Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics Research Group

Review Paper

Polyelectrolyte multilayered assemblies in biomedical technologies

Abstract

Layer-by-layer (LbL) was first introduced as a surface modification technique based on the sequential spontaneous adsorption of at least two distinct materials onto planar substrates. In the last two decades, this technique has been expanded to the coating of more convoluted geometries with high levels of tailored functionalization or with structural purposes. In this review, the potential uses of LbL films in biomedical engineering based mainly on the assembly of polyelectrolytes are reviewed. Examples of recent developments are provided, from the modification of substrates to improve their biointegration or to add specialized properties, to the three-dimensional extrapolation of this technique to more complex structures for cell seeding, drug delivery devices, biosensors and customizable microreactors. Future strategies and opportunities are compared with current medical and laboratorial methodologies. Through them, it is expected that LbL will contribute greatly to the development of new functional devices with high perspectives of return for the administration of active agents, supports for cells in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, biosensing and construction of microtissues and disease models in the laboratory.

Journal
Chemical Society Reviews
Volume
43
Issue
10
Pagination
3453-3479
Publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry
URL
http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2014/CS/C3CS60393H#!divAbstract
Keywords
BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS, layer-by-layer
Rights
Restricted Access
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Status
published
Year of Publication
2014
DOI
10.1039/C3CS60393H
Date Published
2014-02-19
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