This compact volume is focused on an eclectic mix of biotechnological and biomedical applications of stimuli-sensitive polymeric materials. It starts with their chemical synthesis and design strategies. This is followed by discussions of their applications in microfluidics, biosensors, wound healing and anticancer therapy. Two other interesting applications covered are the design of aptamer-based smart surfaces for biological applications and use of smart hydrogels in tissue engineering. In general, it provides a snapshot of the current state-of-the-art in design and applications of smart systems at the interfaces of biological sciences.

The internet of things (IoT) has massive potential to transform current business models and enhance human lifestyles. With the current pace of research, IoT will soon find many new horizons to touch. IoT is now providing a base of technological advancement in various realms such as pervasive healthcare, smart homes, smart cities, connected logistics, automated supply chain, manufacturing units, and many more. IoT is also paving the path for the emergence of the digital revolution in industrial technology, termed Industry 4.0. Transforming the Internet of Things for Next-Generation Smart Systems focuses on the internet of things (IoT) and how it is involved in modern day technologies in a variety of domains. The chapters cover IoT in sectors such as agriculture, education, business and management, and computer science applications. The multi-disciplinary view of IoT provided within this book makes it an ideal reference work for IT specialists, technologists, engineers, developers, practitioners, researchers, academicians, and students interested in how IoT will be implemented in the next generation of smart systems and play an integral role in advancing technology in the future.

Silicon Carbide (SiC) is a wide-band-gap semiconductor biocompatible material that has the potential to advance advanced biomedical applications. SiC devices offer higher power densities and lower energy losses, enabling lighter, more compact and higher efficiency products for biocompatible and long-term in vivo applications ranging from heart stent coatings and bone implant scaffolds to neurological implants and sensors. The main problem facing the medical community today is the lack of biocompatible materials that are also capable of electronic operation. Such devices are currently implemented using silicon technology, which either has to be hermetically sealed so it cannot interact with the body or the material is only stable in vivo for short periods of time. For long term use (permanent implanted devices such as glucose sensors, brain-machine-interface devices, smart bone and organ implants) a more robust material that the body does not recognize and reject as a foreign (i.e., not organic) material is needed. Silicon Carbide has been proven to be just such a material and will open up a whole new host of fields by allowing the development of advanced biomedical devices never before possible for long-term use in vivo. This book not only provides the materials and biomedical engineering communities with a seminal reference book on SiC that they can use to further develop the technology, it also provides a technology resource for medical doctors and practitioners who are hungry to identify and implement advanced engineering solutions to their everyday medical problems that currently lack long term, cost effective solutions. - Discusses Silicon Carbide biomedical materials and technology in terms of their properties, processing, characterization, and application, in one book, from leading professionals and scientists - Critical assesses existing literature, patents and FDA approvals for clinical trials, enabling the rapid assimilation of important data from the current disparate sources and promoting the transition from technology research and development to clinical trials - Explores long-term use and applications in vivo in devices and applications with advanced sensing and semiconducting properties, pointing to new product devekipment particularly within brain trauma, bone implants, sub-cutaneous sensors and advanced kidney dialysis devices

“Essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand the current state of biotechnology and the opportunities and dangers it may create.” —American Scientist Technology is a process and a body of knowledge as much as a collection of artifacts. Biology is no different—and we are just beginning to comprehend the challenges inherent in the next stage of biology as a human technology. It is this critical moment, with its wide-ranging implications, that Robert Carlson considers in Biology Is Technology. He offers a uniquely informed perspective on the endeavors that contribute to current progress in this area—the science of biological systems and the technology used to manipulate them. In a number of case studies, Carlson demonstrates that the development of new mathematical, computational, and laboratory tools will facilitate the engineering of biological artifacts—up to and including organisms and ecosystems. Exploring how this will happen, with reference to past technological advances, he explains how objects are constructed virtually, tested using sophisticated mathematical models, and finally constructed in the real world. Such rapid increases in the power, availability, and application of biotechnology raise obvious questions about who gets to use it, and to what end. Carlson’s thoughtful analysis offers rare insight into our choices about how to develop biological technologies and how these choices will determine the pace and effectiveness of innovation as a public good.

The first book to tackle the application of smart polymers in bioseparation and bioprocessing, Smart Polymers: Applications in Biotechnology and Biomedicine broke new ground in this challenging field. Completely revised, updated, and following in the footsteps of its predecessor, the second edition is poised to take its place as a premier reference in this field. This new edition considers those polymers in which a highly nonlinear response of a smart polymer to small changes in the external medium is of critical importance for the successful functioning of the system. The systems discussed are based on soluble/insoluble transition of smart polymers in aqueous solution, on conformational transitions of the macromolecules physically attached or chemically grafted to a surface and on the shrinking/swelling of covalently cross-linked networks of macromolecules, i.e. smart hydrogels. The book focuses on the theory describing the behavior of smart polymers in solution, as gels, and when grafted to surfaces. It provides solid, quantitative descriptions and reliable guidelines, reflecting the maturation of the field and the demand for the development of new smart polymer systems. The coverage highlights smart gels and especially fast responding and macroporous gels, as these gels pave the way to different applications of smart polymers in the areas ofbioseparation, drug release, and microfluidics. With contributions from leading researchers as well as extensive end-of-chapter references, this volume offers a comprehensive overview of the current state-of-the-art in the field and the potential for future developments.

Smart materials stimulated by chemical or biological signals are of interest for their many applications including drug delivery, as well as in new sensors and actuators for environmental monitoring, process and food control, and medicine. In contrast to other books on responsive materials, this volume concentrates on materials which are stimulated by chemical or biological signals. Chemoresponsive Materials introduces the area with chapters covering different responsive material systems including hydrogels, organogels, membranes, thin layers, polymer brushes, chemomechanical and imprinted polymers, nanomaterials, silica particles, as well as carbohydrate- and bio-based systems. Many promising applications are highlighted, with an emphasis on drug delivery, sensors and actuators. With contributions from internationally known experts, the book will appeal to graduate students and researchers in academia, healthcare and industry interested in functional materials and their applications.

The focus of this book is to cover the fundamentals, methodological approaches, and diverse applications of smart systems. Smart Systems discusses important topics such as the Internet of Things-enabled smart systems, artificial intelligence, ergonomics, digital twin, and quality assurance frameworks in smart systems. It addresses methodological approaches in diverse sectors such as service, agriculture, product design, and development. This book: Discusses important concepts such as customer satisfaction, product design, and product lifestyle management in a comprehensive manner Presents methodological techniques like optimization approaches, qualitative approaches, and multi-criteria decision-making Examines critical issues, including sustainability, ergonomics, quality assurance, and accuracy Covers the Internet of Things-enabled smart systems and artificial intelligence in smart systems Elaborates on management strategies, and quality assurance framework for smart systems The text is primarily written for senior undergraduate/graduate students, and academic researchers in the fields of mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering, production engineering, and aerospace engineering.

Smart Polymers and Their Applications, Second Edition presents an up-to-date resource of information on the synthesis and properties of different types of smart polymers, including temperature, pH, electro, magnetic and photo-responsive polymers, amongst others. It is an ideal introduction to this field, as well as a review of the latest research in this area. Shape memory polymers, smart polymer hydrogels, and self-healing polymer systems are also explored. In addition, a very strong focus on applications of smart polymers is included for tissue engineering, smart polymer nanocarriers for drug delivery, and the use of smart polymers in medical devices. Additionally, the book covers the use of smart polymers for textile applications, packaging, energy storage, optical data storage, environmental protection, and more. This book is an ideal, technical resource for chemists, chemical engineers, materials scientists, mechanical engineers and other professionals in a range of industries. - Includes a significant number of new chapters on smart polymer materials development, as well as new applications development in energy storage, sensors and devices, and environmental protection - Provides a multidisciplinary approach to the development of responsive polymers, approaching the subject by the different types of polymer (e.g. temperature-responsive) and its range of applications

Smart Solutions for Wastewater: Road-mapping the Transition to Circular Economy, the latest release in the Current Developments in Biotechnology and Bioengineering presents up-to-date information on research and technological developments of resource recovery in wastewater treatment in terms of carbon, nutrients and energy. The book fulfils the gaps and current challenges that hinder the application of resource recovery facilities in wastewater treatment plants, discusses knowledge gaps, provides future research perspectives, and discusses strategies to solve problems from a circular economy perspective. It is an excellent, interdisciplinary and updated overview of technologies in terms of potential yields, pollutants removal, nutrients recovery and energy production. - Covers different aspects of resource recovery technologies and research gaps in wastewater treatment - Focuses on different MBR configurations and systems/hybrid systems in treating a large variety of wastewaters - Provides state-of-the-art technology developments, including technology, advantages and challenges as well as strategies to overcome limitations - Includes technologies for managing sewage sludge in order to foster solutions for recovering in a circular economy context

This book provides insights on skills required to achieve success in smart cities from a variety of industry and human factors perspectives. It emphasizes the balance between learning skills, technical skills, and domain-specific skills in these industries, with special emphasis given to innovative software development models. The authors note that digital transformation requires complementary measures that are not overtly aimed to support infrastructure investment but are instead directed at promoting entrepreneurship, improving digital skills, engaging citizens, applying new transformation strategies, and developing innovative software. All of the above are considered strategically important, especially for medium-sized cities since that enable them to be more competitive in the global economy.