Advances in Polyaniline for Biomedical Applications.

Conducting polymers are an outstanding class of materials characterized by electroconductive properties that make them good candidates for applications in several sectors. Among them, polyaniline (PANI) is unique for its extraordinary ability to conduct electricity, biocompatibility, and low toxicity. In spite of its surprising features, to date, PANI has not found application in practical uses due to its low solubility and processability. In order to overcome these limitations, different approaches have been developed, such as polymer grafting processes, PANI-based composites, and blends preparation. The present review describes the most recent advances on PANI applications in biomedical fields, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial and antivirus activity, drug delivery, cancer therapy, etc. In this article, synthetic procedures are also reported which are crucial for the realization of more innovative materials in the future.

Gold Nanomaterials: From Preparation to Pharmaceutical Design and Application.

The present mini review offers a brief overview on the preparation and modification of gold nanomaterials (AuNMs) designed for biomedical applications, including biosensors, bioimaging, phototherapy and importantly gene/drug delivery. As biocompatibility is a prerequisite for safe pharmaceutical application, the potential risk of AuNMs to biological systems is also assessed.