Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42644906›Full record

ReviewGels (Basel, Switzerland)2026

Emerging Nanobiochar -Hydrogel Therapeutic Systems: Redox Modulation, Biointerface Interactions, and Critical Gaps in In Vitro Evaluation.

Vidhya Sunil Bhaskarakurup, Leena Thomas, Rawan Abusirdaneh, Dali Vilma Francis, Rema M Amawi

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Gels (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Vidhya Sunil BhaskarakurupDepartment of Math & Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Dubai 345055, United Arab Emirates.
Leena ThomasDepartment of Math & Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Dubai 345055, United Arab Emirates.
Rawan AbusirdanehDepartment of Math & Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Dubai 345055, United Arab Emirates.ORCID 0009-0004-6675-1090
Dali Vilma FrancisDepartment of Math & Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Dubai 345055, United Arab Emirates.ORCID 0000-0001-5731-1350
Rema M AmawiDepartment of Math & Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Dubai 345055, United Arab Emirates.ORCID 0000-0002-2572-7682

Funding

Rochester Institute of Technology Dubai.
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Nanobiochar has attracted increasing attention as a redox-active carbon nanomaterial with potential applications beyond its traditional roles in environmental remediation and adsorption technologies. When integrated into hydrogel matrices, nanobiochar may provide a unique combination of physicochemical and biological functionalities, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) modulation, antimicrobial activity, high adsorption capacity, and localized therapeutic delivery. Such properties are particularly relevant to emerging wound-healing and regenerative medicine applications; however, the biological mechanisms governing the performance of nanobiochar-hydrogel systems remain poorly understood. Because direct studies on nanobiochar-hydrogel therapeutic systems remain scarce, this review integrates evidence from the limited nanobiochar literature together with evidence from studies on conventional biochar, hydrogel biomaterials, and related carbon nanomaterial to critically evaluate emerging biological mechanisms and identify future research priorities. This review combines bibliometric analysis with mechanistic evaluation to assess the potential of nanobiochar-hydrogel systems as therapeutic biomaterials while highlighting critical knowledge gaps limiting their development. Bibliometric findings reveal that research on biochar-hydrogel composites is dominated by environmental remediation, adsorption processes, and material characterization, whereas investigations addressing biological responses and therapeutic functionality remain limited. Building upon these observations, this review examines nanobiochar surface chemistry, electron transfer behavior, and redox-active properties that may influence ROS regulation at biological interfaces. Particular emphasis is placed on biointerface interactions, including protein adsorption, protein corona formation, cellular uptake pathways, and the influence of hydrogel-mediated exposure on biological responses. The review further evaluates potential antimicrobial mechanisms, redox-sensitive signaling pathways, cytocompatibility assessment strategies, and the behavior of nanobiochar-containing systems under physiologically relevant conditions. Current evidence indicates a strong reliance on chemical antioxidant assays and short-term viability measurements, while mechanistic investigations involving intracellular ROS regulation, inflammatory signaling, mitochondrial function, and gene expression responses remain scarce. Collectively, the literature discussed in this article highlights the substantial gap between material development and biological validation and provides a framework for future studies aimed at evaluating the suitability of nanobiochar-hydrogel systems for wound-healing and regenerative applications.

Indexed as

biointerface interactionscellular signalingcytocompatibilityhydrogelnanobiocharprotein coronareactive oxygen speciesredox modulationregenerative medicinewound healing

Identifiers

PMID42644906
PMCPMC13512664

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.