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Reconstruction of nerve conduits is a promising method for functional improvement in peripheral nerve repair. Besides choosing of a suitable polymer for conduit construction, adding factors such as Taurine improve a more advantageous microenvironment for defect nerve regeneration. Showing several major biological properties of Taurine, for example, regulation of the osmotic pressure, modulation of neurogenesis, and calcium hemostasis, makes it an appropriate option for repairing of defected nerves. To this, we examined repairing effects of Taurine-loading PCL conduits cultured with human endothelial stem cells (hEnSCs) on resected sciatic nerves. PCL/Taurine/Cell conduits transplanted to a 10-mm sciatic nerve gap. Forty-two wistar rats were randomly divided to seven groups: (1) Normal group, (2) Negative control (NC), (3) Positive control (nerve Autograft group), (4) PCL conduits group (PCL), (5) Taurine loaded PCL conduits group (PCL/Taurine), (6) hEnSCs cultured on the PCL conduits (PCL/Cell), (7) hEnSCs cultured on the PCL/Taurine conduits (PCL/Taurine/Cell). Functional recovery of motor and sensory nerves, the action potential of exciting muscle and motor distal latency has seen in PCL/Taurine/Cell conduits. Histological studies showed also remarkable nerve regeneration and obvious bridging has seen in this group. In conclusion, PCL/Taurine/Cell conduits showing suitable mechanical properties and biocompatibility may improve sciatic nerve regeneration.

Since decellularized tissues may offer the instructive niche for cell differentiation and function, their use as cell culture scaffolds is a promising approach for regenerative medicine. To repair osteochondral tissues, developing a scaffold with biomimetic structural, compositional, and functional characteristics is vital. As a result of their heterogeneous structure, decellularized articular cartilage matrix from allogeneic and xenogeneic sources are considered appropriate scaffolds for cartilage regeneration. We developed a scaffold for osteochondral tissue engineering by decellularizing sheep knee cartilage using a chemical technique. DNA content measurements and histological examinations revealed that this protocol completely removed cells from decellularized cartilage. Furthermore, SEM, MTS assay, and HE staining revealed that human endometrial stem cells could readily adhere to the decellularized cartilage, and the scaffold was biocompatible for their proliferation. Besides, we discovered that decellularized scaffolds could promote EnSC osteogenic differentiation by increasing bone-specific gene expression. Further, it was found that decellularized scaffolds were inductive for chondrogenic differentiation of stem cells, evidenced by an up-regulation in the expression of the cartilage-specific gene. Also, in vivo study showed the high affinity of acellularized scaffolds for cell adhesion and proliferation led to an improved regeneration of articular lesions in rats after 4 weeks. Finally, a perfect scaffold with high fidelity is provided by the developed decellularized cartilage scaffold for the functional reconstruction of osteochondral tissues; these types of scaffolds are helpful in studying how the tissue microenvironment supports osteocytes and chondrocytes differentiation, growth, and function to have a good osteochondral repair effect.

Introduction Cinnamon is one of the most common spices that has been studied for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties in wound healing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of polycaprolactone nanofiber mats coated with chitosan microcapsules loaded with cinnamon essential oil in wound healing. Material and methods For this purpose, chitosan microcapsules containing cinnamon essential oil (µCS-CiZ) were prepared by ion gelation and PCL nanofibers by electrospinning. The size of the µCS-CiZ and the morphology of nanofibers were evaluated by DLS and FESEM methods. In order to evaluate wound healing, 48 rats in 4 groups of Control, µCS-CiZ, PCL, and PCL + µCS-CiZ and were examined on days 7, 14, and 21 in terms of macroscopy (wound closure rate) and histology (edema, inflammation, vascularity, fibrotic tissue, and re-epithelialization). Results The particle size of the µCS-CiZ and the diameter of the nanofibers were estimated at about 6.33 ± 1.27 μm and 228 ± 33 nm, respectively. On day 21, both µCS-CiZ and PCL groups showed a significant decrease in wound size compared to the control group (P 0.001). The PCL + µCS-CiZ group also showed a significant decrease compared to the µCS-CiZ (P 0.05) and PCL groups (P 0.05). Histological results showed further reduction of edema, inflammation, and vascularity in granulation tissue and appearance of moderate to marked fibrotic tissue in PCL + µCS-CiZ group compared with the other groups. Conclusion The results of the study showed that the combined use of PCL + µCS-CiZ indicates a synergistic effect on improving wound healing.

Introduction: Cinnamon is one of the most common spices that have been studied for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties in wound healing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of polycaprolactone nanofiber mats coated with chitosan microcapsules loaded with cinnamon essential oil on wound healing. Material and methods: For this purpose, chitosan microcapsules containing cinnamon essential oil (µCS-CiZ) were prepared by ion gelation and PCL nanofibers by electrospinning. The size of the µCS-CiZ and the morphology of nanofibers were evaluated by DLS and FESEM methods. In order to evaluate wound healing, 48 rats in 4 groups of control, µCS-CiZ, nanofibers, and nanofibers coated with µCS-CiZ (PCL+µCS-CiZ) were examined on days 7, 14, and 21 in terms of macroscopy (wound closure rate) and histology (edema, inflammation, vascularity, fibrotic tissue, and re-epithelialization). Results: The particle size of the µCS-CiZ and the diameter of the nanofibers were estimated at about 6.33±1.27 μm and 228 ± 33 nm, respectively. On day 21, both µCS-CiZ and PCL groups showed a significant decrease in wound size compared to the control group (pConclusion: The results of the study showed that the combined use of PCL+µCS-CiZ indicates a synergistic effect in improving wound healing.

Many studies have been devoted to investigating the potential of guided bone regeneration (GBR) membranes for bone defect reconstruction. Regardless of approaches for treating damaged bone tissues, a beneficial therapeutic strategy has remained a challenge. In this study, a novel GBR membrane with polycaprolactone (PCL) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) containing different concentrations of metformin (Met) for improving osteogenic properties was developed. The membranes were evaluated for their hydrophilicity, degradation rate, swelling ratio, drug release, mechanical properties, and biological responses. The results showed a significant increase in hydrophilicity, swelling ratio, and degradation rate and no significant changes in mechanical properties of PCL/PVA membranes with Met concentration enhancement. A decrease in cell viability cultured on the surface of the PCL/PVA membrane was seen when the amount of Met was changed from 10 to 15 wt %. The results of the in vitro quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) also confirmed the higher secretion of osteogenic-related genes in a PCL/PVA/Cell/10 wt % Met scaffold than in the PCL/PVA/Cell sample. Therefore, further in vivo studies were conducted using the electrospun PCL/PVA membrane containing human endometrial stem cells (hEnSCs) and 10% Met. Histopathological and histomorphometric results confirmed that PCL/PVA/hEnSCs/10 wt % Met has excellent potential to differentiate hEnSCs into osteogenic lineages and bone regeneration in calvarial defects of rats. The results of this study confirm the high potential of the PCL/PVA/10 wt % Met fibrous membrane preseeded with hEnSCs in GBR applications.

Glioblastoma multiform (GBM) is known as an aggressive glial neoplasm. Recently incorporation of mesenchymal stem cells with anti-tumor drugs have been used due to lack of immunological responses and their easy accessibility. In this study, we have investigated the anti-proliferative and apoptotic activity of atorvastatin (Ator) in combination of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on GBM cells in vitro and in vivo. The MSCs isolated from rats and characterized for their multi-potency features. The anti-proliferative and migration inhibition of Ator and MSCs were evaluated by MTT and scratch migration assays. The annexin/PI percentage and cell cycle arrest of treated C6 cells were evaluated until 72 h incubation. The animal model was established via injection of C6 cells in the brain of rats and subsequent injection of Ator each 3 days and single injection of MSCs until 12 days. The growth rate, migrational phenotype and cell cycle progression of C6 cells decreased and inhibited by the interplay of different factors in the presence of Ator and MSCs. The effect of Ator and MSCs on animal models displayed a significant reduction in tumor size and weight. Furthermore, histopathology evaluation proved low hypercellularity and mitosis index as well as mild invasive tumor cells for perivascular cuffing without pseudopalisading necrosis and small delicate vessels in Ator + MSCs condition. In summary, Ator and MSCs delivery to GBM model provides an effective strategy for targeted therapy of brain tumor.

In the current study, selenium particles were loaded into poly(e-caprolactone)/gelatin nanofibrous matrices in order to fabricate a potential wound dressing. The mats were produced by electrospinning of poly(e-caprolactone)/Gelatin (1:1 (w/w)) solution supplemented with 1 and 10 % (w/v) of selenium particles. Prepared wound dressings were investigated regarding their morphology, mechanical properties, surface wettability, water-uptake capacity, water vapor permeability, porosity, blood compatibility, microbial penetration test and cellular response. Dressings containing 1 % and 10 % selenium and selenium free mats were chosen to treat the full-thickness excisional wounds in Wistar rats. The study revealed that after 14 days, the wound closure of the mat containing 1 % selenium was about 95.5±6.38 % while wound closure of the negative control group was about 48.83±4.03 %. Our results showed the capability of nanofibrous containing selenium for successful wound treatment.

Engineering scaffolds that can not only act as a vehicle for stem cell delivery but also support axon regeneration, may significantly improve the treatment outcome of spinal cord injury (SCI). In t...

In the current study, electrospun poly(e-caprolactone)-gelatin (PCL-Gel) fibrous scaffolds containing magnesium oxide (MgO) particles and preseeded with human endometrial stem cells (hEnSCs) were developed to use as wound care material in skin tissue engineering applications. Electrospun fibers were fabricated using PCL-Gel (1:1 [wt/wt]) with different concentrations of MgO particles (1, 2, and 4 wt%). The fibrous scaffolds were evaluated regarding their microstructure, mechanical properties, surface wettability, and in vitro and in vivo performances. The full-thickness excisional wound model was used to evaluate the in vivo wound healing ability of the fabricated scaffolds. Our findings confirmed that the wounds covered with PCL-Gel fibrous scaffolds containing 2 wt% MgO and preseeded with hEnSCs have nearly 79% wound closure ability while sterile gauze showed 11% of wound size reduction. Our results can be employed for biomaterials aimed at the healing of full-thickness skin wounds.

Objective: To evaluate the application of a fabricated dressing containing kaolin for skin regeneration in a rat model of excisional wounds. Method: In the present study, kaolin was loaded into electrospun polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/chitosan polymer blend to develop a composite nanofibrous dressing. To make the yarns, kaolin with weight ratio of 5% was added to PVA/chitosan polymer blend and subsequently formed into nanofibres using the electrospinning method. Scaffolds were evaluated for to their microstructure, mechanical properties, surface wettability, water vapour transmission rate, water-uptake capacity, blood uptake capacity, blood compatibility, microbial penetration test, the number of colonies, and cellular response with the L929 cell line. Rats with full-thickness excisional wounds were treated with kaolin-containing and kaolin-free dressings. Results: The study showed that rats treated with the kaolin-incorporated mats demonstrated a significant closure to nearly 97.62±4.81% after 14 days compared with PVA/chitosan and the sterile gauze, which showed 86.15±8.11% and 78.50±4.22% of wound closure, respectively. The histopathological studies showed that in the PVA/chitosan/kaolin group, dense and regular collagen fibres were formed, while wounds treated with sterile gauze or PVA/chitosan scaffolds had random and loose collagen fibres. Conclusion: Our results show the potential applicability of PVA/chitosan/kaolin scaffolds as a wound care material.

Objective(s): Bone tissue engineering is aimed at the fabrication of bone graft to ameliorate bone defects without using autografts or allografts. Materials and Methods: In the present study, the coprecipitation method was used to prepare hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles containing nandrolone. To do so, 12.5, 25, and 50 mg of nandrolone were loaded into poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/nano-HA, and the freeze casting method was used to fabricate porous scaffolds. The morphology, mechanical strength, wettability, porosity, degradation, blood compatibility, and cellular response of the scaffolds were evaluated using various tests. For further investigation, the developed scaffolds were incorporated into the rat calvaria defect model, and their effects on bone healing were evaluated. Results: The obtained results indicated that the fabricated scaffolds had the approximate porosity of 80% and compress strength of 6.5 MPa. Moreover, the prepared scaffolds had appropriate hydrophilicity, weight loss, and blood compatibility. Furthermore, the histopathological findings demonstrated that the defects filled with the PLA/nano-HA scaffolds containing 25 mg nandrolone healed better compared to the other study groups.Conclusion: Therefore, it was concluded that the scaffolds containing nandrolone could be used in bone regeneration.

As an evidence-based performance, the rising incidence of various ischemic disorders has been observed across many nations. As a result, there is a growing need for the development of more effective regenerative approaches that could serve as main therapeutic strategies for the treatment of these diseases. From a cellular perspective, promoted complex inflammatory mechanisms, after inhibition of organ blood flow, can lead to cell death in all tissue types. In this case, using the stem cell technology provides a safe and regenerative approach for ischemic tissue revascularization and functional cell formation. Limb ischemia (LI) is one of the most frequent ischemic disease types and has been shown to have a promising regenerative response through stem cell therapy based on several clinical trials. Bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells (BM-MNCs), peripheral blood CD34-positive mononuclear cells (CD34+ PB-MNCs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and endothelial stem/progenitor cells (ESPCs) are the main, well-examined stem cell types in these studies. Additionally, our investigations reveal that endometrial tissue can be considered a suitable candidate for isolating new safe, effective, and feasible multipotent stem cells for limb regeneration. In addition to other teams’ results, our in-depth studies on endometrial-derived stem cells (EnSCs) have shown that these cells have translational potential for limb ischemia treatment. The EnSCs are able to generate diverse types of cells which are essential for limb reconstruction, including endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, muscle cells, and even peripheral nervous system populations. Hence, the main object of this review is to present stem cell technology and evaluate its method of regeneration in ischemic limb tissue.

Sarcocystosis due to Sarcocystis species, is prevalent among livestock in most parts of Iran, the predominant species being S. cruzi, and then followed by S. hirsuta and S. hominis. Studies on the prevalence and geographic distribution pattern of infection in the most common sites of infection have revealed infection rates up to 100% in at least one of the examined tissues in the country. Although human intestinal and gallbladder Sarcocystis infections have been reported, nothing is known about muscular Sarcocystis infection in human in Iran. The main aim of this review is to estimate the prevalence of Sarcocystis infections in ruminants, dogs, cats, and poultry as well as humans based on the studies conducted in Iran from November 1974 to October 2020. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Google Scholar, as well as one Persian electronic databases (SID) were searched systematically from November 1974 to October 2020. Publication searches were performed by various combinations of the following terms: "sarcocystosis" or "Sarcocystis spp." and "Iran". The reference list of selected articles was also manually screened, and the searching process resulted in the selection of 56 studies. The abstracts of the papers published at the congresses were not reviewed.

Parkinson disease (PD) is considered as one of the most worldwide neurodegenerative disorders. The major reasons associated to neurodegeneration process of PD pathogenesis are oxidative stress. Many studies reported that natural antioxidant molecules, especially, curcumin can suppress inflammatory pathways and preserve dopaminergic neurons damage in PD. Further, the poor pharmacokinetics, instability of chemical structure because of fast hydrolytic degradation at physiologic condition and especially, the presence of the blood brain barrier (BBB) has regarded as a considerable restriction factor for transfer of neurotherapeutic molecules to the brain tissue. The present research aims to the fabrication of nanoformulated curcumin loaded human endometrial stem cells derived exosomes (hEnSCs EXOs-Cur) to study on enhancing curcumin penetration to the brain across BBB and to improve anti- Parkinsonism effects of curcumin against neural death and alpha-synuclein aggregation. hEnSCs EXOs-Cur characterization results demonstrated the accurate size and morphology of formulated curcumin loaded exosomes with a proper stability and sustained release profile. In vivo studies including behavioral, Immunohistochemical and molecular evaluations displayed that novel formulation of hEnSCs EXO-Cur is able to cross BBB, enhance motor uncoordinated movements, suppress the aggregation of αS protein and rescue neuronal cell death through elevation of BCL2 expression level as an anti-apoptotic protein and the expression level reduction of BAX and Caspase 3 as apoptotic markers.

BackgroundSilk fibroin (SF) as a natural polymer holds great potential in biomedical research because of its biocompatibility, easy processing, high toughness, and strength. However, slow gelation time has narrowed its applications, specifically in cell-laden microparticles that are versatile structures for tissue engineering due to their unique features. In addition, most crosslinking methods used to decrease gelation time did not occur in a mid-condition. Methods This study aimed to use modified SF with phenol conjugation to accelerate crosslinking mediated via horseradish peroxidase (HRP)/ hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in a co-flow high-throughput microfluidic device for the ultimate goal of cell-laden silk fibroin-phenol (SF-Ph) microparticles formation. The physical and biochemical properties of fabricated cell-laden SF-Ph were evaluated to reveal its potential for tissue engineering.ResultsThe monodisperse microparticles in shape and size were formed in various diameters changing from 300 to 80 µm by altering oil phase velocity from SF-Ph substrate. More than 90% cell viability and three times cells upregulation of mitochondrial activity of enclosed-cells in microparticles with 150 ± 32 µm diameters revealed that these structures were suitable subcultures produced through a mild process based on morphological and MTT assays. It was noticed that cells approximately cover the microparticles until the 15th day. ConclusionSpherical micro-tissue formation in microparticles, resulting from cell growth promoted by cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, adds significant weight to this method's applications.

Curcumin contains many biological activities as a natural bioactive substance, however, its low solubility stands as a huge bioavailability disadvantage. Recently, different methods have been developed for utilizing the tremendous medicinal properties of this material. In this study, an Oil/Water nano-emulsion of curcumin (Nano-CUR) has been woven in zein polymer at three percentages of 5%, 10%, and 15% (v/v). We have investigated the physicochemical properties of nanofibers (NFs) including FESEM, FTIR, tensile strength, encapsulation efficiency, and release profile, as well as biological properties. According to the data, the NFs have been observed to become significantly thinner and more uniformed as the involved percentage of Nano-CUR had been increased from 5 to 15%. It is considerable that the tensile strength can be increased by heightening the existing Nano-CUR from 5% towards 15%. The resultant NFs of zein/Nano-CUR 15% have exhibited higher in vitro release and lower encapsulation efficiency than the other evaluated zein/Nano-CUR NFs. It has been confirmed through the performed viability and antioxidant studies that zein/Nano-CUR 10% NFs are capable of providing the best conditions for cell proliferation. Considering the mentioned facts, this work has suggested that Nano-CUR can be successfully woven in zein NFs and maintain their biological properties.

Hybrid fibrous mat containing cell interactive molecules offers the ability to deliver the cells and drugs in wound bed, which will help to achieve a high therapeutic treatment. In this study, a co-electrospun hybrid of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), chitosan (Ch) and silk fibrous mat was developed and their wound healing potential by localizing bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-derived keratinocytes on it was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. It was expected that fabricated hybrid construct could promote wound healing due to its structure, physical, biological specifications. The fabricated fibrous mats were characterized for their structural, mechanical and biochemical properties. The shape uniformity and pore size of fibers showed smooth and homogenous structures of them. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) verified all typical absorption characteristics of Ch-PVA + Silk polymers as well as Ch-PVA or pure PVA substrates. The contact angle and wettability measurement of fibers showed that mats found moderate hydrophilicity by addition of Ch and silk substrates compared with PVA alone. The mechanical features of Ch-PVA + Silk fibrous mat increase significantly through co-electrospun process as well as hybridization of these synthetic and natural polymers. Higher degrees of cellular attachment and proliferation obtained on Ch-PVA + Silk fibers compared with PVA and Ch-PVA fibers. In terms of the capability of Ch-PVA + Silk fibers and MSC-derived keratinocytes, histological analysis and skin regeneration results showed this novel fibrous construct could be suggested as a skin substitute in the repair of injured skin and regenerative medicine applications.

Hybrid fibrous mat containing cell interactive molecules offers the ability to deliver the cells and drugs in wound bed, which will help to achieve a high therapeutic treatment. In this study, a co-electrospun hybrid of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), chitosan (Ch) and silk fibrous mat was developed and their wound healing potential by localizing bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-derived keratinocytes on it was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The fabricated fibrous Ch-PVA + Silk hydrogels were characterized for their structural, mechanical and biochemical properties. The shape uniformity and pore size of fibers showed smooth and homogenous structures of them. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) verified all typical absorption characteristics of Ch-PVA + Silk polymers as well as Ch-PVA or pure PVA substrates. The contact angle and wettability measurement of fibers showed that mats found moderate hydrophilicity by addition of Ch and silk substrates compared with PVA alone. The mechanical features of Ch-PVA + Silk fibrous mats increase significantly through co-electrospun process as well as hybridization of these synthetic and natural polymers. Higher degrees of cellular attachment and proliferation obtained on Ch-PVA + Silk fibers compared with PVA and Ch-PVA fibers. In terms of the capability of Ch-PVA + Silk fibers and MSC-derived keratinocytes, histological analysis and skin regeneration results showed this novel fibrous construct could be suggested as a skin substitute in the repair of injured skin and regenerative medicine applications.

Peripheral nerve injury is a serious challenge which influences 2.8 percent of trauma patients. Tissue engineering of peripheral nerves mainly focuses on axonal regeneration via various nerve guides. The aim of this study is to evaluate a novel polyurethane (PU)/gelatin nanofibers (GNFs) conduit’s potential combination with resveratrol (RVT) for sciatic nerve regeneration in the rat. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) was used as a carrier for RVT. Different tests like contact angle, tensile strength etc. was used to evaluate properties of PU/GNFs conduits. In addition, the electron microscopy, MTT assay, and DAPI staining revealed its compatibility with Schwann cells. 24 male Wistar rats were allocated into four groups (n=6) (1) PU/GNF/PRP/Schwann cell, 2) PU/GNF/Schwann cell/PRP/RVT, 3) Positive control, and 4) Negative control in order to assess sciatic functional index (SFI), hot plate latency, electromyographical (EMG), the percentage of wet weight-loss of gastrocnemius muscle and histopathological studies using hematoxylin-eosin staining. The results represented sciatic functional index (SFI), hot plate latency, electromyographical improved significantly in group 1 and 2 compared to the negative control group. Histopathological findings showed remarkable improvements in myelin sheath regeneration and fibers condition in group 1 and 2 compared to the negative control group. Group 2 showed more resemblance to the normal sciatic nerve, with well-arranged fibers and an intact myelin sheath. This study successfully applied PU/GNFs/PRP/RVT conduits as a potential biocompatible nerve guide with proper mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and biodegradability that enhanced injured sciatic nerve’s recovery rate.

To evaluate the application of a fabricated dressing containing kaolin for skin regeneration in a rat model of excisional wounds.In the present study, kaolin was loaded into electrospun polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/chitosan polymer blend to develop a composite nanofibrous dressing. To make the yarns, kaolin with weight ratio of 5% was added to PVA/chitosan polymer blend and subsequently formed into nanofibres using the electrospinning method. Scaffolds were evaluated for to their microstructure, mechanical properties, surface wettability, water vapour transmission rate, water-uptake capacity, blood uptake capacity, blood compatibility, microbial penetration test, the number of colonies, and cellular response with the L929 cell line. Rats with full-thickness excisional wounds were treated with kaolin-containing and kaolin-free dressings.The study showed that rats treated with the kaolin-incorporated mats demonstrated a significant closure to nearly 97.62±4.81% after 14 days compared with PVA/chitosan and the sterile gauze, which showed 86.15±8.11% and 78.50±4.22% of wound closure, respectively. The histopathological studies showed that in the PVA/chitosan/kaolin group, dense and regular collagen fibres were formed, while wounds treated with sterile gauze or PVA/chitosan scaffolds had random and loose collagen fibres.Our results show the potential applicability of PVA/chitosan/kaolin scaffolds as a wound care material.

The focus of the current study was to develop a functional and bioactive scaffold through the combination of 3D polylactic acid (PLA)/polycaprolactone (PCL) with gelatin nanofibers (GNFs) and Taurine (Tau) for bone defect regeneration. GNFs were fabricated via electrospinning dispersed in PLA/PCL polymer solution, Tau with different concentrations was added, and the polymer solution converted into a 3D and porous scaffold via the thermally-induced phase separation technique. The characterization results showed that the scaffolds have interconnected pores with the porosity of up to 90%. Moreover, Tau increased the wettability and weight loss rate, while compromised the compressive strengths. The scaffolds were hemo- and cytocompatible and supported cell viability and proliferation. The in vivo studies showed that the defects treated with scaffolds filled with new bone. The computed tomography (CT) imaging and histopathological observation revealed that the PLA/PCL/Gel/Tau 10% provided the highest new bone formation, angiogenesis, and woven bone among the treatment groups. Our finding illustrated that the fabricated scaffold was able to regenerate bone within the defect and can be considered as the effective scaffold for bone tissue engineering application.

Functional wound dressing with tailored physicochemical and biological properties is vital for diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) treatment. Our main objective in the current study was to fabricate Cellulose Acetate/Gelatin (CA/Gel) electrospun mat loaded with berberine (Beri) as the DFU-specific wound dressing. The wound healing efficacy of the fabricated dressings was evaluated in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The results demonstrated an average nanofiber diameter of 502 ± 150 nm, and the tensile strength, contact angle, porosity, water vapor permeability and water uptake ratio of CA/Gel nanofibers were around 2.83 ± 0.08 MPa, 58.07 ± 2.35°, 78.17 ± 1.04%, 11.23 ± 1.05 mg/cm2/hr, and 12.78 ± 0.32%, respectively, while these values for CA/Gel/Beri nanofibers were 2.69 ± 0.05 MPa, 56.93 ± 1°, 76.17 ± 0.76%, 10.17 ± 0.21 mg/cm2/hr, and 14.37 ± 0.42%, respectively. The antibacterial evaluations demonstrated that the dressings exhibited potent antibacterial activity. The collagen density of 88.8 ± 6.7% and the angiogenesis score of 19.8 ± 3.8 obtained in the animal studies indicate a proper wound healing. These findings implied that the incorporation of berberine did not compromise the physical properties of dressing, while improving the biological activities. In conclusion, our results indicated that the prepared mat is a proper wound dressing for DFU management and treatment.

The current study was conducted to promote the extent of peripheral nerve regeneration using a collagen type I hydrogel containing chitosan nanoparticle loaded by insulin. The developed hyd...

In the current study, insulin delivering chitosan nanoparticles were coated onto the electrospun poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL)/Collagen (COLL) to produce a potential wound care material. Electrospun matrices were fabricated from PCL/COLL (1:1 (w/w)) solution. The insulin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles were produced by ionic gelation process and then attached onto the yarns. The dressings were investigated regarding their surface wettability, microstructure, the capacity to absorb water, water vapour permeability, mechanical properties, blood compatibility, microbial penetration, and cellular behavior. Full-thickness excisional wound model was used to assess the in vivo healing capacity of the dressings. Our data showed that after 14 days the wounds covered with PCL/COLL/Cs-Ins wound dressing could reach to nearly full wound closure compared with the sterile gauze which exhibited nearly 45% of wound size reduction. Our results suggest that fabricated scaffolds can be potentially applied in clinical practice for wound treatment.

In the current study, tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH), an antibiotic against most of the medically relevant bacteria, was incorporated into poly (e-caprolactone)/poly lactic acid solution in order...

Objective(s): Nanoparticles offer an attractive platform for drug delivery through a wide variety of the body's physiological barriers. Furthermore, modification of nanoparticle surface with moeites such as Poloxamer188 can enhance their accumulation and localization at disease site. In this work, we investigated the physiochemical effect of a scavenger receptor (SR-BI) interacting moiety coated on the surface of methotrexate (MTX)-loaded PLGA nanoparticles. Methods: Methotrexate-loaded PLGA nanoparticles were prepared by a single step nanoprecipitation technique. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for their size and morphology respectively. In vitro drug encapsulation efficiency (EE) and relative drug loading (DL) of nanoparticles were examined by UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Results: The results showed that the mean diameter of nanoparticles and zeta potential increased when more poloxamer188 was added to preparation process.The DL and EE of MTX increased with increase in poloxamer188/PVA ratio. In vitro release of MTX from PLGA nanoparticle was extended by increasing poloxamer188 in preparation process. Conclusions: MTX loaded PLGA nanoparticle modified with PVA and poloxamer 188 with suitable sizes and physiochemical properties can potentially improve drug delivery.

In the present study, gabapentin (GBP), an anticonvulsant drug used as an analgesic to control the neuropathic pains, was incorporated with cellulose acetate (CA) and gelatin (Gel) in order to develop a potential scaffold for neural tissue engineering applications. The wet-electrospinning method was used to produce the drug-loaded three-dimensional scaffolds from CA/Gel [1:1 (w/w)] solution in the water/ethanol (3:7) (v/v) coagulation baths containing 3%, 6% and 12% (w/v) of GBP. The scaffolds were evaluated regarding their morphology, contact angle, porosity, tensile strength and cellular response. The scaffold obtained from 6% (w/v) GBP bath was chosen as the optimum scaffold for further in vivo study in a sciatic nerve defect model in Wistar rats. The results of sciatic functional index, hot plate latency, weight-loss percentage of the wet gastrocnemius muscle and the histopathological examination using hematoxylin–eosin staining demonstrated that the GBP-containing scaffold significantly enhanced the regeneration of the created injury, which demonstrates its applicability for neural tissue engineering applications.

Main purpose of tissue engineering is creating appropriate conditions for the regeneration of tissues. Dental pulp-derived stem cells due to differentiation capacity and angiogenic properties have potential to regenerate dental pulp tissue. In the current experimental study poly caprolactone and poly L-lactic acid were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization method. The nano-hydroxyapatite and Zeolite were obtained by hydrothermal method. Morphological features and crystals properties of nHA and Zeolite were studied by X-ray diffraction. Nanofibers were fabricated using electrospinning method and investigated by FT-IR spectroscopy. DPSCs obtained from human source and proliferation and viability of them on electrospun scaffolds were evaluated by MTT assay. Also, the adhesion and proliferation of hDPSCs were investigated by SEM. The results showed that hDPSCs have the most viability and proliferation on the 1 st , 7 th , 14 th days on PCL-PLA/Zeolite scaffolds and maximum on the 3 rd day on PCL-PLA/nHA scaffolds. On the days of 7 th and 14 th , cell growth on scaffolds containing both nHA and Zeolite is better than sample that nHA is used alone with PCL-PLA. Briefly, by these results can be understand that Zeolite is a good agent in bone and tooth tissue engineering applications. More studies requires to investigate Zeolite effect on scaffold properties.

In the current study, electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone)-gelatin (PCL-Gel) fibrous scaffolds containing magnesium oxide (MgO) particles and preseeded with human endometrial stem cells (hEnSCs) were developed to use as wound care material in skin tissue engineering applications. Electrospun fibers were fabricated using PCL-Gel (1:1 [wt/wt]) with different concentrations of MgO particles (1, 2, and 4 wt%). The fibrous scaffolds were evaluated regarding their microstructure, mechanical properties, surface wettability, and in vitro and in vivo performances. The full-thickness excisional wound model was used to evaluate the in vivo wound healing ability of the fabricated scaffolds. Our findings confirmed that the wounds covered with PCL-Gel fibrous scaffolds containing 2 wt% MgO and preseeded with hEnSCs have nearly 79% wound closure ability while sterile gauze showed 11% of wound size reduction. Our results can be employed for biomaterials aimed at the healing of full-thickness skin wounds.

Since the number of prognostic and predictive neuro-oncologic genetic markers is steadily increasing, a comprehensive analysis of the molecular techniques used to examine neuro-oncology samples is vastly required. Molecular analysis and profiling of brain malignancies result in improved diagnostic accuracy, target identification, and predictive prognosis. Application of high-throughput molecular approaches, such as next generation sequencing (NGS), to analyze brain tumors has provided a large amount of molecular information. In the clinical practice, the application of NGS has been increased, which has consequently improved the treatment option for brain cancer as well as other types of malignancies. Target therapy has recently become one of the most promising treatment options for various tumors, especially brain tumors. In this review, we provided and summarized high-throughput genomic studies, such as NGS technique, that could independently identify the integrated management and diagnosis of primary human brain tumors across a variety of entities with pathognomonic genetic alterations.

Alginate scaffolds are extensively used in bone and cartilage tissue engineering because of their chemical similarity to the extracellular matrix. However, for the successful replacement of hard tissue, the properties of alginate scaffolds should be tailored. In this study, for the first time, we optimized the porosity, degradation rate, mechanical, and osteogenic properties of alginate scaffolds by the freeze-drying method. The freeze-drying method was used to prepare different concentrations of alginate scaffolds (4, 8, and 16% (w/v)). Their porosity, mechanical properties, surface-wetting behavior, and osteogenic properties were characterized. The results showed that the 8% (w/v) alginate scaffold had an interconnected porosity of about 80%, a hydrophilic surface with a contact angle of water on the surface of 39o ± 0.56, and compressive strength of 2.7 MPa. This concentration of alginate also showed the degradation rate of 70% in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium (DMEM) with fetal bovine serum. The periodontal ligament stem cells culture results confirmed that the 8% alginate scaffold had good biocompatibility and cell differentiation ability and it could enhance cell ingrowth and attachment. These results showed that the modified 8% (w/v) alginate scaffold is a good candidate in cartilage and bone tissue replacement.

Removing malignant bone tumors results in critical size bone defects. These voids in bones should be filled by a proper scaffold that not only can support cell ingrowth and bone regeneration but also it has to show a desirable ability in long-term releasing anticancer drugs in order to prevent the growth of remaining cancer cells. Applying this scaffold can significantly improve the outcome of bone tumors treatment. In this study, a novel way is proposed for immobilization of doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded polycaproloactone (PCL) microparticles on the hardystonite (HT) scaffold surfaces. High interconnected porous HT scaffolds with immobilized DOX-encapsulated PCL microparticles can be successfully fabricated by modified water/oil/water method. In the present work, we verify a slow release of DOX over 30 days from PCL microparticles inside HT scaffold. Our developed HT scaffolds with the long-term release of DOX are more effective in reduction of Saos-2 cancer cells viability and induce higher degrees of apoptosis compared to DOX dip coated HT scaffolds. Encapsulating DOX into PCL microparticles significantly improves the anti-tumor activity of DOX by regulating the expression of apoptosis-related genes. Our results suggest that by immobilization of polymeric vehicles on the ceramic scaffold for controlled drug release, we can achieve high efficiency in apoptosis of cancer cells.

The hydrogel efficacy of taurine-loaded chitosan nanoparticle/alginate hydrogel was investigated for controlled release of the taurine substrate, which is known as an antioxidative drug. The composition of the fabricated hydrogels was explored by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The swelling ability and degradation rate of hydrogels were also analyzed in phosphate-buffered saline at the physiological condition and alginate lyase for a period of 21 days. Moreover, morphologies and structure of hydrogels and cells were determined using a scanning electron microscope. The possible cytotoxicity of the fabricated hydrogel was carried out by seeding endometrial stem cells on hydrogels. The results demonstrated that hydrogel of chitosan nanoparticle/alginate hydrogel successfully controlled the release of taurine. We observed that the chitosan nanoparticle/alginate hydrogel possessed adjust swelling ability and degradation rate as compared to neat alginate hydrogel. The results proved that the chitosan nanoparticle/alginate hydrogel is non-cytotoxic and could be utilized as a promising composition in tissue engineering and drug delivery systems.

Porous alginate/polyvinyl alcohol hybrid scaffolds have been extensively used in cartilage, bone, and dental tissue substitute applications. However, its mechanical and osteogenesis properties are not good enough to meet the requirement for use in hard tissues repair applications. In this study, to achieve the best mechanical and physical properties, we carried out the cross-linking of PVA physically and alginate chemically. Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (nHA), the important component of hard tissues, was added to the hydrogel to improve its mechanical properties and osteoconductivity. The results showed that the fabricated alginate/polyvinyl alcohol-nHA scaffold has around 81% interconnected porosity, hydrophilic surface with the contact angle of water on the surface in the range of 38 ± 0.29°, 3.51 MPa compressive strength, and a degradation rate of 71%. The periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) culture results showed that both fabricated alginate/polyvinyl alcohol hybrid scaffolds with and without nHA had good cell attachment ability and could promote PDLSCs ingrowth. The real-time RT-PCR assay showed that the presence of nHA in the alginate/polyvinyl alcohol hybrid scaffold could significantly accelerate the expression of specific markers of pre- and mature osteoblast stages such as osteocalcin, alkaline phosphate, and osteopontin genes. These results showed that alginate/polyvinyl alcohol hybrid scaffolds with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles can be used in bone and dental substitute applications as osteoconductive and reinforcement components.

Hybrid electrospun fiber containing bioactive molecules, which offer the ability to deliver the cells into the wound bed, will help to achieve a high therapeutic effect. In this study, an electrospun polycaperlactone (PCL) and gelatin (Gela) scaffold containing curcumin loaded chitosan nanoparticle (NCs/Cur) was used to evaluate in vivo wound healing ability of the fabricated scaffolds. The electrospun hybrid scaffold seeded with human endometrial stem cells (EnSCs) showed desirable biocompatibility with the host immune system and wound healing ability in a full-thickness excisional animal model. The constructs were characterized for structural, mechanical and biochemical properties. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed all typical absorption characteristics of PCL and Gela polymers as well as NCs and Cur. The results showed the perfect contact angle, wettability and degradability of hybrid fiber scaffolds with the good mechanical and structural characteristics including shape uniformity, pore size and porosity. The cell attachment and proliferation on the PCL/Gela/NCs/Cur was higher than PCL and PCL/Gela scaffolds. In term of the capability of hybrid scaffold and EnSCs in histological analysis, this novel tissue-engineered construct could be suggested as a skin substitute to repair injured skin and regenerative medicine application.

A reason for acquisitions is that target firms, prior to being acquired, are financially constrained, and that the firms often finance their investments by internal resources. But, after acquisition, the constraints reduce and access to financial resources increases. This study developed a panel data regression model, using a sample of firms acquired by other firms, listed in the Tehran Stock Exchange in the years 1384 to 1393. The findings showed that the level of cash that target firms hold, and the sensitivity of cash to cash flow, as well as the sensitivity of investment to cash flow after acquisition decline, while investment increases. Thus acquisitions relieve problems on financial constraints in the target firms so that they may make investment decisions by reliance on access to both the external and internal financial resources.

As skin defects cannot regenerate by themselves, tissue engineering through tissue-mimicking scaffolds holds promise for treating such defects. In this study, cellulose acetate (CA)-based three-dimensional scaffolds were produced using the wet-electrospinning technique, and the influence of concentrations on the properties of the wet-electrospun scaffolds was investigated for the first time. CA with concentrations of 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 14 % (w/v) were dissolved in acetone to fabricate the scaffolds. Wet electrospinning was carried out under an applied voltage of 15 kV and a tip-to-bath distance of 10 cm into the aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) (pH ~13) as a coagulation bath. The specimens with concentrations of 4–7 % (w/v) just produced droplets. The concentration of 8 % (w/v) produced beaded fibers, and the fibers of 9, 10, 12 and 14 % (w/v) were almost oriented in a random, dispersive manner and formed a non-woven structure morphology under scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation. The porosity measurement via the liquid displacement method showed that all scaffolds could not meet the accepted ideal porosity percentage of above 80 %, and the highest recorded porosity percentage was 69.5 % for the 12 % (w/v) scaffold. The contact angle measurement data displayed the high hydrophobicity of all scaffolds, which was expected because of the hydrophobic nature of CA. In vitro L929 mouse fibroblast cell culture demonstrated that all scaffolds presented a non-toxic environment and enhanced cell proliferation and attachment.

This study aimed to investigate the potential of a composite poly(lactic acid)/polycaprolactone (PLA/PCL) blend electrospun nanofiber containing both nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) and zeolite for promoting the proliferation of human dental pulp-derived stem cells (hDPSCs) with possible application in dental tissue engineering. For this purpose, nHA and Zeolite were synthesized via the hydrothermal method and their morphological features and crystals properties were studied by FE-SEM and X-ray diffraction, respectively. PCL-PLA/nHA/zeolite nanofibers were fabricated via electrospinning and characterized through FT-IR and water contact angle measurement methods. Then, the viability and adhesion of hDPSCs on the fibers were investigated by MTT assay and FE-SEM, respectively. The results showed that the viability of hDPSCs on the PCL-PLA/Zeolite scaffolds was significantly improved after 1, 7 and 14 days of culturing and maximum enhancing on the cell viability was detected after 3 days on PCL-PLA/nHA scaffolds (P ≤ 0.001). After 7 and 14 days of incubation, cell growth on the scaffolds containing both nHA and Zeolite was better than the nanofibers which were loaded with nHA alone. Briefly, these results revealed that Zeolite-loaded nanofiber is the most suitable scaffold for bone and tooth tissue engineering applications. More studies are required to investigate the efficiency of zeolite-based nanofibrous scaffolds for the development of artificial scaffolds for dental tissue regeneration.

Central nervous system trauma can cause loss of functional sensory neurons and motor functions that results in death of neuronal cells and axon degeneration. For this purpose, therapeutic approaches to enhance repair mechanisms spinal cord injury (SCI) is reflected to be a difficult task that requires thoughtful strategy. Hydrogel scaffolds in the presence of stem cells could repair damaged SCI due to their ability to support cellular viability, motility, and differentiation. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of a biomimetic composite hydrogel of chitosan and gelatin containing endometrial stem cells (EnSCs) as a minimally invasive treatment of SCI in an animal model. Moreover, the simultaneous, effect of intraperitoneal injection of atorvastatin drug was assessed for animal models. From the results, morphological and cell viability studies demonstrated favorable seeding microenvironment and viability in the hydrogel. The transplanted hydrogel containing EnSCs into hemisected SCI rats showed recovery of sensory and motor functions by confirming locomotor activity evaluation using Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan test. The growth of neuronal cells confirmed with immunohistochemical study. The findings in this study suggested that combination therapy using biomimetic hydrogel seeded with stem cells as well as atorvastatin injection has the potential to heal SCI through neuroinflammation attenuation, improvement of functional recovery, and limit the secondary damages.

In the present study, a two-step sintering (TSS) method has been used to improve the mechanical properties, biocompatibility, drug release, and osteogenesis abilities of hardystonite (HT) ceramic scaffolds for tissue engineering and drug delivery applications. The average particle size of HT scaffold is kept lower than 80 nm and is reached higher than 130 nm by using two-step and conventional sintering methods, respectively. The compressive strengths of the prepared nanocrystalline HT scaffolds were found to be significantly higher than those of the micro-structure HT and currently available hydroxyapatite scaffolds. A comparative analysis of cell viability and live/dead staining of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in nano- and micro-structured HT scaffolds and their drug release potentiation was carried out. The results showed that the nano-structured HT scaffolds have higher cell viability, biocompatibility and longer-term doxorubicin (DOX) release potential than the micro-structured ones. The results of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) analyses showed that the expression of adhesion and differentiation supporting genes were significantly higher in nano-structured HT scaffolds as compared to the micro-structured ones. The results of qRT-PCR also showed that the mRNA expression level of ERK1/2 and P38 MAPK from hMSCs were significantly higher in nano-structured HT scaffolds than the micro-structured ones. These results potentially open new aspects for using nano-structured scaffolds in bone tissue engineering applications.

The efficacy of Alginate/ Polyvinyl alcohol/ Hydroxyapatite nanopowders (Alg/PVA/HANPs) mats was investigated for increasing periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) differentiation into the osteoblast cells. The Alg/PVA/HANPs nanofibers were fabricated through electospinning process and following ionic crosslinking of Ca+2 and glutaraldehyde crosslinkers. The physical features of mats and expression of osteoblast cell markers were evaluated. Results showed the diameter of nanofiber increases with decreasing the incorporation of HANPs in Alg/PVA nanofiber. According to MTT assay the viability of cells on scaffolds are better in the all of groups, so the scaffolds were not toxic for the cultured cells. The osteogenic culture media appropriately enhanced osteopontin and osteocalcin markers. Furthermore, in vitro study indicated that the Alg/PVA/HANPs nanofiber provided a suitable three-dimensional structure for osteoblast cells differentiation. Thus, the Alg/PVA/HANPs scaffold can be recommended for in bone repair.

Rock fall related accidents continue to occur in coal mines, although artificial support mechanisms have been used extensively. Roof stability is primarily determined in many underground mines by a limited number of methods that often resort to subjective criteria. It is argued in this paper that stability conditions of mine roof strata, as a key factor in sustainability in coal mines, must be determined by a survey which proactively investigates fundamental aspects of said mine. Failure of rock around the opening happens as a result of both high rock stress conditions and the presence of structural discontinuities. The properties of such discontinuities affect the engineering behavior of rock masses causing wedges or blocks to fall from the roof or sliding out of the walls. A practical rule-based approach to assess the risk of a roof fall is proposed in the paper. The method is based on the analysis of structural data and the geometry and stability of wedges in underground coal mines. In this regard, an accident causing a huge collapse in a coal mine leading to 4 fatalities is illustrated by way of a case study. Horizontal and vertical profiles are prepared by geophysical methods to define the falling zone and its boundaries. The collapse is then modeled by the use of sophisticated computer programs in order to identify the causes of the accident. Keywords: Discontinuities, Rock fall, Coal mine, Prediction, UNWEDGE, Sustainability

The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of cellulose acetate/gelatin/nanohydroxyapatite (CA/Gel/nHA) nanocomposite mats as the wound dressing. The dressings were prepared with electrospinning of CA/Gel solutions containing 12.5, 25 and 50 mg nHA. The dressings were evaluated regarding their water uptake capacity, morphology, tensile strength, water vapour transmission rate, wettability and cellular response with L929 cell line. The results showed that the concentration of nHA had a direct correlation with porosity, water contact angle, water uptake, water vapor transmission rate and proliferation. In vivo studies showed that all dressings had higher wound closure percent than the sterile gauze, as the control. The highest wound closure value was achieved in the CA/Gel +25 mg nHA group, which showed 93.5 ± 1.6%. The histological and the histomorphometric examinations of the wounds revealed that the CA/Gel +25 mg nHA dressing had the greatest collagen synthesis, re-epithelialization, neovascularization and also the best cosmetic appearance. Based on our finding, it could be concluded the applicability of electrospun nanofibrous CA/Gel/nHA dressings for successful wound treatment.

The aim of this research was to investigate the ultrastructure of the photoreceptor layer of diabetic male Wistar rat retina. Ten apparently healthy Wistar adult rats (aged 75 days) were used and divided into two groups: (1) control group and (2) diabetic group (injected intraperitoneally with streptozotocin 90 mg/kg). Samples were taken as small pieces from the retina near the optic disc and studied using a transmission electron microscope. Results showed that outer segments loss, scattered inner segments, and condense and pyknotic nuclei and karyolysis were obvious in diabetic group. The quantitative evaluations of different layers of photoreceptor cells showed that a significant decrease was observed in outer segments, inner segments, and outer nuclear layers in diabetic group compared with control group. This study concluded that diabetes caused major signs of pathology in the ultrastructure of photoreceptor layer of the rat retina.

In present study silymarin was tested against damage of photoreceptor layer in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Fifteen adult male wistar rats divided into three groups of five rats each. Diabetes was induced in two groups of rats following injecting them with 90mg/kg streptozotocin for single dose. One group kept as control and silymarin in the dose of 500mg/kg was administered orally to one diabetic group for three months. Damage of photoreceptor layer in the rats was observed by transmission electron microscope. Results indicated that in silymarin treated diabetic group damage of photoreceptor layer were decrease compare with diabetic group. Damage of photoreceptor layer in diabetic group contains of outer segment loss, scattered inner segment, mitochondria loss and pyknotic nuclei in outer nuclear layer. Administration of silymarin to diabetic rats showed beneficial effect of prevention of damage of photoreceptor layer.