Journal du génie chimique et de la technologie des procédés
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Polymer nanomedicine: From 4D printing to novel nanostructured surface features

Thomas J Webster

4D printing (where the 4th dimension is time), is revolutionizing medicine as it enables the control of internal biomaterial shape through external control. 4D printed polymeric materials are being explored for on-demand drug delivery, increased shapes and sizes to increase pressure on juxtaposed bone to increase bone growth, and so much more. Further, numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated greater tissue growth, decreased infection, and inhibited inflammation on a wide range of polymers with nanostructured surface features. Such surface features are made to mimic those found in nature to possess a surface energy attractive for promoting select initial protein adsorption to control subsequent cell response. Further, equations have been developed to predict the dimensions of polymeric nanoscale surface features to promote tissue growth. This invited talk will cover all of the above and discuss future directions necessary for the field of polymer nanomedicine to continue to excel.