Review of nanomembranes: materials, fabrications and applications in tissue engineering (bone and skin) and drug delivery systems

• Published in: Journal of materials science 2021-08, Vol.56 (24), p.13479-13498
• Main Authors: Ciganė, Urtė, Palevičius, Arvydas, Janušas, Giedrius
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biocompatibility; Bioengineering; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Classical Mechanics; Crystallography and Scattering Methods; Dermatologic agents; Dermatology; Drug delivery systems; Drugs; Formulae, receipts, prescriptions; Materials Science; Mechanical engineering; Mechanical properties; Nanomaterials; Nanotechnology; Polymer Sciences; Porosity; Review; Skin; Solid Mechanics; Surface treatment; Thickness; Tissue engineering; Toxicity; Vehicles
• ISSN: 0022-2461; 1573-4803
• DOI: 10.1007/s10853-021-06164-x

Nanomembrane is an independent structure with a thickness of 1–100 nm and with much large lateral dimensions. Due to the unique properties of nanomembranes, research on the category of structures is valuable. Furthermore, nanomembranes have received a lot of attention from scientists because those types of structures can be used in various bioengineering branches. However, biocompatibility and toxicity of nanomembranes are not fully understood yet. In terms of mechanical engineering, nanomembranes must have mechanical strength, surface treatment to ensure the required structure. Mechanical properties can be affected through the material, fabrication method, porosity. For the application of nanomembranes in bioengineering, it is important to develop research to improve the biocompatibility and mechanical strength of nanomembranes. In this paper, according to the recent achievements, classification of materials, fabrication methods, and porosity are reviewed and summarized. Applications of nanomaterials in tissue engineering (bone and skin) as well as in drug delivery systems are also presented. The aim of the paper is to highlight the role of synthetic nanomembranes in the context of nanotechnologies and provide applications of functionalized nanomembranes in bioengineering. Before continuing noble and costly research, it is necessary to know the key principles and references for understanding progress of nanomembranes over the past decade.