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Extracellular matrix (ECM) is widely used for clinical purposes in tissue engineering (TE). Since ECM does not have favorable mechanical properties, its use has been limited. Therefore, it is helpful to use synthetic polymers such as polycaprolactone (PCL) to improve the mechanical properties of ECM-based scaffolds. PCL scaffolds were prepared via the three-dimensional (3D) printing method. Cartilaginous ECM was obtained from bovine femur, and then it was decellularized and solubilized. PCL scaffolds were functionalized using 1,6-hexanediamine; consequently, the scaffolds were coated with solubilized decellularized ECM (SDECM) using two types of crosslinkers; namely, N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride/N-hydroxysuccinimide (EDC/NHS) and genipin. Genipin-crosslinked SDECM-coated (PCL/ECM-Gen) scaffolds and EDC/NHS-crosslinked SDECM-coated (PCL/ECM-EN) scaffolds were characterized by different tests. Following loading the curcumin (Cur) on the scaffolds, the Cur release rate was investigated. Finally, human chondrocyte cells were cultured on the scaffolds to explore cell viability, cell attachment, and histological studies. Following functionalization via amine groups, 5% SDECM was used to coat the scaffolds, and this increased the wettability and cell viability of the PCL. Genipin crosslinked and coated the SDECM more efficiently compared to the EDC/NHS and led to lower porosity, water absorption capacity, degradation rate, higher cell proliferation, and cell attachment. Genipin-crosslinked Cur-loaded (PCL/ECM-Gen + Cur) scaffolds showed higher cell viability but lower antibacterial activity compared to EDC/NHS-crosslinked Cur-loaded (PCL/ECM-EN + Cur) scaffolds, which may indicate EDC/NHS-induced cytotoxicity. This study elucidates the value of PCL/ECM-Gen + Cur scaffolds as highly biocompatible scaffolds that can be considered a promising tool for cartilage TE applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study was carried out to evaluate the effects of cartilage-decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) on Poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) electrospun scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering. In this study, PHB scaffolds with three different percentages of ECM (1%, 2%, and 3%) were fabricated. Mechanical, chemical, and physical properties of scaffolds along with their interactions with cells were assessed. Results showed that by adding of ECM to the scaffolds, the Physiomechanical properties of combined scaffolds were modified, compared to the pure PHB scaffold. In the other hand, the biological behavior was increased by increasing the ECM ratio to the PHB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scaffold fabrication methods have a vital role in cartilage tissue engineering (CTE). For a long time, extracellular matrix (ECM) derivatives have been used to improve chondrogenesis and cartilage regeneration. In this study, polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds were prepared by 3D-printing and salt-leaching methods. Then, the prepared scaffolds were coated with fibrin and different acellular solubilised ECM concentrations. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) were added to fibrin/ECM hydrogel and seeded on the PCL scaffolds. Results showed that water absorption and compressive moduli of the 3D-printed scaffolds were higher than salt-leached scaffolds. As ECM was added and concentration increased, porosity was decreased and water uptake increased significantly. 3D-printed scaffolds with ECM2% group demonstrated a high compressive modulus and cell viability. Therefore, we concluded 2% is the most suitable concentration for acellular solubilised ECM in order to fabricate more biocompatible and applicable PCL/fibrin/ECM scaffolds in CTE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): Avocado/soybean unsaponifible (ASU) possesses properties including chondroprotective, anticatabolic, and anabolic. The goal behind this research was to detect the effect of ASU and TGF-β3 on the chondrogenesis of human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) on poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA)/hyaluronic acid (PLGA/HA) hybrid scaffold. Materials and Methods: First hADSCs were seeded in PLGA/Hyaluronic acid scaffold and cultured in chondrogenic media. These cells were assigned into 4 groups: control, TGFβ-3, ASU, and TGFβ-3+ASU. The viability was assessed separately by MTT. Real-time PCR was used to quantify the expression of chondrogenic specific genes [Sox9, collagen type II (ColII), Aggrecan (AGG)] and collagen type X (ColX). Moreover, Western blotting was employed to evaluate protein expression levels of collagens type II and X. Results: These findings indicated a significant increase in the proliferation and survival of hADSCs differentiated cells by ASU compared with the control group (P=0.008). Real-time PCR results revealed significant differences in the expression of AGG, SOX9, ColII, and ColX genes in the control group when compared with other groups (ASU, TGF-β3, and TGF-β3+ASU). ColII protein production significantly dropped in the TGF-β3 group in comparison with the TGF-β3+ASU group (0.000). The ColII (P=0.002) and ColX (P=0.002) protein production proved significantly higher in the TGF-β3+ASU group compared with the ASU group. Conclusion: Using the synergist form TGFβ-3, ASU induces chondrogenesis in hADSCs in PLGA/HA composite scaffold. This can be deduced with reduction of special markers of hyaline cartilage in comparison with ASU and decreased hypertrophic marker compared with TGF-β3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cephalic and basilic veins begin their path from around the wrist and continue towards the area above the forearm. The basilic vein becomes deep around the mid-arm, while the cephalic vein becomes deep around the upper forearm, in deltopectoral groove. The superficial veins are most commonly used for vein puncture, transfusion, bypass graft, and cardiac catheterization. In renal patients, the basilic vein use as an arteriovenous graft or fistula for haemodialysis access. During a routine dissection in the department of anatomy in Isfahan, we observed a variation in the left arm of an infant boy (six months old). The cephalic and basilic veins directly joined together in the middle of the cubital fossa. The brachial vein began from this point and, unlike the normal anatomy location, there was no paired brachial vein; rather, it was one unpaired brachial vein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nowadays, cartilage tissue engineering is the best candidate for regeneration of cartilage defects. This study evaluates the effect of fibrin/icariin (ICA) nanoparticles (F/I NPs) on chondrogenesis of stem cells., Materials and Methods: F/I NPs were characterized by Dynamic Light Scattering DLS. Poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA)-F/I NP scaffold was fabricated and assessed by scanning electron microscope. Human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) were seeded on scaffold and induced for chondrogenesis. After 14 days, cell viability and gene expression were analyzed by the 3-(4, 5- dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. MTT assay and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)., Results: The size and surface charge of F/I NP were about 28-30 nm and - 17, respectively. The average of pore size of PLGA and PLGA-fibrin/ICA was 230 and 340 μm, respectively. Cell viability of differentiated cells in P/F group was higher than others significantly ( P ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, quantitative RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that ICA upregulated cartilaginous-specific gene expression. Furthermore, the results of the expression of type I collagen revealed that ICA downregulated this gene significantly ( P < 0.01)., Conclusions: The results indicated that F/I NP could be a potential factor for chondrogenesis of stem cells and downregulation of fibrocartilage marker., (Copyright: © 2020 Advanced Biomedical Research.)

Background: The scope of this study was to preserve whole detailed structure of dissected and decalcified bones, taken from used cadavers, by a new plastination technique., Materials and Methods: Specimens we used in this study were sheep femurs and human bones including pelvis, femur, tibia, and fibula. Bones, at first, fixed with 5% formalin and were decalcified with 5% nitric acid, and then were fixed again and washed under the tap water. The resulted flexible bones were dehydrated in -25°C acetone and degreased them in +25°C acetone. Then, the experimental and control specimen were placed in the vacuum chamber for forced impregnation with our new flexible unsaturated polyester resin (UP89 method) and silicon resin (S10 method), respectively. Finally, the strength and flexibility of plastinated decalcified specimens were investigated by tensometer, and the weight diversity was measured by digital balance., Results: Plastinated bones prepared by this technique were found to be dried, non-fragile, durable, odorless, non-greasy, and demonstrating all detailed structures of the bones. Tensile and weight tests results indicated that plastinated decalcified femurs have owned higher flexibility and strength but lesser weight than plastinated undecalcified femurs. The characteristics of both experimental and control groups of plastinated decalcified specimens were found to have no significant difference., Conclusions: Our synthesized resin found to be much more economical than conventional plastination method. In more details, properties of these new products were the same as, S10 method, from points of strength, flexibility and weight, but, since the money cost for producing them was about one fifth that of S10 method.