业的应用。
