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The purpose of this study was evaluating the performance of new Bis-EFMA based bulk-fill composites with common methacrylate based composites and commercial dental composites. The Bis-EFMA monomer was synthesized and the novel Bis-EFMA based bulk-fill composites were prepared. The resin composite samples were co-cultured with human gingival epithelial cells and human dental pulp stem cells to test the biocompatibility. The edge adaptation was observed under a combination of stereoscope and scanning electron microscope. The internal hardness was measured using a Vickers microhardness tester after one-time filling of cavities prepared in extracted teeth. After friction and wear test on the surface of the resin composites, the surface morphology and volume wear of each group were measured by the optical profilometer. The color stability was measured by a colorimeter. Direct contact with human gingival epithelial cells and human dental pulp stem cells did not cause significant changes in their growth density and morphology, indicating good biocompatibility of Bis-EFMA group (p > 0.05). The continuous margin proportion of the Bis-EFMA group was as good as commercial bulk-fill composites (p > 0.05). The sectional microhardness results showed that the Bis-EFMA group had the highest microhardness. After the friction and wear test, the volume wear of the Bis-EFMA group was minimal, indicating its good wear resistance and mechanical strength. Color changes in all resin groups after 28 days of immersion were within the clinically acceptable range. The addition of Bis-EFMA demonstrated excellent biocompatibility, edge adaptation and color stability comparable to commonly used clinical bulk-fill composites, along with preferable mechanical strength, friction and wear resistance. Bis-EFMA based bulk-fill composites have the potential to be employed as a bulk filling material in commercial dental composite applications. • Bis-EFMA BF-DRCs showed good biocompatibility to the pulp periodontal tissue. • Bis-EFMA BF-DRCs adapted well to cavity wall. • The rigid structure got Bis-EFMA BF-DRCs higher microhardness and anti-friction property compared with SDR™. • Bis-EFMA BF-DRCs had reliable color stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathophysiology of several illnesses. Catalase (CAT), an antioxidant enzyme, remains a prime target for oxidative stress related therapies. Unfortunately, the labile nature, difficulty in recovering and reusing, and insufficient delivery systems limit its use in therapy. This study used a simple biomineralization process for the synthesis of vaterite porous calcium carbonate (CaCO 3) microspheres (MS) for the development of cross-linked immobilized (CAT-MS). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), particle size analysis, and zeta-potential measurements were used for CaCO 3 -MS characterization. CAT was immobilized efficiently with a high immobilization yield (99 %). The immobilized enzyme had a higher Km than free CAT with a 1.7 fold increase in Vmax and Kcat. CAT-MS displayed a longer half-life, efficient reusability, enhanced storage stability, and excellent stability against various denaturants compared to free CAT. Furthermore, CAT-MS demonstrated negligible cytotoxicity in the fibroblast cell line (BJ1), where CAT-MS recorded higher cell viability than free CAT, (p< 0.05) indicating exceptional biocompatibility. This study raises the potential of an eco-friendly approach that enforces wide and safe catalase application in intracellular therapy for treating oxidative stress-associated diseases. [Display omitted] • Catalase-loaded CaCO 3 microspheres (CAT-MS) were synthesized by a modified process. • High immobilization yield and prominent loading efficiency were achieved. • CAT-MS had a longer half-life and enhanced thermal and storage stability. • immobilization improved reusability and stability against various denaturants. • CAT-MS demonstrated high biocompatibility in vitro cell line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microstructure, mechanical, in vitro and in vivo behavior of extruded Mg alloys with varying Zn/Gd ratios, Mg‐2Gd‐2Zn‐0.5Zr (Zn/Gd = 1), Mg‐2Gd‐6Zn‐0.5Zr (Zn/Gd = 3), and Mg‐10Gd‐1Zn‐0.5Zr (Zn/Gd = 0.1) were investigated. The results revealed that the major secondary phases such as W (Mg3Zn3Gd2), (Mg,Zn)3Gd, LPSO (Long period stacking order) and I (Mg3Zn6Gd) phase in alloys depended on Zn/Gd ratio. These second phases influenced the mechanical as well as biological characteristics of the alloys. Among studied alloys, Mg‐10Gd‐1Zn‐0.5Zr alloy showed the highest yield strength and tensile strength of 270 (±9.29) and 330 MPa (±15.8), respectively, with a reasonably good elongation of 12% (±2.36). The presence of Gd2O3 in the degradation film of Mg‐10Gd‐1Zn‐0.5Zr enhanced the resistance offered by the film, which resulted in its lowest biodegradation, better viability, and cell proliferation under in vitro condition. The short term (subcutaneous implantation in rats for 1 month) in vivo studies showed that the alloy Mg‐10Gd‐1Zn‐0.5Zr degraded at a rate of 0.35 mm/y (±0.02) and did not induce any toxicity to the vital organs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In this study, polyurethane (PU) hydrogels were synthesized via mercapto curing reaction to elucidate the effect of molecular interactions between isocyanate and soft segments on the properties of hydrogels. Further, the mesh size, mechanical properties, hydrophilicity, and biological properties of the PU hydrogels were determined. In the isocyanate series, the structural regularity and rigidity of 4,4′‐dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate (HMDI) favored the formation of hydrogel materials with small mesh size, high modulus, and low water absorption. In contrast, l‐lysine diisocyanate (LDI) favored the materials with large mesh size, low modulus, and good hydrophilicity. In the soft‐segment series, the strong hydrogen bonds of polycarbonate diol (PCDL) favored the formation of materials with small mesh size, dense cross‐link points, and high modulus, whereas weak hydrogen bonds of polytetrahydrofuran ether glycol (PTMG) favored the hydrogel materials with small mesh size, few crosslink points, and low modulus. PU hydrogels exhibit excellent cytocompatibility, anti‐cell adhesion, and anti‐inflammatory properties. Therefore, this study offers valuable insights into understanding the chain structure and macroscopic properties, thus contributing to preparing PU hydrogels with varying performances, as desired. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silybin is a natural flavonolignan with potential anticancer, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective properties. In the present study, various loadings of silybin (1, 3, and 5 wt%) were encapsulated in poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) fibers by electrospinning, in order to produce new pharmaceutical composites with improved bioactive and drug delivery properties. The morphological characteristics of the composite fibrous structures were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the encapsulation efficiency and the release rate of silybin were quantified using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The analysis of the membranes' thermal behavior by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed the existence of interaction between PCL and silybin. An investigation of the cytocompatibility of the composite membranes revealed that normal cells displayed an unimpeded proliferation in the respective silybin concentrations; however, tumor cell growth demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibition. Furthermore, an effective antioxidant activity against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in HEK-293 cells was observed for the prepared electrospun fibrous mats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exogenous supplementation of L‐arginine (L‐Arg) facilitates the release of nitric oxide (NO) for gas therapy applications in tumor microenvironments rich in H2O2. However, direct administration inevitably leads to the premature release of hydrophilic L‐Arg in the bloodstream, potentially resulting in unstable plasma L‐Arg concentrations and subsequent adverse reactions. Therefore, it is crucial to identify efficient and stable high‐dose L‐Arg delivery carriers, albeit challenging. Here, the study has achieved high (≈94 mg g−1) and stable L‐Arg loading within a 12‐coordinated Yb‐based lanthanide metal‐organic framework (named Yb‐DOBDC, where DOBDC is 2,5‐dihydroxyterephthalic acid). Yb‐DOBDC features size‐matched apertures and oxygen‐rich pore microenvironments, securely entrapping L‐Arg through electrostatic interactions and conjugation effects, thereby enhancing the biostability of the drug during delivery. In vitro experiments demonstrate that L‐Arg‐loaded Yb‐DOBDC (L‐Arg@Yb‐DOBDC) promotes NO release upon H2O2 stimulation, and the Yb‐DOBDC framework exhibits good biocompatibility within cells. More interestingly, the near‐infrared‐luminescence‐emitting Yb‐DOBDC exhibits a "turn‐off" behavior upon gradual loading of L‐Arg, enabling self‐quantifying luminescence detection during the encapsulation process. Consequently, the L‐Arg@Yb‐DOBDC system designed in this work, with its high/stable loading capacity and self‐quantifying luminescence detection capability, holds theoretical research value and potential practical application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The protein from black soldier fly larvae was used as a functional ingredient of a novel green nanofiber. Larvae protein powder (LP) was blended with biodegradable poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) and processed in an electrospinning machine using a coaxial feeding/mixing method to produce nanofibers approximately 100-350 nm in diameter. To improve the dispersion and interface bonding of various PCL/LP nanofiber components, a homemade compatibilizer, maleic anhydridegrafted poly(e-caprolactone) (MPCL), was added to form MPCL/LP nanofibers. The structure, morphology, mechanical properties, water absorption, cytocompatibility, wound healing, and biodegradability of PCL/LP and MPCL/LP nanofiber mats were investigated. The results showed enhanced adhesion in the MPCL/LP nanofiber mats compared to PCL/LP nanofiber mats; additionally, the MPCL/LP nanofibers exhibited increases of approximately 0.7-2.2 MPa in breaking strength and 9.0-22.8 MPa in Young's modulus. Decomposition tests using a simulated body fluid revealed that the addition of LP enhanced the decomposition rate of both PCL/LP and MPCL/LP nanofiber mats and in vitro protein release. Cell proliferation and migration analysis indicated that PCL, MPCL, and their composites were biocompatible for fibroblast (FB) growth. Biodegradability was tested in a 30 day soil test. When the LP content was 20 wt%, the degradation rate exceeded 50%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials have shown promise as antimicrobial nanoscale agents to overcome antimicrobial resistance. Recently, studies investigating the biological activity of antimicrobial monoelemental 2D nanomaterials such as graphene, borophene, and germanene in biomedical applications have gained momentum. In this study, the silicene nanosheet was fabricated using a simple high-energy sonication method. The silicene nanosheets were characterized by various techniques such as HRTEM, XRD, and FTIR. According to the characterization results, the silicene nanosheet had unique morphology and structure with nano-size, crystallinity, ultra-thin shape, and stability. In particular, microbiological results of the nanostructure showed that it had efficient antibacterial and antifungal activities against various pathogens such as Gram-positive strains, Gram-negative bacteria, and fungal strains. The cytotoxicity study performed by MTT assay indicates the cytocompatibility of silicene nanosheets. This work has shown that the hexagonal honeycomb silicene nanosheet exhibits excellent antibacterial and antifungal activities with good biocompatibility and thus could be developed as a novel strategy for use in biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant obstacle in bone tissue engineering is the creation of biodegradable bone replacements with the requisite mechanical and biological capabilities to treat more severe and intricately shaped injuries. Baghdadite has recently indicated that active biological ions such as silicon (Si4+) and zirconium (Zr4+) have been proven to increase bone growth considerably. In this study, we produced 3D-printed PCL-based scaffolds containing different amounts of Baghdadite using the robocasting solvent technique. Notably, PCL with 40 and 60 wt.% Baghdadite scaffolds (PB40 and PB60) promoted a more biomimetic environment for in vitro bone growth as their proper bioactivity and cell viability results were obtained without the addition of osteoinductive components. The printing process produced 3D scaffolds with a compressive strength of 7.94 MPa and elastic modulus of 29.95 MPa in PB40. According to the analytical prediction models in PB40, the elastic modulus was 24.7 and 26.89 MPa. Also, adding 60 wt.% Baghdadite increased the degradation rate to 5.1% in two months, more than six times that of PCL-based scaffolds. Cell proliferation assay demonstrated that the optical density of MG63 cells after 7 days of culture increased from 1.43 ± 0.03 to 1.82 ± 0.20 in PB40 as compared to pure PCL scaffold. Furthermore, bioactivity evaluation, ion release assessment, and morphological observation results further revealed that incorporating Baghdadite into a 3D-printed PCL-based scaffold could improve bone regeneration. Our findings demonstrate that the PCL/Baghdadite composite scaffold may be efficiently manufactured using 3D-printing technology and is extremely promising for bone tissue engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silk fibroin is highly susceptible to damage during the extraction process. To address this issue, this study proposes an integrated degumming solution that uses a composite system of Na2CO3 and the surfactant SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate), combined with ultrasonic treatment. Silk fibroin fibers treated with this method exhibit a smoother and more even surface, with markedly less fiber damage. Compared to the traditional 100 °C alkaline degumming (30 min complete degumming), this scheme completes degumming in only 10 min at 75 °C. Nanofibrous membranes were prepared from these degummed fibers using electrospinning technology, and their β-sheet crystalline content increased to 49.58% after ethanol treatment, along with high tensile strength (5.27 MPa) and elongation at break (123.49%). Over a 5-day cell culture period, the membranes have supported cell adhesion, spreading and proliferation, demonstrating excellent cytocompatibility. These research findings provide a novel solution for the production of high-performance silk fibroin nanofibrous membranes and are expected to advance the application and development of silk fibroin materials in the biomedical field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study evaluated the cytocompatibility of three endodontic bioceramics in human periodontal-ligament-derived cells (hPDLCs): MTA Repair HP (HP), MTA Flow White (F), and Nishika Canal Sealer BG multi (BG). In addition, we also evaluated the effect of the powder–liquid (paste) ratio of F and BG on cytocompatibility. Discs of endodontic bioceramics (diameter = 8 mm, thickness = 1 mm) were prepared with HP, F, and BG. hPDLCs obtained from extracted teeth and cultured for three to five passages were used in the experiment. The prepared discs were placed at the bottom of a 48-well plate, seeded with hPDLCs at 100,000 cells/well, cultured for 7 or 28 days, and subjected to a 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. hPDLCs cultured without any discs were used as a negative control (NC) group. Discs made of F or BG mixed in three different consistencies were also used in this experiment. The absorbance values at days 7 and 28 were high in the order of HP > NC > BG > F. Furthermore, F or BG with higher consistency showed higher absorbance values. MTA Repair HP had the highest cytocompatibility among the three materials. Furthermore, it also showed that higher consistency improved cytocompatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) nanofibers embedded with borate glasses of 45B5 composition doped with Co2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+(46.1 B₂O₃26.9‐X CaO24.4 Na₂O2.6 P₂O₅, X CoO/CuO/ZnO mol % (X = 0–5)) were produced by electrospinning for wound healing applications. Prior to their addition, the glasses exhibited two broad halos typical of a vitreous borate network, which were mainly composed of ring‐type metaborate structural units. The particle distribution in the PHBV nanofibers embedded with 45B5 borate bioactive glasses is present in isolated and agglomerated states, being partially coated by a polymeric layer—except for the cobalt‐doped glass, which resulted in a successful encapsulation with 100% embedding efficiency. The incorporation of the glasses reduced the PHBV crystallinity degree and its decomposition temperature, as well as its mechanical properties, including Young's modulus, tensile strength, and elongation at break. The neat PHBV fibers and those containing the cobalt‐doped glasses demonstrated great cytocompatibility with human keratinocytes (HaCat), as suggested by the high cell viability after 7 days of exposure. Further studies are needed to fully understand the wound healing potential of these fibers, but our results significantly contribute to the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogel 3D printing holds immense potential in fields like personalized medicine, regenerative therapies, and organ creation, offering biocompatible structures similar to the extracellular matrix. Gelatin‐Methacryloyl (GelMA) emerges as a promising candidate, while its high viscosity poses a significant challenge, especially in vat photopolymerization‐based 3D printing. Here, a new approach is presented by using Hofmeister ionic effect to substantially reduce the viscosity of high‐content (up to 60%) Gelatin bioink at room temperature with enhanced mechanical performance of the printed structures. The thinning effect induced by chaotropic Hofmeister ions is investigated through complex viscosity analysis, optical rotation measurements, and sol–gel conversion studies. The thinning effect induced by chaotropic ions enables precise 3D printing of Gelatin hydrogel, achieving accuracy comparable to prints made with polymers. Furthermore, after polymerization, the cations of the chaotropic salt change their role to cross‐linkers, leading to stronger scaffolds that exhibit biocompatibility with robust cell attachment, proliferation, and suitability for cell growth. The combination facilitates the creation of customizable structures and high printing accuracy will promote the wide application of Gelatin in the development of patient‐specific implants, drug delivery systems, and tissue scaffolds, further improving medical treatment efficacy and personalized healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analogous of pixels to two-dimensional pictures, voxels—in the form of either small cubes or spheres—are the basic building blocks of three-dimensional objects. However, precise manipulation of viscoelastic bio-ink voxels in three-dimensional space represents a grand challenge in both soft matter science and biomanufacturing. Here, we present a voxelated bioprinting technology that enables the digital assembly of interpenetrating double-network hydrogel droplets made of polyacrylamide/alginate-based or hyaluronic acid/alginate-based polymers. The hydrogels are crosslinked via additive-free and biofriendly click reaction between a pair of stoichiometrically matched polymers carrying norbornene and tetrazine groups, respectively. We develop theoretical frameworks to describe the crosslinking kinetics and stiffness of the hydrogels, and construct a diagram-of-state to delineate their mechanical properties. Multi-channel print nozzles are developed to allow on-demand mixing of highly viscoelastic bio-inks without significantly impairing cell viability. Further, we showcase the distinctive capability of voxelated bioprinting by creating highly complex three-dimensional structures such as a hollow sphere composed of interconnected yet distinguishable hydrogel particles. Finally, we validate the cytocompatibility and in vivo stability of the printed double-network scaffolds through cell encapsulation and animal transplantation. Voxel bioprinting uses bio-ink droplets as building blocks to create functional tissue mimics, but manipulating small bio-ink droplets in 3D space can be challenging. Here, the authors report a bioprinting technology allowing prescribed assembly of bio-ink voxels to form robust 3D constructs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implantable biomedical patch used in treating abdominal wall defects requires antibacterial, anti‐adhesion, and pro‐healing activities to ensure surgical success and prevent postsurgical complications. However, it often encounters challenges in fulfilling these three critical properties simultaneously, as these processes can always be contradictory during treatment. Herein, to break the barriers between bactericidal activity and cytocompatibility, cell adhesion and anti‐adhesion, a bio‐inspired patch with an asymmetric Janus structure is developed. This bio‐inspired Janus patch features cicada wing‐inspired nanostructures on its top surface, enabling both mechano–bactericidal effects and promotion of fibroblast adhesion and proliferation, which stems from its inherent “selective biocidal activity” toward bacteria and mammalian cells. Subsequently, a poly‐zwitterion layer with robust nonfouling properties is grafted on the bottom surface, realizing cell adhesion and anti‐adhesion on two sides of the same patch. Compared to the commercially available polypropylene (PP) meshes, the top surface of the Janus patch, which faces the abdominal wall, demonstrates superior capabilities in preventing postoperative infection and promoting tissue repair. Simultaneously, the other side facing the viscera efficiently prevents any visceral tissue adhesion. With these prominent performances, the bio‐inspired Janus patch presents a pioneering strategy for designing next‐generation patches to treat abdominal wall defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated the effects of temperature and centrifugation time on the efficacy of removing uncured resin from 3D-printed clear aligners. Using a photo-polymerizable polyurethane resin (Tera Harz TC-85, Graphy Inc., Seoul, Korea), aligners were printed and subjected to cleaning processes using isopropyl alcohol (IPA) or centrifugation (g-force 27.95g) at room temperature (RT, 23 °C) and high temperature (HT, 55 °C) for 2, 4, and 6 min. The control group received no treatment (NT). Cleaning efficiency was assessed through rheological analysis, weight measurement, transparency evaluation, SEM imaging, 3D geometry evaluation, stress relaxation, and cell viability tests. Results showed increased temperature and longer centrifugation times significantly reduced aligner viscosity, weight (P < 0.05), and transmittance. IPA-cleaned aligners exhibited significantly lower transparency and rougher surfaces in SEM images. All groups met ISO biocompatibility standards in cytotoxicity tests. The NT group had higher root mean square (RMS) values, indicating greater deviation from the original design. Stress relaxation tests revealed over 95% recovery in all groups after 60 min. The findings suggest that a 2-min HT centrifugation process effectively removes uncured resin without significantly impacting the aligners' physical and optical properties, making it a clinically viable option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer remains a significant global health challenge, with traditional therapies like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation often accompanied by systemic toxicity and damage to healthy tissues. Despite progress in treatment, these approaches have limitations such as non-specific targeting, systemic toxicity, and resistance development in cancer cells. In recent years, nanotechnology has emerged as a revolutionary frontier in cancer therapy, offering potential solutions to these challenges. Nanoparticles, due to their unique physical and chemical properties, can carry therapeutic payloads, navigate biological barriers, and selectively target cancer cells. Metal-based nanoparticles, in particular, offer unique properties suitable for various therapeutic applications. Recent advancements have focused on the integration of metal-based nanoparticles to enhance the efficacy and precision of photodynamic therapy. Integrating nanotechnology into cancer therapy represents a paradigm shift, enabling the development of strategies with enhanced specificity and reduced off-target effects. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the pivotal role of metal-based nanoparticles in photodynamic therapy. We explore the mechanisms, biocompatibility, and applications of metal-based nanoparticles in photodynamic therapy, highlighting the challenges and the limitations in their use, as well as the combining of metal-based nanoparticles/photodynamic therapy with other strategies as a synergistic therapeutic approach for cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) has been successfully utilized as a 3D printed ceramic scaffold in the repair of non-healing bone defects; however, it requires the addition of growth factors to augment its regenerative capacity. Synthetic bone mineral (SBM) is a novel and extrudable carbonate hydroxyapatite with ionic substitutions known to facilitate bone healing. However, its efficacy as a 3D printed scaffold for hard tissue defect repair has not been explored. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the biocompatibility and cell viability of human osteoprecursor (hOP) cells seeded on 3D printed SBM scaffolds via in vitro analysis. METHODS: SBM and β-TCP scaffolds were fabricated via 3D printing and sintered at various temperatures. Scaffolds were then subject to qualitative cytotoxicity testing and cell proliferation experiments utilizing (hOP) cells. RESULTS: SBM scaffolds sintered at lower temperatures (600 °C and 700 °C) induced greater levels of acute cellular stress. At higher sintering temperatures (1100 °C), SBM scaffolds showed inferior cellular viability relative to β-TCP scaffolds sintered to the same temperature (1100 °C). However, qualitative analysis suggested that β-TCP presented no evidence of morphological change, while SBM 1100 °C showed few instances of acute cellular stress. CONCLUSION: Results demonstrate SBM may be a promising alternative to β-TCP for potential applications in bone tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work aims to develop a biopolymer-dextrin-based three-dimensional crosslinked hydrophilic material for antimicrobial delivery. The copolymer (Dxt-PNVA) has been prepared by in-situ grafting of poly(N-vinylacetamide), followed by cross-linking with N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide with dextrin. By varying the concentrations of the reactants, an optimized copolymer (Dxt-PNVA 5) with the lowest % of crosslinking has been chosen for biomedical applications. The copolymeric gel has been characterized in detail using various techniques, followed by its cytocompatibility study using HeLa Cell lines that confirm the cytocompatible nature of the material. Copolymeric gel is a suitable material for the effective release of two antimicrobials (amoxicillin trihydrate and ornidazole) from tablet formulation for a prolonged period of 24 h. The obtained data demonstrates that the cytocompatible hydrogel has the potential characteristics of a daily dose administration for amoxicillin trihydrate and ornidazole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA)—strontium-doped nanosize hydroxyapatite (SrHA) composite hydrogel scaffolds were developed using UV photo-crosslinking and 3D printing for bone tissue regeneration, with the controlled delivery capacity of strontium (Sr). While Sr is an effective anti-osteoporotic agent with both anti-resorptive and anabolic properties, it has several important side effects when systemic administration is applied. Multi-layer composite scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration were developed based on the digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing technique through the photopolymerization of GelMA. The chemical, morphological, and biocompatibility properties of these scaffolds were investigated. The composite gels were shown to be suitable for 3D printing. In vitro cell culture showed that osteoblasts can adhere and proliferate on the surface of the hydrogel, indicating that the GelMA-SrHA hydrogel has good cell viability and biocompatibility. The GelMA-SrHA composites are promising 3D-printed scaffolds for bone repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of conservative dentistry and endodontics, mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), commonly used, possesses advantages such as biocompatibility, antimicrobial properties and osteogenic potential. This study investigated the feasibility of utilizing membrane form mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) as a barrier membrane in guided bone regeneration (GBR) procedures. Membranes were electrospun from three different formulations: 15 w/v% Polycaprolactone (PCL), 13 w/v% PCL + 2 w/v% MTA (2MTA), and 11 w/v% PCL + 4 w/v% MTA (4MTA). Physicochemical and mechanical properties of the electrospun membrane were compared, encompassing parameters such as surface morphology, fiber diameter distribution, chemical composition, phase identification, tensile stress, pH variation, and water contact angle. Moreover, the antimicrobial properties against of the electrospun membranes were assessed through direct exposure to streptococcus aureus (S. aureus) and candida albicans (C. albicans). Additionally, on the 7th day, biocompatibility and cell attachment were investigated with respect to L929 (fibroblast) and MC3T3 (pre-osteoblast) cells. Inhibition of L929 cell infiltration and the expression of osteogenic related genes including osteocalcin (OCN), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and runt related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) in MC3T3 cells on 7th and 14th days were also investigated. PCL, 2MTA, and 4MTA exhibited no statistically differences in fiber diameter distribution and tensile stress. However, as the MTA content increased, wettability and pH also increased. Due to the elevated pH, 4MTA demonstrated the lowest viability S.aureus and C.albicans. All membranes were highly biocompatibility and promoted cell attachment, while effectively preventing L929 cell infiltration. Lastly 4MTA showed increase in OCN, ALP, and RUNX2 expression on both 7th and 14th day. The membrane form MTA possessed characteristics essential for a novel barrier membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitis vinifera L. is a natural source of bioactive compounds that is already used for cosmeceutical and nutraceutical approaches. However, their phytochemical and antioxidant properties, although studied, have not been fully explored. We aimed to characterize V. vinifera L. cv. Falanghina seed extracts in different polarity solvents (hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and a mixture of acetone–water) for their phytochemical contents, including the total phenolic compound content (TPC), free radical scavenging capacities, and antioxidant ability on HepG2 cells. We directly profiled the functional quality of V. vinifera seed extracts against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells, focusing on mitochondrial functions. The content of bioactive compounds was characterized by LC-MS. To assess the cytocompatibility of the extracts, a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was conducted. Results showed that extraction with ethyl acetate (18.12 mg GAE·g−1) and ethanol solvents (18.07 mg GAE·g−1), through Soxhlet, and with an acetone–water mixture (14.17 mg GAE·g−1), through maceration, yielded extracts rich in (poly)phenols, with good scavenging and antioxidant activity (98.32 I% for ethanol solvents and 96.31 I% for acetone–water mixture). The antioxidant effect of polyphenols is at least partially due to their capacity to maintain mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy, which elevates mitochondrial efficiency, resulting in diminished ROS production, hence re-establishing the mitochondrial quality control. These findings highlight the valorization of Vitis by-products to improve food functional characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: To overcome the natural visual consequences of the physiological aging process, the use of biodegradable fillers made of hyaluronic acid or sodium carboxymethyl cellulose is increasingly popular in modern esthetic medicine. Clinicians can choose from a wide range of fillers with variable compositions and rheological properties, and therefore with different application areas and injection depths. The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the most commonly used fillers for facial augmentation regarding their in vitro biocompatibility and to find potential correlations to their rheological properties. Materials and Methods: In the present study, direct and indirect in vitro cytotoxicity analysis according to DIN EN ISO 10993-5 were performed on 39 different filler materials for facial augmentation. Results: All fillers analyzed in this study overall showed satisfactory results in the direct and indirect cytocompatibility tests. While no material was outside the threshold values in the 2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulphenyl)-(2H)-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) cell viability and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) cell proliferation assays or in the live-dead staining, only 7 out of the 39 fillers reached the required values in the lactate dehydrogenase assay. Conclusion: All biodegradable fillers examined in this study were found to be sufficiently cytocompatible. Although the qualitative analysis of the test results showed differences between the fillers, no concrete correlation between test performance and composition or manufacturer of the fillers was found. Future efforts are required to provide clinicians with even better support in choosing the right filler for optimal outcome and patient satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have specific properties that result from their biosynthesis particularities. Chitosan can prevent pathogenic biofilm development. A wide palette of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) biological and physical-chemical properties are known. The aim of this study was to develop a hydrogel formulation (SeBNCSFa) based on ferulic acid-grafted chitosan and bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) enriched with SeNPs from Kombucha fermentation (SeNPsK), which could be used as an adjuvant for oral implant integration and other applications. The grafted chitosan and SeBNCSFa were characterized by biochemical and physical-chemical methods. The cell viability and proliferation of HGF-1 gingival fibroblasts were investigated, as well as their in vitro antioxidant activity. The inflammatory response was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of the proinflammatory mediators (IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β) in cell culture medium. Likewise, the amount of nitric oxide released was measured by the Griess reaction. The antimicrobial activity was also investigated. The grafting degree with ferulic acid was approximately 1.780 ± 0.07% of the total chitosan monomeric units, assuming single-site grafting per monomer. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy evidenced a convolution of BNC and grafted chitosan spectra, and X-ray diffraction analysis highlighted an amorphous rearrangement of the diffraction patterns, suggesting multiple interactions. The hydrogel showed a high degree of cytocompatibility, and enhanced antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial potentials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polylactic acid (PLA) was coated on biodegradable Mg–Zn–Mn alloys using a sol–gel coating technique for temporary implant applications. The presence of smooth, dense, crack-free PLA coating was evidenced using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and a scanning electronic microscope (SEM) equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) module. The strength of the bond between PLA and the Mg–Zn–Mn alloys was investigated as per ASTM D3359 and found to be 4B. The degradation behavior was evaluated using potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in a simulated body fluid (SBF) solution. The corrosion rate of the PLA–Mg–Zn–Mn sample was found to be 0.00363 mm/y, which is 73% better than the bare Mg–Zn–Mn sample (0.00493 mm/y). In addition, the results of the cytotoxicity assay indicated the cytocompatibility of the implant material on MG-63 osteoblast-like cells, confirming its safety on the bone cells. The efficacy of the use of PLA coating on the biodegradable Mg–Zn–Mn is due to the synergistic effect of both physical and chemical interactions between the PLA layer and the substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of healthy peri-implant soft tissues is critical to achieving the esthetic and biological success of implant restorations throughout all stages of healing and tissue maturation, starting with provisionalization. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of eight different implant provisional materials on human gingival fibroblasts at various stages of cell settlement by examining initial cell attachment, growth, and function. Eight different specimens-bis-acrylic 1 and 2, flowable and bulk-fill composites, self-curing acrylic 1 and 2, milled acrylic, and titanium (Ti) alloy as a control-were fabricated in rectangular plates (n = 3). The condition of human gingival fibroblasts was divided into two groups: those in direct contact with test materials (contact experiment) and those in close proximity to test materials (proximity experiment). The proximity experiment was further divided into three phases: pre-settlement, early settlement, and late settlement. A cell culture insert containing each test plate was placed into a well where the cells were pre-cultured. The number of attached cells, cell proliferation, resistance to detachment, and collagen production were evaluated. In the contact experiment, bis-acrylics and composites showed detrimental effects on cells. The number of cells attached to milled acrylic and self-curing acrylic was relatively high, being approximately 70% and 20-30%, respectively, of that on Ti alloy. There was a significant difference between self-curing acrylic 1 and 2, even with the same curing modality. The cell retention ability also varied considerably among the materials. Although the detrimental effects were mitigated in the proximity experiment compared to the contact experiment, adverse effects on cell growth and collagen production remained significant during all phases of cell settlement for bis-acrylics and flowable composite. Specifically, the early settlement phase was not sufficient to significantly mitigate the material cytotoxicity. The flowable composite was consistently more cytotoxic than the bulk-fill composite. The harmful effects of the provisional materials on gingival fibroblasts vary considerably depending on the curing modality and compositions. Pre-settlement of cells mitigated the harmful effects, implying the susceptibility to material toxicity varies depending on the progress of wound healing and tissue condition. However, cell pre-settlement was not sufficient to fully restore the fibroblastic function to the normal level. Particularly, the adverse effects of bis-acrylics and flowable composite remained significant. Milled and self-curing acrylic exhibited excellent and acceptable biocompatibility, respectively, compared to other materials.

Polyurethane/hydroxyapatite (PU/HA) composites are well-known for various biomedical applications. This study reports a chemical approach to improve the interaction between HA and PU matrix. HA was surface-modified with 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI). First, an isocyanate-modified HA (IHA) was synthesized by hydro-thermal method. Second, IHA was incorporated into a separately synthesized thermoplastic PU by a solvent casting technique. A series of PU/IHA composites was prepared by varying PU᾿s soft and hard segments. The IHA was added to PU (5 and 10 %). The FTIR spectra exhibited characteristic bands of urethane and HA, confirming the synthesis of the composites. XRD study showed the crystallite size of IHA (20 Å) with hexagonal geometry and an amorphous to semicrystalline nature of composites. SEM showed that composites displayed porous and granular morphology. The TGA thermograms of the composites revealed the thermal stability up to 400 °C. The IHA addition considerably improved hydrophilicity and degradation of the composites in simulated body fluid (SBF). MTT assay revealed improved cytocompatibility (> 80 %) of the composites. These results demonstrated an appreciable improvement in structure, morphology, hydrophilicity, degradation, and cytocompatibility of PU/IHA composites by chemical modification of HA. Hence, these composites possess remarkable potential for biomedical applications such as tissue regeneration.

Abstract The study investigated the effects of temperature and centrifugation time on the efficacy of removing uncured resin from 3D-printed clear aligners. Using a photo-polymerizable polyurethane resin (Tera Harz TC-85, Graphy Inc., Seoul, Korea), aligners were printed and subjected to cleaning processes using isopropyl alcohol (IPA) or centrifugation (g-force 27.95g) at room temperature (RT, 23 °C) and high temperature (HT, 55 °C) for 2, 4, and 6 min. The control group received no treatment (NT). Cleaning efficiency was assessed through rheological analysis, weight measurement, transparency evaluation, SEM imaging, 3D geometry evaluation, stress relaxation, and cell viability tests. Results showed increased temperature and longer centrifugation times significantly reduced aligner viscosity, weight (P

Hydrogels can form physically or chemically interactions with tissues and are widely used in the design of bioadhesive material. Polydopamine (PDA)/polyacrylamide (PAM)‐based adhesion hydrogels have emerged as one of the hydrogel adhesive materials with great potential for development. However, this type of hydrogel has low mechanical and adhesion properties, which has certain limitations in practical applications. Herein, inspired by the mussel adhesion mechanism, we introduced PDA into PAM/3‐aminophenylboronic acid grafted sodium alginate (SA‐PBA) double network system prepared a series of adhesive hydrogels, PDA was crosslinked by dynamic boronic ester bonds with SA‐PBA. The experimental results established that the hydrogels have favorable adhesive, anti‐fatigue, stretchable, and self‐healing properties. Cytocompatibility assay and in vitro hemolysis assay also indicated that the multifunctional hydrogel has excellent cytocompatibility and hemocompatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, we report the preparation of an injectable hydrogel by poly (N-isopropylacrylamide)-g-chitosan copolymer (CS-g-PNIPAAm)/gold nanoparticles (CS-g-PNIPAAm@AuNPs) hybrid hydrogel formation with gelatin using genipin as chemical crosslinker aimed for the local delivery of doxorubicin (DOX) in the breast cancer treatment. To prepare (CS-g-PNIPAAm), carboxyl terminated PNIPAAm was prepared via free radical polymerization in the presence of 3-mercaptopropionic acid and it was further grafted to CS via amine conjugation reaction. The chemical structure and porous architecture of the prepared hydrogel were characterized by FT-IR and SEM tests, respectively. The synthesized hydrogel was evaluated for in vitro degradation test. To assess the rheological behavior of hydrogels such as storage and loss modulus, the rheological test was performed. The DOX was released from the CS-g-PNIPAAm@AuNPs hydrogel in a pH-responsive manner which revealed an enriched release of DOX in acidic media. The cytotoxicity evaluation indicated that the prepared hydrogel alone remained cytocompatible on MCF-7 cells, while the DOX-loaded CS-g-PNIPAAm@AuNPs hydrogel could prompt cytotoxicity in examined cells. Based on these results, the DOX-loaded CS-g-PNIPAAm@AuNPs hydrogel could be considered an injectable thermo and pH-responsive system for the local delivery of DOX to breast cancer tumor cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shear thinning hydrogels are emerging as a potential candidate of embolic agents for minimally invasive transcatheter arterial embolization because of their advantages over the commonly used conventional solid and liquid embolic agents. The transformation from solid to liquid and vice versa on the application and removal of shear force enables the shear thinning hydrogels to successfully occlude vasculatures of any diameters and thus can be used for the treatment of diseased or injured vasculature, including vascular malformation and malignant or benign tumors. Imageability of the embolic gel is of paramount importance as for successful occlusion of vasculatures requires real-time monitoring of the deployment of the embolic agents. Here, we studied the effect of different contrast agents, including iohexol, OmnipaqueTM and tantalum microparticles, on the radiopacity on an established chitosan-nanoclay hydrogel system. The flow behavior and recoverability of the developed gels are not compromised by the addition of radiopaque contrast agents. The injection force of the gels through a clinically relevant catheter was measured to evaluate the practicality of hand injection. The gels exhibited exceptional contrast under x-ray imaging modality. In addition, the radiopaque gels demonstrated excellent hemocompatibility and cell biocompatibility, highlighting their potential for transcatheter arterial embolization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With over 9 million fatalities per year expected by 2030, infectious diseases will remain a significant burden on the world economy and cause high mortality rates. An excellent method to increase the bioactivity of levofloxacin (LEV) in pediatric abdominal wound repair is the finding of a stimuli-based drug delivery system (DDS). We designed and developed an LEV incorporated with zeolite imidazole framework-8 (ZIF-8) as a promising nanocarrier for wound healing applications. The spectral analysis and morphological analysis confirm the formation of our newly fabricated composites. Mouse embryonic fibroblast NIH3T3 cells, the cytotoxicity, cytocompatibility, and cell proliferation characteristics of LEV@ZIF-8 were evaluated in vitro. LEV@ZIF-8 composite considerably improved the biocompatibility against NIH3T3 cells after 72-h of exposure, according to in vitro experiments. Under acidic circumstances, the pH-responsive drug release studies exhibit superior LEV release, and in physiological circumstances, there is no unintended drug release. The LEV@ZIF-8 composite-treated cells demonstrate the most remarkable cell growth and migration method in a very short time, according to the results of the wound scratch experiment. The composite exposure concentration depended on inhibition against various microorganisms in the antibacterial activity testing. According to the study, LEV@ZIF-8 are appropriate and effective DDS for stimuli-based pediatric abdominal wound repair.

Herein, a novel strategy, namely Vat photopolymerization-assisted template replacement method was developed to achieve elaborate triply periodic minimal surface structure and different pore sizes in biodegradable Zn-based porous scaffolds. The pore structure, microstructure, phase constitution, degradation properties, mechanical performance, in vitro cytocompatibility and antibacterial activity were systematically investigated. As a result, triply periodic minimal surface structures with different pore sizes were successfully obtained in Zn–1Mg porous scaffolds. The actual porosity closely matched the designed porosity, demonstrating the efficacy of the new strategy in achieving precise pore structures with a difference below 2%. Zn–1Mg scaffolds, designed with a pore size of 780 mm, exhibited a uniaxial compressive strength of 59.95 MPa and an elastic modulus of 3.07 GPa. Furthermore, the mechanical integrity was well-maintained even after 28 days of immersion, attributed to the substantial deposition of calcium-phosphate-rich corrosion products within the porous structure. More importantly, a suitable weight loss rate of about 15% were confirmed after 28 days immersion, indicating a period for total degradation of approximately 13 months based on a linear degradation assumption. Further, the experimental scaffolds demonstrated good cytocompatibility with MC3T3-E1 preblast cells and exhibited significant antibacterial activity against both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

In the present work, seven Mg-Zn-Ag alloys with the nominal composition of Mg96-xZnxAg4 (x = 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32, 35 in at.%) were prepared by induction melting and single-roller melt-spinning. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses indicate the metallic glasses with three composition of Mg73Zn23Ag4, Mg70Zn26Ag4, and Mg67Zn29Ag4 were obtained successfully. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurement was used to obtain the characteristic temperature of Mg-Zn-Ag metallic glasses for the glass-forming ability analysis. The maximum glass transition temperature (Trg) was found to be 0.525 with a composition close to Mg67Zn29Ag4, which results in the best glass-forming ability. Moreover, the immersion test in simulated body fluid (SBF) demonstrate the relative homogeneous corrosion behavior of the Mg-Zn-Ag metallic glasses. The corrosion rate of Mg-Zn-Ag metallic glasses in SBF solution decreases with the increase of Zn content. The sample Mg67Zn29Ag4 has the lowest corrosion rate of 0.19 mm/yr, which could meet the clinical application requirement well. The in vitro cell experiments show that the Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells cultured in sample Mg67Zn29Ag4 and its extraction medium have higher activity. However, the Mg-Zn-Ag metallic glasses exhibit obvious inhibitory effect on human rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) tumor cells. The present investigations on the glass-forming ability, corrosion behavior, cytocompatibility and tumor inhibition function of the Mg-Zn-Ag based metallic glass could reveal their biomedical application possibility.

BACKGROUND: The repair of large-scale bone defects is still facing serious challenges. It is of great significance to develop personalized, low-cost, and osteogenic-inducing tissue engineering scaffolds for bone repair. OBJECTIVE: To explore the process of 3D printing bone tissue engineering scaffold containing pearl composite material by low-temperature condensation deposition method, and further test the physicochemical properties and in vitro biological functions of the composite scaffold. METHODS: Pearl powder was prepared by grinding and sieving. The pearl powder of different qualities was added into the poly-L-lactic acid ink, so that the mass ratio of pearl powder to poly-L-lactic acid was 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.5, respectively. The 3D-printed poly-L-lactic acid/pearl powder scaffolds were prepared using the low-temperature condensation deposition method. The microstructure, compressive properties, water contact angle, cytocompatibility, and in vitro bone differentiation ability of the printed poly-L-lactic acid/pearl powder composite scaffolds were detected. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Scanning electron microscopy showed that the five groups of scaffolds all had micropores with a diameter of 2 μm or even smaller, irregular shapes and interconnectivity. (2) All the five groups had good compressive properties. The compressive strength of the pearl powder 0.5 group was higher than that of the other four groups (P < 0.05). The water contact angle of the pearl powder 0.2 group and the pearl powder 0.5 group was smaller than that of the pearl powder 0 group (P < 0.01, P < 0.001). (3) Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were co-cultured with five groups of scaffolds for 1, 3, and 5 days, respectively. The cell proliferation in pearl powder 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.5 groups cultured for 3 and 5 days was faster than that in pearl powder 0 group (P < 0.05). After 1 day of culture, live-dead staining exhibited that the number of cells on the scaffold was small, but all of them were living cells. (4) Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were inoculated on the scaffold surface of the pearl powder 0 group and pearl powder 0.1 group respectively for osteogenic differentiation. The alkaline phosphatase activity induced for 4 and 6 days in the pearl powder 0.1 group was higher than that in the pearl powder 0 group (P < 0.05). (5) The results showed that the poly-L-lactic acid/pearl powder composite scaffold had good compressive strength, hydrophilicity, cytocompatibility, and osteogenic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemobrionic systems have attracted great attention in material science for development of novel biomimetic materials. This study aims to design a new bioactive material by integrating biosilica into chemobrionic structure, which will be called biochemobrionic, and to comparatively investigate the use of both chemobrionic and biochemobrionic materials as bone scaffolds. Biosilica, isolated from Amphora sp. diatom, was integrated into chemobrionic structure, and a comprehensive set of analysis was conducted to evaluate their morphological, chemical, mechanical, thermal, and biodegradation properties. Then, the effects of both scaffolds on cell biocompatibility and osteogenic differentiation capacity were assessed. Cells attached to the scaffolds, spread out, and covered the entire surface, indicating the absence of cytotoxicity. Biochemobrionic scaffold exhibited a higher level of mineralization and bone formation than the chemobrionic structure due to the osteogenic activity of biosilica. These results present a comprehensive and pioneering understanding of the potential of (bio)chemobrionics for bone regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frequent removal and reapplication of wound dressings can cause mechanical disruption to the healing process and significant physical discomfort for patients. In response to this challenge, a dynamic covalent hydrogel has been developed to advance wound care strategies. This system comprises aldehyde functionalized chondroitin sulfate (CS-CHO) and thiolated hyaluronic acid (HA-SH), with the distinct ability to form in situ via thiol–aldehyde addition and dissolve on-demand via the thiol–hemithioacetal exchange reaction. Although rarely reported, the dynamic covalent reaction of thiol–aldehyde addition holds great promise for the preparation of dynamic hydrogels due to its rapid reaction kinetics and easy reversible dissociation. The thiol–aldehyde addition chemistry provides the hydrogel system with highly desirable characteristics of rapid gelation (within seconds), self-healing, and on-demand dissolution (within 30 min). The mechanical and dissolution properties of the hydrogel can be easily tuned by utilizing CS-CHO materials of different aldehyde functional group contents. The chemical structure, rheology, self-healing, swelling profile, degradation rate, and cell biocompatibility of the hydrogels are characterized. The hydrogel possesses excellent biocompatibility and proves to be significant in promoting cell proliferation in vitro when compared to a commercial hydrogel (HyStem® Cell Culture Scaffold Kit). This study introduces the simple fabrication of a new dynamic hydrogel system that can serve as an ideal platform for biomedical applications, particularly in wound care treatments as an on-demand dissolvable wound dressing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have been investigated for biomedical applications in medical imaging due to their fluorescent properties, overall long-term stability, and excellent cytocompatibility and biocompatibility. Lignin is an organic polymer in the tissues of woody plants. It is also considered a byproduct of the wood and pulp industries. Hence, it presents as a renewable source of carbon nanoparticles. In this study, we report the synthesis and material and biological characterization of two colloidal suspensions of CQDs in water derived from lignin-based carbon. One was the native form of CQDs derived from lignin carbon, and the second was doped with nitrogen to evaluate material differences. Material characterization was carried out using various commonly used techniques, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), emission and absorbance spectra, zeta potential, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Thin films of CQDs were formed on glass and silicon substrates to assess the in vitro cytocompatibility with human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Observations suggest that the two forms of CQDs promote cell attachment within 24 h and sustain it for at least 7 days. The overall structure and shape of cells suggest a lack of any adverse or toxic effects of CQDs. The data lay down the novel foundation to support the use of lignin-derived CQDs in tissue engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation of a novel composite carrier of polydopamine-modified carbon fiber/polyurethane foam (PDA-CF/PUF) was proposed to improve cell immobilization and the fermentation of xylitol, which is an important food sweetener and multifunctional food additive. Candida tropicalis was immobilized on the composite carrier by adsorption and covalent binding. The properties and immobilization mechanism of the composite carrier and its effect on immobilized cells were investigated. It showed that the modification of PDA enhanced the loading of CF on the PUF surface and the adhesion of cells on the composite carrier surface. Also, the biocompatibility of carriers to cells was improved. In addition, the introduction of PDA increased the active groups on the surface of the carrier, enhanced the hydrophilicity, promoted the cells immobilization, and increased the xylitol yield. It was also found that expression of the related gene XYL1 in cells was significantly increased after the immobilization of the PDA-CF/PUF composite carrier during the fermentation. The PDA-CF/PUF was an immobilized carrier with the excellent biocompatibility and immobilization performance, which has great development potential in the industrial production of xylitol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Increase in infections caused by resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa poses a formidable challenge to global healthcare systems. P. aeruginosa is capable of causing severe human infections across diverse anatomical sites, presenting considerable therapeutic obstacles due to its heightened drug resistance. Niosomal drug delivery systems offer enhanced pharmaceutical potential for loaded contents due to their desirable properties, mainly providing a controlled-release profile. This study aimed to formulate an optimized niosomal drug delivery system incorporating stearylamine (SA) to augment the anti-bacterial and anti-biofilm activities of quercetin (QCT) against both standard and clinical strains of P. aeruginosa. QCT-loaded niosome (QCT-niosome) and QCT-loaded SA- niosome (QCT-SA- niosome) were synthesized by the thin-film hydration technique, and their physicochemical characteristics were evaluated by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), zeta potential measurement, entrapment efficacy (EE%), and in vitro release profile. The anti-P. aeruginosa activity of synthesized niosomes was assessed using minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MICs/MBCs) and compared with free QCT. Additionally, the minimum biofilm inhibitory and eradication concentrations (MBICs/MBECs) were carried out to analyze the ability of QCT-niosome and QCT-SA-niosome against P. aeruginosa biofilms. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity assay was conducted on the L929 mouse fibroblasts cell line to evaluate the biocompatibility of the formulated niosomes. FE-SEM analysis revealed that both synthesized niosomal formulations exhibited spherical morphology with different sizes (57.4 nm for QCT-niosome and 178.9 nm for QCT-SA-niosome). The EE% for cationic and standard niosomal formulations was reported at 75.9% and 59.6%, respectively. Both formulations showed an in vitro sustained-release profile, and QCT-SA-niosome exhibited greater stability during a 4-month storage time compared to QCT-niosome. Microbial experiments indicated that both prepared formulations had higher anti-bacterial and anti-biofilm activities than free QCT. Also, the QCT-SA-niosome exhibited greater reductions in MIC, MBC, MBIC, and MBEC values compared to the QCT-niosome at equivalent concentrations. This study supports the potential of QCT-niosome and QCT-SA-niosome as effective agents against P. aeruginosa infections, manifesting significant anti-bacterial and anti-biofilm efficacy alongside biocompatibility with L929 cell lines. Furthermore, our results suggest that optimized QCT-niosome with cationic lipids could efficiently target P. aeruginosa cells with negligible cytotoxic effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human cannot detect light with a wavelength exceeding 700 nm, primarily due to limitations in the physiological structure of the human eye. However, in certain specific scenarios, the ability to detect near-infrared (NIR) light proves to be extremely valuable. To attain this desired capability, NIR up conversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) were prepared and doped in the optical lens materials, aiming to obtain a NIR light "visible" optical lens. It is demonstrated that the doping of UCNPs in the optical lens materials does not significantly impact on their mechanical properties, optical properties, surface properties and it exhibits excellent biocompatibility in cell and animal experiments. More importantly, the UCNPs doping can convert NIR light into visible light within the material effectively and stably. The eyes can "see" the NIR light after wearing such UCNPs doped optical lens. Such NIR light visible optical lens could have great potential in actual applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, semi‐aromatic polyamide containing ether bond (PAE10T) was synthesized through nucleophilic substitution reaction using 1, 10‐N, N′‐bis(4‐fuorobenzamide) decane (BFBD) and hydroquinone (HQ) as the raw materials. And then the composites hydroxyapatite/semi‐aromatic polyamide (40%HA‐PAE10T and 60%HA‐PAE10T) were prepared by chemical precipitation method. Mechanical, SEM, FT‐IR, XRD, DSC, TGA and bioactivity tests were performed to characterize the structure, morphology, thermal and mechanical properties of PAE10T and its composites. Mechanical tests revealed that the difference of HA in weight played an important role in mechanical performance of the composites. Furthermore, in comparison with PAE10T, the 60%HA‐PAE10T showed the highest enhancement in compressive strength (133 MPa) at 75.9%, and the 40%HA‐PAE10T given expression to the best increase in bending strengths (97 MPa) at about 18.4%. The 40%HA‐PAE10T and 60% HA‐PAE10T exhibited the mechanical performances closed to the cortical bone of human. After 28 days of dip in the phosphate buffer saline (PBS), PAE10T, and its composites showed satisfactory stability. The cell culture results showed all composites gad good cytocompatibility, cells attached on the materials well with excellent morphology. All the experimental results showed that the composites were expected to have a good application in the field of compact bone repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The healing of damaged skin is a complex and dynamic process, and the multifunctional hydrogel dressings could promote skin tissue healing. This study, therefore, explored the development of a composite multifunctional hydrogel (HDCP) by incorporating the dopamine modified hyaluronic acid (HA-DA) and phenylboronic acid modified chitosan (CS-PBA) crosslinked using boric acid ester bonds. The integration of HA-DA and CS-PBA could be confirmed using the Fourier transform infrared spectrometer and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance analyses. The fabricated HDCP hydrogels exhibited porous structure, elastic solid behavior, shear-thinning, and adhesion properties. Furthermore, the HDCP hydrogels exhibited antibacterial efficacy against Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Subsequently, the cytocompatibility of the HDCP hydrogels was verified through CCK-8 assay and fluorescent image analysis following co-cultivation with NIH-3T3 cells. This research presents an innovative multifunctional hydrogel that holds promise as a wound dressing for various applications within the realm of wound healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dots (CDs) are a new type of nanomaterial with great potential in bioimaging, biosensing, and drug delivery. In this study, novel CDs were prepared from cumin seeds (Cuminum cyminum L) by pyrolysis. The pyrolysis method and several extraction steps were optimized to fabricate CDs from cumin seed. The size, structure, chemical composition, and photoluminescence properties of the CDs were characterized using size analyzer, zeta sizer, TEM, SEM, EDX, UV-Vis, fluorescence spectroscopy, and FTIR. The influence of the CDs on cell viability was investigated in A549, 3T3, and MCF-7 cell lines using MTT assay. The cancer cell imaging potential of the CDs was assessed using fluorescence microscopy. The results showed that the CDs with a mean diameter of 13.4 ± 3.7 nm and zeta potential of -23.3 ± 7.5 mv can be obtained by the pyrolysis of cumin seed powder. The obtained CDs exhibited strong and unique fluorescence properties when they were excited at different wavelengths, particularly 350 nm. The CDs were highly stable over time, and their fluorescence properties remained unchanged after three months. Apart from the physicochemical properties of the CDs, cell viability assays showed that these CDs were non-toxic to A549, MCF-7, and 3T3 cells, over 90% of the cells were viable after 24 h, even at the highest concentration (1000 µg/ml). The CDs successfully penetrated the MCF-7 cells as revealed by fluorescent images. Taken together, the fluorescent CDs derived from cumin seeds through the presented facile technique indicated excellent and stable fluorescence properties. In addition, these CDs were highly biocompatible in vitro and could be a potential option for theragnostic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delivering functional gene into targeted skin cells or tissues to modulate the genes expression, has the potential to treat various hereditary cutaneous disorders. Nevertheless, the lack of safe and effective gene delivery vehicles greatly limits the clinical translation of gene therapy for inherited skin diseases. Herein, we developed a facile elution fractionation strategy to isolate eight HPAEs with M w ranging from 7.6 to 131.8 kg/mol and Đ < 2.0 from the one crude HPAE 23.7k , and investigated the expression efficiency for TGM1 and COL7A1 plasmids. Gene transfection results revealed that the intermediate MW HPAEs, HPAE 20.6k , exhibited the highest gene transfection efficiency (46.4%) and the strongest mean fluorescence intensity (143,032 RLU), compared to other isolated components and the crude product. Importantly, best-performing isolated HPAE effectively delivered COL7A1 (15,974 bp) and TGM1 (7181 bp) plasmids, promoting the efficient expression of type VII collagen (C7) and transglutaminase-1 proteins in cutaneous cells. Our study establishes a straightforward step-by-step elution fractionation strategy for the development of HPAEs gene delivery vectors, expediting their clinical translation in inherited skin diseases. HPAEs crude polymer is fractionated to eight HPAEs with M w ranging from 7.6 to 131.8 kg/mol and Đ < 2.0. The best-performing isolated HPAE effectively delivered COL7A1 (15,974 bp) and TGM1 (7181 bp) plasmids, promoting the efficient expression of type VII collagen (C7) and transglutaminase-1 proteins in cutaneous cells. [Display omitted] • We establish a straightforward step-by-step elution fractionation strategy to isolate HPAEs with different molecular weight. • Isolated intermediate molecular weight HPAEs exhibit high transfection efficiency and biocompatibility in diverse cell types. • The top-performing HPAEs efficiently deliver TGM and COL7A1 DNA to potentially rescue hereditary cutaneous disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study bioelastomeric co‐polymer comprised of glycerol, sebacic acid, and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate, loaded with varied contents of nanohydroxyapatite (0%–8%) has been synthesized via polycondensation reaction. The mechanical properties, that is, tensile and compressive strength and modulus have been enhanced due to the addition of silane‐treated nanohydroxyapatite. The optimal mechanical properties for these nanocomposites have been found to be at 7% nanohydroxyapatite loading. X‐Ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed efficient dispersion of nanohydroxyapatite throughout the matrix as particles and as well as agglomerates. The synthesized composite was found to be cytocompatible and showed excellent biocompatibility by forming thick apatite layers in simulated body fluid. Highlights: Synthesis of PGS/nHA bioelastomeric nanocomposite via polycondensation.Characterization of nanocomposite with FTIR, TGA, XRD, SEM, AFM.Water absorption, bioactivity and cytocompatibility assessment.In vitro degradation evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The self‐assembly in aqueous solution of three Fmoc‐amino acids with hydrophobic (aliphatic or aromatic, alanine or phenylalanine) or hydrophilic cationic residues (arginine) is compared. The critical aggregation concentrations were obtained using intrinsic fluorescence or fluorescence probe measurements, and conformation was probed using circular dichroism spectroscopy. Self‐assembled nanostructures were imaged using cryo‐transmission electron microscopy and small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS). Fmoc‐Ala is found to form remarkable structures comprising extended fibril‐like objects nucleating from spherical cores. In contrast, Fmoc‐Arg self‐assembles into plate‐like crystals. Fmoc‐Phe forms extended structures, in a mixture of straight and twisted fibrils coexisting with nanotapes. Spontaneous flow alignment of solutions of Fmoc‐Phe assemblies is observed by SAXS. The cytocompatibility of the three Fmoc‐amino acids was also compared via MTT [3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide] mitochondrial activity assays. All three Fmoc‐amino acids are cytocompatible with L929 fibroblasts at low concentration, and Fmoc‐Arg shows cell viability up to comparatively high concentration (0.63 mM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The frontiers of antibacterial materials in the biomedical field are constantly evolving since infectious diseases are a continuous threat to human health. In this work, waste-wool-derived keratin electrospun nanofibers were blended with copper by an optimized impregnation procedure to fabricate antibacterial membranes with intrinsic biological activity, excellent degradability and good cytocompatibility. The keratin/copper complex electrospun nanofibers were multi-analytically characterized and the main differences in their physical–chemical features were related to the crosslinking effect caused by Cu2+. Indeed, copper ions modified the thermal profiles, improving the thermal stability (evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry), and changed the infrared vibrational features (determined by infrared spectroscopy) and the chemical composition (studied by an X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy probe and optical emission spectrometry). The copper impregnation process also affected the morphology, leading to partial nanofiber swelling, as evidenced by scanning electron microscopy analyses. Then, the membranes were successfully tested as antibacterial materials against gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli. Regarding cytocompatibility, in vitro assays performed with L929 cells showed good levels of cell adhesion and proliferation (XTT assay), and no significant cytotoxic effect, in comparison to bare keratin nanofibers. Given these results, the material described in this work can be suitable for use as antibiotic-free fibers for skin wound dressing or membranes for guided tissue regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]