Generating Spheroids from Various Chondrocytes using Low-Adhesive Conditions under Gravity and Homemade Mini-Bioreactors.

Cartilage repair in chronic joint diseases demands advanced cell-based therapies to regenerate damaged tissues effectively. This protocol provides a step-by-step method for differentiating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into chondrocyte-based spheroids, supporting tissue engineering and cell therapy applications. The differentiation process is carefully structured to promote chondrogenic lineage commitment, beginning with iPSCs cultured in specific media that sequentially guide cells through critical stages of differentiation.

Sweet-Tasting Natural Proteins Brazzein and Monellin: Safe Sugar Substitutes for the Food Industry.

This article presents the results of a comprehensive toxicity assessment of brazzein and monellin, yeast-produced recombinant sweet-tasting proteins. Excessive sugar consumption is one of the leading dietary and nutritional problems in the world, resulting in health complications such as obesity, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease. Although artificial small-molecule sweeteners widely replace sugar in food, their safety and long-term health effects remain debatable.

Clinical Potential of Cellular Material Sources in the Generation of iPSC-Based Products for the Regeneration of Articular Cartilage.

Inflammatory joint diseases, among which osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the most common, are characterized by progressive degeneration of the cartilage tissue, resulting in the threat of limited or lost joint functionality in the absence of treatment. Currently, treating these diseases is difficult, and a number of existing treatment and prevention measures are not entirely effective and are complicated by the patients' conditions, the multifactorial nature of the pathology, and an incomplete understanding of the etiology. Cellular technologies based on induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can provide a vast cellular resource for the production of artificial cartilage tissue for replacement therapy and allow the possibility of a personalized approach.