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Abstract Electroconductive polymers are the materials of interest for the fabrication of electro-conductive tissues. Metal ions through the redox systems offer polymers with electrical conductivity. In this study, we processed a gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) network with gold nanoparticles (GNPs) through a redox system with parahydroxybenzaldehyde (PHB) or curcumin to enhance its electrical conductivity. Induction of the redox system with both PHB and curcumin into the GelMA, introduced some new functional groups into the polymeric network, as it has been confirmed by H-NMR and FTIR. These new bonds resulted in higher electro-conductivity when GNPs were added to the polymer. Higher electroactivity was achieved by PHB compared to the curcumin-induced redox system, and the addition of GNPs without redox system induction showed the lowest electroactivity. MTT was used to evaluate the biocompatibility of the resultant polymers, and the PHB-treated hydrogels showed higher proliferative effects on the cells. The findings of this study suggest that the introduction of a redox system by PHB in the GelMA network along with GNPs can contribute to the electrochemical properties of the material. This electroactivity can be advantageous for tissue engineering of electro-conductive tissues like cardiac and nervous tissues. Graphical Abstract

Lung cancer remains as the leading cause of cancer-related fatalities globally, posing significant challenges to conventional treatment methods, particularly in advanced stages where limitations and adverse effects are prevalent. Nanotechnology offers promising solutions to enhance lung cancer therapy. Inorganic nanomaterials, such as metal nanoparticles, rare earth elements, and carbonaceous materials, exhibit unique properties that can address these challenges. Metal nanoparticles facilitate targeted drug delivery, biosensing, and imaging, while rare earth elements demonstrate selective cytotoxic effects and imaging capabilities. Carbonaceous materials find applications in biosensing and drug delivery, including carbon ion radiotherapy. These advancements in inorganic nanomaterials present an opportunity to revolutionize lung cancer treatment, potentially leading to improved outcomes and better patient well-being. This paper focuses on recent progress in utilizing inorganic nanomaterials for treating lung cancer, aiming to provide a clearer understanding of their benefits compared to conventional treatments, along with an in-depth examination of their associated limitations and adverse effects.

Chitosan is promising for wound care solutions owing to its high biocompatibility, biodegradability, hemostasis, antimicrobial activity, and promotion of tissue regeneration. However, its antibacterial property is insufficient for some infected wounds and local conditions. Given the high antibacterial activity of copper, this work focused on synthesizing chitosan-copper complexes with 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 % copper to chitosan's amine groups, followed by electrospinning them with polyvinyl alcohol. The mats exhibited promising vapor transition rates ranging from 2800 ± 33 to 3201 ± 48 g/m2.day and a dual-phase release of copper, with an initial burst followed by a sustained release over 7 days. Superior fibroblast cell cytocompatibility was observed up to 12 % copper, with accelerated re-epithelialization and cell migration to 6 % copper. Antibacterial efficacy against both gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus)S. aureus(and gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria was effective beyond 3 % copper. Typically, the optimal concentration of copper was identified at 6 %, exhibiting a balance of antibacterial activity and biocompatibility, with the ability to cover 98.0 ± 0.8 % of the wound area in only 24 h and increase cell proliferation by 189 ± 11 % within 5 days.

Heparin is a negatively charged polysaccharide with various chain lengths and a hydrophilic backbone. Due to its fascinating chemical and physical properties, nontoxicity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, heparin has been extensively used in different fields of medicine, such as cardiovascular and hematology. This review highlights recent and future advancements in designing materials based on heparin for various biomedical applications. The physicochemical and mechanical properties, biocompatibility, toxicity, and biodegradability of heparin are discussed. In addition, the applications of heparin-based materials in various biomedical fields, such as drug/gene delivery, tissue engineering, cancer therapy, and biosensors, are reviewed. Finally, challenges, opportunities, and future perspectives in preparing heparin-based materials are summarized.

Abstract Viruses are a major cause of mortality and socio-economic downfall despite the plethora of biopharmaceuticals designed for their eradication. Conventional antiviral therapies are often ineffective. Live-attenuated vaccines can pose a safety risk due to the possibility of pathogen reversion, whereas inactivated viral vaccines and subunit vaccines do not generate robust and sustained immune responses. Recent studies have demonstrated the potential of strategies that combine nanotechnology concepts with the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of viral infectious diseases. The present review provides a comprehensive introduction to the different strains of viruses involved in respiratory diseases and presents an overview of recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of viral infections based on nanotechnology concepts and applications. Discussions in diagnostic/therapeutic nanotechnology-based approaches will be focused on H1N1 influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, human parainfluenza virus type 3 infections, as well as COVID-19 infections caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus Delta variant and new emerging Omicron variant. Graphical Abstract

Regeneration of craniofacial bone defects is a key issue in the bone regeneration field. Hence, novel treatment strategies, such as tissue engineering using porous scaffolds, have been developed. An ideal tissue-engineered scaffold for bone tissue regeneration should possess pores to facilitate nutrients transmission and support reparative tissue ingrowth, bioactivity for osteoconduction and osseointegration, and biocompatibility to improve cell attachment, proliferation, and extracellular matrix formation. In the present study, we manufactured chitosan-based hydrogels substituted with alginate with optimized properties by extrusion-based three-dimensional (3D) printing. 3D printing of the scaffolds enables the designing and developing of complex architectures for craniofacial reconstruction using computer-aided design (CAD). Different ratios (2.5, 5, and 10%) of hydroxyapatite were added to the hydrogel, printed, and subsequently lyophilized to augment the physical and biological characteristics of the scaffolds. Hydroxyapatite incorporation into the chitosan-based scaffolds increased the porosity and pore size of the printed scaffolds. In addition, the presence of hydroxyapatite amplified apatite formation and decreased the size of formed apatite crystals. All the scaffold samples showed biocompatible properties and did not have toxicity toward rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Furthermore, the scaffolds containing 5% w/w hydroxyapatite exhibited significant growth in cell viability compared to the control. Overall, it is concluded that chitosan-based scaffolds adorned with hydroxyapatite are considerable for regenerating craniofacial bone defects.

Abstract Background One of the most malignant tumors in men is prostate cancer that is still incurable due to its heterogenous and progressive natures. Genetic and epigenetic changes play significant roles in its development. The RNA molecules with more than 200 nucleotides in length are known as lncRNAs and these epigenetic factors do not encode protein. They regulate gene expression at transcriptional, post-transcriptional and epigenetic levels. LncRNAs play vital biological functions in cells and in pathological events, hence their expression undergoes dysregulation. Aim of review The role of epigenetic alterations in prostate cancer development are emphasized here. Therefore, lncRNAs were chosen for this purpose and their expression level and interaction with other signaling networks in prostate cancer progression were examined. Key scientific concepts of review The aberrant expression of lncRNAs in prostate cancer has been well-documented and progression rate of tumor cells are regulated via affecting STAT3, NF-κB, Wnt, PI3K/Akt and PTEN, among other molecular pathways. Furthermore, lncRNAs regulate radio-resistance and chemo-resistance features of prostate tumor cells. Overexpression of tumor-promoting lncRNAs such as HOXD-AS1 and CCAT1 can result in drug resistance. Besides, lncRNAs can induce immune evasion of prostate cancer via upregulating PD-1. Pharmacological compounds such as quercetin and curcumin have been applied for targeting lncRNAs. Furthermore, siRNA tool can reduce expression of lncRNAs thereby suppressing prostate cancer progression. Prognosis and diagnosis of prostate tumor at clinical course can be evaluated by lncRNAs. The expression level of exosomal lncRNAs such as lncRNA-p21 can be investigated in serum of prostate cancer patients as a reliable biomarker.

Abstract Repairing of large bone injuries is an important problem in bone regeneration field. Thus, developing new therapeutic approaches such as tissue engineering using 3D scaffolds is necessary. Incorporation of some bioactive materials and trace elements can improve scaffold properties. We made chitosan/alginate/strontium-doped bioglass composite scaffolds with optimized properties for bone tissue engineering. Bioglass (BG) and Sr-doped bioglasses (Sr-BG) were synthesized using Sol–Gel method. Alginate-Chitosan (Alg/Cs) scaffold and scaffolds containing different ratio (10%, 20% and 30%) of BG (Alg/Cs/BG10, 20, 30) or Sr-BG (Alg/Cs/Sr-BG10, 20, 30) were fabricated using freeze drying method. Characterization of bioglasses/scaffolds was done using zeta sizer, FTIR, XRD, (FE) SEM and EDS. Also, mechanical strength, antibacterial effect degradation and swelling profile of scaffolds were evaluated. Bone differentiation efficiency and viability of MSCs on scaffolds were determined by Alizarin Red, ALP and MTT methods. Cell toxicity and antibacterial effect of bioglasses were determined using MTT, MIC and MBC methods. Incorporation of BG into Alg/Cs scaffolds amplified biomineralization and mechanical properties along with improved swelling ratio, degradation profile and cell differentiation. Mechanical strength and cell differentiation efficiency of Alg/Cs/BG20 scaffold was considerably higher than scaffolds with lower or higher BG concentrations. Alg/Cs/Sr-BG scaffolds had higher mechanical stability and more differentiation efficiency in comparison with Alg/Cs and Alg/Cs/BG scaffolds. Also, Mechanical strength and cell differentiation efficiency of Alg/Cs/Sr-BG20 scaffold was considerably higher than scaffolds with various Sr-BG concentrations. Biomineralization of Alg/Cs/BG scaffolds slightly was higher than Alg/Cs/Sr-BG scaffolds. Overall, we concluded that Alg/Cs/Sr-BG20 scaffolds are more suitable for repairing bone major injuries.

Background and aims: The presence of an appropriate scaffold at the wound site could significantly improve the healing process. In this study, we aimed to prepare a biomimetic nanocomposite scaffold composed of chitosan, gelatin, and 58S bioglass nanoparticles for skin tissue engineering. Methods: The nanocomposite scaffolds composed of chitosan, gelatin, and 58S bioglass nanoparticles were fabricated through electrospinning process. Then the cell viability assay was performed in order to evaluate the biological properties of the membranes. The optimum concentration of bioglass nanoparticles was determined for further studies. In vitro characterization was also performed to evaluate physicochemical properties of the scaffolds. Results: The chitosan/gelatin scaffold containing 2% of 58S bioglass nanoparticles showed no cell toxicity, and the dermal fibroblasts were found capable of proliferation on the membrane. The in vitro results obtained from the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and porosity tests demonstrated the appropriate properties of the membrane as a scaffold for skin regeneration. Conclusions: It was concluded that a chitosan-gelatin membrane containing 2% of 58S bioglass nanoparticles had the potential to function as a scaffold to accelerate wound healing due to its suitable properties, such as high porosity, high surface/volume ratio, and excellent biocompatibility.

Abstract Urological cancers are among the most common malignancies around the world. In particular, bladder cancer severely threatens human health due to its aggressive and heterogeneous nature. Various therapeutic modalities have been considered for the treatment of bladder cancer although its prognosis remains unfavorable. It is perceived that treatment of bladder cancer depends on an interdisciplinary approach combining biology and engineering. The nanotechnological approaches have been introduced in the treatment of various cancers, especially bladder cancer. The current review aims to emphasize and highlight possible applications of nanomedicine in eradication of bladder tumor. Nanoparticles can improve efficacy of drugs in bladder cancer therapy through elevating their bioavailability. The potential of genetic tools such as siRNA and miRNA in gene expression regulation can be boosted using nanostructures by facilitating their internalization and accumulation at tumor sites and cells. Nanoparticles can provide photodynamic and photothermal therapy for ROS overgeneration and hyperthermia, respectively, in the suppression of bladder cancer. Furthermore, remodeling of tumor microenvironment and infiltration of immune cells for the purpose of immunotherapy are achieved through cargo‐loaded nanocarriers. Nanocarriers are mainly internalized in bladder tumor cells by endocytosis, and proper design of smart nanoparticles such as pH‐, redox‐, and light‐responsive nanocarriers is of importance for targeted tumor therapy. Bladder cancer biomarkers can be detected using nanoparticles for timely diagnosis of patients. Based on their accumulation at the tumor site, they can be employed for tumor imaging. The clinical translation and challenges are also covered in current review.

Abstract Green chemistry has been a growing multidisciplinary field in recent years showing great promise in biomedical applications, especially for cancer therapy. Chitosan (CS) is an abundant biopolymer derived from chitin and is present in insects and fungi. This polysaccharide has favorable characteristics, including biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ease of modification by enzymes and chemicals. CS‐based nanoparticles (CS‐NPs) have shown potential in the treatment of cancer and other diseases, affording targeted delivery and overcoming drug resistance. The current review emphasizes on the application of CS‐NPs for the delivery of a chemotherapeutic agent, doxorubicin (DOX), in cancer therapy as they promote internalization of DOX in cancer cells and prevent the activity of P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp) to reverse drug resistance. These nanoarchitectures can provide co‐delivery of DOX with antitumor agents such as curcumin and cisplatin to induce synergistic cancer therapy. Furthermore, co‐loading of DOX with siRNA, shRNA, and miRNA can suppress tumor progression and provide chemosensitivity. Various nanostructures, including lipid‐, carbon‐, polymeric‐ and metal‐based nanoparticles, are modifiable with CS for DOX delivery, while functionalization of CS‐NPs with ligands such as hyaluronic acid promotes selectivity toward tumor cells and prevents DOX resistance. The CS‐NPs demonstrate high encapsulation efficiency and due to protonation of amine groups of CS, pH‐sensitive release of DOX can occur. Furthermore, redox‐ and light‐responsive CS‐NPs have been prepared for DOX delivery in cancer treatment. Leveraging these characteristics and in view of the biocompatibility of CS‐NPs, we expect to soon see significant progress towards clinical translation.

Abstract MicroRNAs (miRNAs) as therapeutic agents have attracted increasing interest in the past decade owing to their significant effectiveness in treating a wide array of ailments. These polymerases II‐derived noncoding RNAs act through post‐transcriptional controlling of different proteins and their allied pathways. Like other areas of medicine, researchers have utilized miRNAs for managing acute and chronic wounds. The increase in the number of patients suffering from either under‐healing or over‐healing wound demonstrates the limited efficacy of the current wound healing strategies and dictates the demands for simpler approaches with greater efficacy. Various miRNA can be designed to induce pathway beneficial for wound healing. However, the proper design of miRNA and its delivery system for wound healing applications are still challenging due to their limited stability and intracellular delivery. Therefore, new miRNAs are required to be identified and their delivery strategy needs to be optimized. In this review, we discuss the diverse roles of miRNAs in various stages of wound healing and provide an insight on the most recent findings in the nanotechnology and biomaterials field, which might offer opportunities for the development of new strategies for this chronic condition. We also highlight the advances in biomaterials and delivery systems, emphasizing their challenges and resolutions for miRNA‐based wound healing. We further review various biovectors (e.g., adenovirus and lentivirus) and abiotic materials such as organic and inorganic nanomaterials, along with dendrimers and scaffolds, as the delivery systems for miRNA‐based wound healing. Finally, challenges and opportunities for translation of miRNA‐based strategies into clinical applications are discussed.

Abstract A proper self‐regenerating capability is lacking in human cardiac tissue which along with the alarming rate of deaths associated with cardiovascular disorders makes tissue engineering critical. Novel approaches are now being investigated in order to speedily overcome the challenges in this path. Tissue engineering has been revolutionized by the advent of nanomaterials, and later by the application of carbon‐based nanomaterials because of their exceptional variable functionality, conductivity, and mechanical properties. Electrically conductive biomaterials used as cell bearers provide the tissue with an appropriate microenvironment for the specific seeded cells as substrates for the sake of protecting cells in biological media against attacking mechanisms. Nevertheless, their advantages and shortcoming in view of cellular behavior, toxicity, and targeted delivery depend on the tissue in which they are implanted or being used as a scaffold. This review seeks to address, summarize, classify, conceptualize, and discuss the use of carbon‐based nanoparticles in cardiac tissue engineering emphasizing their conductivity. We considered electrical conductivity as a key affecting the regeneration of cells. Correspondingly, we reviewed conductive polymers used in tissue engineering and specifically in cardiac repair as key biomaterials with high efficiency. We comprehensively classified and discussed the advantages of using conductive biomaterials in cardiac tissue engineering. An overall review of the open literature on electroactive substrates including carbon‐based biomaterials over the last decade was provided, tabulated, and thoroughly discussed. The most commonly used conductive substrates comprising graphene, graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes, and carbon nanofibers in cardiac repair were studied.

Treatment of burn injuries with Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is a great promise due to their unique properties. As two natural and functional wound dressing, Chitosan and Aloe-Vera gel assist wound regeneration by providing a proper environment. In the current study, we aimed to compare the effect of encapsulated BMSCs in Chitosan-based gel and Aloe-Vera gel on the healing of grade-II burn injuries compared to other groups in the rat. After creation of a 2 × 2 cm grade-II burn on dorsal skin of rats, treatments were performed for each group. The wound closure rate and healing properties were evaluated by histopathological analysis on 7, 14, 21 and, 28 days post-treatment. The expression rate of VEGF, Collagen-I and Collagen-III genes was also assessed on days 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 performing qRT-PCR. The full wound healing with inconsiderable scar formation was achieved for Aloe-vera/BMSCs and Chitosan/BMSCs group on 28th day post-treatment. Pathological results also demonstrated the highest angiogenesis and granulation tissue formation for Aloe-vera/BMSCs and Chitosan/BMSCs groups respectively. The expression level of VEGF, Collagen-I, and Collagen-III genes was significantly higher in these groups on days 14 and 21, compared to other groups. Results demonstrated the synergistic effect of BMSCs when combined with Chitosan or Aloe-vera gel enhanced the healing process of wound healing more than chitosan gel treatment. Therefore, this gel can be considered as effective approaches for treatment of burn injuries.

Ionic liquids have developed as a new class of low-temperature molten salts which are formed of weakly corresponding cations and anions. Efforts to extend the ionic liquids applications across different research arenas have grown in recent years with growths in understanding and tailoring their physical, chemical, and biological properties. The use of ionic liquids as a source/media for the synthesis and stabilization of metal nanostructures has gained more popularity recently owing to their ability to be personalized in varying sizes, and morphologies. The metal nanostructures synthesized in the presence of ionic liquids are employed in cancer diagnosis and therapy. The current review describes the different ionic liquids and their role in the synthesis of metal nanostructures for cancer diagnosis and therapy. In the end, the perspective and new directions for developing ionic liquid-mediated synthesis of metal nanostructures for cancer diagnostic and therapy are highlighted.

Objective: The use of animal or plant exosomes in cancer treatment is promising because of their easy access and low cost. Freshwater crabs are used in traditional Iranian medicine to treat cancer. This study aims to determine the anti-cancer properties of exosomes removed from freshwater crabs on a breast cancer cell line (4T1) compared to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, crab haemolymph exosomes were isolated via the precipitation method and characterised by electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Western blot analysis. The protein concentration and total antioxidant capacity of these exosomes were determined by bicinchoninic acid (BCA) and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC). The 4T1 cells and BMSCs were treated with exosomes and we assessed the cell survival by the resazurin and MTT assays. The level of nitric oxide (NO) secretion from the 4T1 cells was determined after treatment with the exosomes. Results: Electron microscopy, DLS and Western blot for CD63 confirmed that the isolated exosomes were

In this work, magnetic poly(aniline-co-melamine) nanocomposite as an efficient heterogeneous polymer-based nanocatalyst was fabricated in two steps. First, poly(aniline-co-melamine) was synthesized through the chemical oxidation by ammonium persulfate, then the magnetic nanocatalyst was successfully prepared from the in-situ coprecipitation method in the presence of poly(aniline-co-melamine). The resulting poly(aniline-co-melamine)@MnFe2O4 was characterized by FTIR, FESEM, XRD, VSM, EDX, TGA, and UV-vis analyses. The catalytic activity of poly(aniline-co-melamine)@MnFe2O4 was investigated in the synthesis of 4,4′-(arylmethylene)bis(1H-pyrazole-5-ol) derivatives, and new alkylene bridging bis 4,4′-(arylmethylene)bis(1H-pyrazole-5-ol) derivatives in excellent yields. The yield of 1,4-dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles, 4,4′-(arylmethylene)bis(1H-pyrazol-5-ol), yields, and new alkylene bridging bis 4,4′-(arylmethylene)bis(1H-pyrazol-5-ol) derivatives were obtained 89%–96%, 90%–96%, and 92%–96%, respectively. The poly(aniline-co-melamine)@MnFe2O4 nanocatalyst can be recycled without pre-activation and reloaded up to five consecutive runs without a significant decrease in its efficiency. In addition, the antioxidant activity of some derivatives was evaluated by DPPH assay. Results showed that the maximum antioxidant activity of 4,4′-(arylmethylene)bis(1H-pyrazole-5-ol) derivatives and 1,4-dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles were 75% and 90%, respectively. Furthermore, 4,4′-(arylmethylene)bis(1H-pyrazole-5-ol) derivatives and 1,4-dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles showed good potential for destroying colon cancer cell lines. Consequently, the poly(aniline-co-melamine)@MnFe2O4 nanocomposite is an excellent catalyst for green chemical processes owing to its high catalytic activity, stability, and reusability.

Abstract An ideal tissue‐engineered dermal substitute should possess angiogenesis potential to promote wound healing, antibacterial activity to relieve the bacterial burden on skin, as well as sufficient porosity for air and moisture exchange. In light of this, a glass–ceramic (GC) has been incorporated into chitosan and gelatin electrospun nanofibers (240–360 nm), which MEFs were loaded on it for healing acceleration. The GC was doped with silver to improve the antibacterial activity. The bioactive nanofibrous scaffolds demonstrated antibacterial and superior antibiofilm activities against Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria. The nanofibrous scaffolds were biocompatible, hemocompatible, and promoted cell attachment and proliferation. Nanofibrous skin substitutes with or without Ag‐doped GC nanoparticles did not induce an inflammatory response and attenuated LPS‐induced interleukin‐6 release by dendritic cells. The rate of biodegradation of the nanocomposite was similar to the rate of skin regeneration under in vivo conditions. Histopathological evaluation of full‐thickness excisional wounds in BALB/c mice treated with mouse embryonic fibroblasts‐loaded nanofibrous scaffolds showed enhanced angiogenesis, and collagen synthesis as well as regeneration of the sebaceous glands and hair follicles in vivo.

Background and aims: Despite the advances in drugs, side effects of chemotherapy drugs continue to exist. Therefore, more attention has been paid to the compounds derived from medicinal herbs and aquatic organisms. This study aimed to investigate the effect of freshwater crab hemolymph and meat extract on breast cancer (BC) cell line (4T1). Methods: After isolation of freshwater crab hemolymph and meat extract, protein concentration and total antioxidant capacity were analyzed by bicinchoninic acid (BCA) and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) methods. The 4T1 cells and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were treated with crab hemolymph (1, 2, 10 mg/mL) and meat extract (0.1, 0.2 and 1 mg/mL), and cell survival was analyzed using 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay (MTT) at 48 and 72 hours. Nitric oxide (NO) secretion was measured by Griess method. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: Protein concentration of 23.25 mg/mL was shown in crab hemolymph, and 2.3 mg/mL in meat extract. Total antioxidant capacity was reported as 1.036 µM/mL and 1.104 µM/mL in crab hemolymph and meat extract, respectively. Cell survival in the 4T1 cells was decreased in a dose- and time-dependent manner (P≤0.001). NO secretion of 4T1 cells was decreased after treatment with different concentrations of crab hemolymph and meat extract at 48 and 72 hours. Cellular growth was observed in BMSCs after treatment with different concentrations of crab hemolymph and meat extract at 48 and 72 hours. Conclusion: Since crab hemolymph and meat extract have protein and antioxidant activities, they can have anti-cancer effects on 4T1 cells.

Biodegradable and absorptive wound dresses with antibacterial activity are in demand to accelerate wound healing along with eliminating bacterial infection. Plant-derived naphthoquinones compounds such as lawsone have shown sustained antibacterial functions to avoid development of bacterial resistance by reducing pH or attaching to bacterial proteins. Here the nanofibrous mats based on chitosan/polyethylene oxide (PEO) fibers containing various concentrations of lawsone (0, 1, 3, 7, 10% wt.) were fabricated by electrospinning for potential applications as wound dressing materials. The results exhibited that the chitosan/PEO/Lawsone nanofibers possess antibacterial activity toward Gram-negative and -positive bacteria. Surprisingly, the addition of lawsone in the proper amount into chitosan/PEO nanofibers not only introduced an antithetical property but also reduced the platform's cytotoxicity, promoting cell viability of normal human fibroblast cells. Accordingly, the achieved data suggest the potential application of biocompatible nanofibrous mats as an antibacterial wound dressing material.

Abstract Cancer is one of the top life‐threatening dangers to the human survival, accounting for over 10 million deaths per year. Bioactive glasses have developed dramatically since their discovery 50 years ago, with applications that include therapeutics as well as diagnostics. A new system within the bioactive glass family, mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs), has evolved into a multifunctional platform, thanks to MBGs easy‐to‐functionalize nature and tailorable textural properties—surface area, pore size, and pore volume. Although MBGs have yet to meet their potential in tumor treatment and imaging in practice, recently research has shed light on the distinguished MBGs capabilities as promising theranostic systems for cancer imaging and therapy. This review presents research progress in the field of MBG applications in cancer diagnosis and therapy, including synthesis of MBGs, mechanistic overview of MBGs application in tumor diagnosis and drug monitoring, applications of MBGs in cancer therapy ( particularly, targeted delivery and stimuli‐responsive nanoplatforms), and immunological profile of MBG‐based nanodevices in reference to the development of novel cancer therapeutics.

Abstract Bacterial wound infection is one of the most common nosocomial infections. The unnecessary employment of antibiotics led to raising the growth of antibiotic‐resistant bacteria. Accordingly, alternative armaments capable of accelerating wound healing along with bactericidal effects are urgently needed. Considering this, we fabricated chitosan (CS)/polyethylene oxide (PEO) nanofibers armed with antibacterial silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles. The nanocomposites exhibited a high antioxidant effect and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Besides, based on the results of the cell viability assays, the optimum concentration of ZnONPs and AgNPs in the nanofibrous mats is 0.2% w/v and 0.08% w/v respectively and had no cytotoxicity on fibroblast cells. The scaffold also showed good blood compatibility according to the effects of coagulation time. As well as significant fibroblast migration and proliferation on the wound margin, according to wound‐healing assay. All in all, the developed biocompatible, antioxidant, and antibacterial Ag‐ZnO NPs incorporated CS/PEO nanofibrous mats showed their potential as an effective wound dressing.

Engineering constructs with adequate bioactive properties that could support effective repair/ regeneration of damaged tissues is still a persisting challenge. An effective and sustainable approach involving a combination of tissue engineering principles and herbal medicines could address this challenge. This particular domain has witnessed tremendous growth over the past decade. In this review, we provide an overview of engineered herbal constructs for tissue engineering applications. We have highlighted various properties of herbal medicines that are relevant to tissue repair and regeneration. Further, a discussion of different biomaterials, fabrication methods, and current progress made with herbal constructs has been provided. On a concluding note, challenges and outlook for further development and clinical translation of these herbal constructs have also been presented.

The utilization of biomarkers for in vivo and in vitro research is growing rapidly. This is mainly due to the enormous potential of biomarkers in evaluating molecular and cellular abnormalities in cell models and in tissue, and evaluating drug responses and the effectiveness of therapeutic intervention strategies.An important way to analyze the development of the human body is to assess molecular markers in embryonic specialized cells, which include the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. Neuronal development is controlled through the gene networks in the neural crest and neural tube, both components of the ectoderm. The neural crest differentiates into several different tissues including, but not limited to, the peripheral nervous system, enteric nervous system, melanocyte, and the dental pulp. The neural tube eventually converts to the central nervous system.This review provides an overview of the differentiation of the ectoderm to a fully functioning nervous system, focusing on molecular biomarkers that emerge at each stage of the cellular specialization from multipotent stem cells to completely differentiated cells. Particularly, the otic placode is the origin of most of the inner ear cell types such as neurons, sensory hair cells, and supporting cells. During the development, different auditory cell types can be distinguished by the expression of the neurogenin differentiation factor1 (Neuro D1), Brn3a, and transcription factor GATA3. However, the mature auditory neurons express other markers including βIII tubulin, the vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT1), the tyrosine receptor kinase B and C (Trk B, C), BDNF, neurotrophin 3 (NT3), Calretinin, etc. Keywords: Neural system, Biomarker, Differentiation, Stem cell, Nervous system, Otic placode

Over the past few decades, gold nanomaterials have shown great promise in the field of nanotechnology, especially in medical and biological applications. They have become the most used nanomaterials in those fields due to their several advantageous. However, rod-shaped gold nanoparticles, or gold nanorods (GNRs), have some more unique physical, optical, and chemical properties, making them proper candidates for biomedical applications including drug/gene delivery, photothermal/photodynamic therapy, and theranostics. Most of their therapeutic applications are based on their ability for tunable heat generation upon exposure to near-infrared (NIR) radiation, which is helpful in both NIR-responsive cargo delivery and photothermal/photodynamic therapies. In this review, a comprehensive insight into the properties, synthesis methods and toxicity of gold nanorods are overviewed first. For the main body of the review, the therapeutic applications of GNRs are provided in four main sections: (i) drug delivery, (ii) gene delivery, (iii) photothermal/photodynamic therapy, and (iv) theranostics applications. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives of their therapeutic application are discussed.

Background: Production of skin dressings or substitutes is one of the most important tissue engineering fields. Since copper is an important agent in skin extracellular matrix synthesis, we investigated the effect of collagen-gelatin-bioglass scaffolds containing copper in accelerating the healing process of full-thickness skin wound in mouse model. Methods: We used 12 mice with two identical skin wounds on their back (with 5 mm diameter, circular, and full-thickness), one wound as control, second dressed with collagen-gelatin-bioglass scaffold, and third dressed with collagen-gelatin-bioglass scaffold containing copper. After 14 days, the wound healing process was analyzed using both macroscopic and microscopic (after hematoxylin and eosin staining) methods. Findings: The wound dressings had porous structure, and were biocompatible. They improved the healing process of full-thickness wound in mouse model. This process was statistically much better in the dressings comprising copper (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Since wounds dressed with collagen-gelatin-bioglass scaffold containing copper improved wound healing in animal models, it can be suggested as a new approach in design and synthesis of wound dressings for human.

Aims: The aim of this study was to present a new method for removing Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) detergent from decellularized bovine pericardium using vacuum. Materials and Methods: The cows’ pericardia were collected and decellularized. The samples were incubated with SDS1% for 48 h at 40 °C. To perform vacuum washing (VW: negative pressure was used to wash and remove detergents), every decellularized tissue was cut in 75mm diameter and fixed via a stainless-steel ring with 60mm diameter in the center of filtration Buchner Funnel which was connected to glass filtration flask The system was connected to a vacuum pump by a hose, and a negative pressure of -100 mmHg was applied for 15 min. Then, the samples were shaken and washed at 40-rpm in 100 ml of distilled water for 45 min. This process was repeated for samples of each group (6 times for sample VW6h, 12 times for sample VW12h, and 24 times for sample VW24h). At the end of every cycle, the effluent was collected to take a sample for SDS measurement. The normal washing (NW) group containing distilled water (NWd) and PBS (Phosphate buffered saline) (NWp) were used to wash and remove detergents. SDS measurements, MTT Assay, histological and tensile test, to compare two methods were used. Results: The highest SDS in the effluent was in groups VW12h and VW24h (P ≤ 0.001) and the lowest residual SDS in scaffold was in two groups of VW12h and VW24h (P ≤ 0.001). MTT assay showed that cell survival in the VW12h and VW24h groups was higher than other groups and there' was no significant difference between cell survival in the VW12h and VW24h groups. Histological study showed destruction of tissue in the VW24h group. The results of the tensile test were shown that the native group had the highest module and the lowest amount was the VW24h sample which was reported with P ≤ 0.001 significance for all groups. Conclusion: VW12h can be used as an effective method for SDS removal from decellularized pericardium which morphologically demonstrated a good structure in ECM.