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Women with gestational diabetes mellitus show a high risk of developing Gestational Diabetes Induced Myopathy (GDiM). GDiM is characterized by significant pelvic floor skeletal muscle atrophy and urinary incontinence. This study aimed to develop a natural rubber latex (NRL) based biodevice with mesenchymal/stromal stem cells (MSCs) for skeletal muscle regeneration for women with GDiM. NRL showed porosity, roughness, biocompatibility, and bioactivity. MSCs adhesion on the NRL scaffold surface was assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confocal microscopy, and zymography. The scaffold's physicochemical and biological properties were carried out by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), swelling and degradation studies, hemolytic activity, and antioxidant activity (AA), using Electronic Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR). MSCs in culture expressed CD90, adhered to plastic, differentiated, and produced fibroblast colonies. A high rate of cell proliferation was seen in MSCs on the NRL scaffold. FTIR analysis confirmed protein structures and polyisoprene in the scaffold. Swelling and degradation showed low water uptake and weight loss. Furthermore, NRL presented a hemolytic rate of 2.90 ± 0.26 % for 24 h, and EPR revealed the scaffold's strong AA. The generated biodevice has potential for muscle regeneration and may be useful as a therapeutic option for skeletal muscle disorders in GDiM or urinary incontinence., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Natural rubber latex membrane (NRL) is a biocompatible macromolecule that stimulates angiogenesis and promotes bone repair. Similarly, β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) is an osteoconductive and osteoinductive bioceramic widely used as a bone substitute. Here, we investigated the combined use of these biomaterials in the guided bone regeneration process for calvarial defects in rats. Physicochemical characterization was performed to evaluate the interaction between β-TCP and NRL. Membrane toxicity was assessed using MC3T3 osteoblasts culture and in vivo assays with Caenorhabditis elegans. Lastly, NRL membranes, NRL incorporated with β-TCP membranes (NRL-β-TCP), and a periosteum-only (control group) were tested on rodents. MC3T3 cells adhered to membranes, preserving their morphology and intercellular connections. NRL-β-TCP membranes demonstrated no toxicity in larvae, which maintained their sinusoidal wave shape. Tests results on rodents revealed statistical difference between the groups at 60 days post-operation. NRL-β-TCP (56.1 ± 14.0 %) had an average 1.48-fold higher than the control group (38.0 ± 9.1 %), with tissue production and bone remodeling. Our qualitative histological analyses revealed that membranes significantly accelerated bone formation without any signs of inflammatory reactions. We conclude that NRL-β-TCP has potential to be used for flat bone regeneration, with osteoconductive properties, being a cheap, biocompatible, and effective occlusive barrier., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: P. H. F. Caria and R. D. Herculano reports financial support was provided by State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) and São Paulo State University (UNESP). P. H. F. Caria and R. D. Herculano reports financial support was provided by State of Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) and Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) for the State Funding Agencies. K. Giovanetti reports financial support was provided by Coordination of Higher Education Personnel Improvement (CAPES). If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. Lastly, the development of NRL-β-TCP membrane, and all the experiments regarding physicochemical characterization, cell culture (in vitro), worms (C. elegans) were performed by Rondinelli Donizetti Herculano's Group, while rodent's studies and histological analysis were carried out by Paulo Henrique F. Caria's Group. Rondinelli Donizetti Herculano's Group has also discussed and rewritten all in vivo and histological analysis., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Natural Rubber Latex (NRL) has shown to be a promising biomaterial for use as a drug delivery system to release various bioactive compounds. It is cost-effective, easy to handle, biocompatible, and exhibits pro-angiogenic and pro-healing properties for both soft and hard tissues. NRL releases compounds following burst and sustained release kinetics, exhibiting first-order release kinetics. Moreover, its pore density can be adjusted for tailored kinetics profiles. In addition, biotechnological applications of NRL in amblyopia, smart mattresses, and neovaginoplasty have demonstrated success. This comprehensive review explores NRL's diverse applications in biotechnology and biomedicine, addressing challenges in translating research into clinical practice. Organized into eight sections, the review emphasizes NRL's potential in wound healing, drug delivery, and metallic nanoparticle synthesis. It also addresses the challenges in enhancing NRL's physical properties and discusses its interactions with the human immune system. Furthermore, examines NRL's potential in creating wearable medical devices and biosensors for neurological disorders. To fully explore NRL's potential in addressing important medical conditions, we emphasize throughout this review the importance of interdisciplinary research and collaboration. In conclusion, this review advances our understanding of NRL's role in biomedical and biotechnological applications, offering insights into its diverse applications and promising opportunities for future development., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Films and coatings manufactured with bio-based renewable materials, such as biopolymers and essential oils, could be a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative for protecting and preserving agricultural products. In this work, we developed films and coatings from pectin and chitosan to protect strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) from spoilage and microbial contamination. We developed three coatings containing equal amounts of glycerol and Sicilian lemon essential oil (LEO) nanoemulsion. We identified seventeen chemicals from LEO by GC-MS chromatogram, including d-limonene, α-Pinene, β-Pinene, and γ-Terpinene. The pectin and chitosan coatings were further characterized using different physicochemical, mechanical, and biological methods. The films demonstrated satisfactory results in strength and elongation at the perforation as fruit packaging. In addition, the coatings did not influence the weight and firmness of the strawberry pulps. We observed that 100 % essential oil was released in 1440 min resulting from the erosion process. Also, the oil preserved the chemical stability of the films. Antioxidant activity (AA), measured by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR), showed that the coatings loaded with 2 % LEO nanoemulsion (PC + oil) showed that almost 50 % of AA from LEO nanoemulsion was preserved. The chitosan and the pectin-chitosan coatings (PC + oil) inhibited filamentous fungi and yeast contaminations in strawberries for at least 14 days, showing a relationship between the AA and antimicrobial results., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)