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Biomedical Applications of Aerogels

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Springer Handbook of Aerogels

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Abstract

This section highlights the biocompatibility of aerogels and some of the biomedical applications associated with aerogels. Research has shown that certain aerogel formulations are compatible with the cardiovascular system, so these formulations and possibly others can be potentially used for cardiovascular implantable devices. Aerogels can also be used as bone grafts and dental implants. Multiple studies have provided proof that drugs/proteins can be loaded or embedded within aerogels and that they can maintain their functionality and be released in a controllable manner; therefore aerogels can be used in drug delivery systems. Many have also suggested that aerogels can be used in tissue engineering as scaffolding materials, as aerogels can be made biocompatible, biodegradable, and have high porosity, large surface area, and proper surface chemistry to support cell attachment and proliferation. Furthermore, as a strong and highly porous material, aerogels can have proper acoustic and ultrasonic properties to be used for ultrasound imaging. With the improvements in aerogel processing along with a better understanding of biomaterials, the biomedical applications of aerogels are expanding. Aerogels will play a significant role in the biomaterials field in the future.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA

    Wei Yin & David A. Rubenstein

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  1. Wei Yin
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  2. David A. Rubenstein
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Correspondence to Wei Yin or David A. Rubenstein .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Bottens, Switzerland

    Michel A. Aegerter

  2. Research and Development, Aspen Aerogels, Inc., Northborough, MA, USA

    Nicholas Leventis

  3. Siloxene AG, Dübendorf, Switzerland

    Matthias Koebel

  4. Aerogel Technologies, LLC, Boston, MA, USA

    Stephen A. Steiner III

Glossary

Anaphylatoxins

A toxic substance formed in the blood that is associated with bacterial polysaccharides

Bolus Release

Administration of a drug over a relatively quick amount of time (less than 5 min) in comparison to a sustained delivery which can last over hours

Cytotoxicity

A quantification of the products that may have a toxic effect on cells

Hemolysis

The breakdown of red blood cells with the release of hemoglobin

Live/Dead Cell Cytotoxicity Assay

A measurement technique to quantify cell viability through the number of live and dead cells within the culture. Only live cells uptake calcein which is hydrolyzed by intracellular esterases to fluoresce green. Only cells with a compromised cell membrane (dead or dying cells) can uptake ethidium which binds to DNA to fluoresce red

Scaffold

A three-dimensional structure that can be used to direct cell growth or serve as a location for cell growth

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Yin, W., Rubenstein, D.A. (2023). Biomedical Applications of Aerogels. In: Aegerter, M.A., Leventis, N., Koebel, M., Steiner III, S.A. (eds) Springer Handbook of Aerogels. Springer Handbooks. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27322-4_57

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