Hyaluronic acid induces activation of the κ-opioid receptor.

Introduction: Nociceptive pain is one of the most common types of pain that originates from an injury involving nociceptors. Approximately 60% of the knee joint innervations are classified as nociceptive. The specific biological mechanism underlying the regulation of nociceptors is relevant for the treatment of symptoms affecting the knee joint.

Neural potential of adipose stem cells.

In the last few years, adipose tissue, which has been largely ignored by anatomists and physicians for centuries, has found new brightness thanks to the stem cells contained within. These adipose derived stem cells (ADSC) have the same characteristics of the mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) residing in bone marrow. They have the same cell surface markers and are capable of differentiating into the same cell types, including osteoblasts, chondrocytes, myoblasts, adipocytes, and neuron-like cells.

Neural potential of a stem cell population in the adipose and cutaneous tissues.

Objective: A significant amount of recent interest has been focused on the possibility that adult human stem cells are a realistic therapeutic alternative to embryonic stem cells. Multipotent stem cells that have characteristics reminiscent of embryonic neural crest stem cells have been isolated from several postnatal tissues, including skin, gut, dental pulp and the heart, and are potentially useful for research and therapeutic purposes. However, their neurogenic potential, including their ability to produce electrophysiologically active neurons, is largely unexplored.

Hyaluronan based porous nano-particles enriched with growth factors for the treatment of ulcers: a placebo-controlled study.

The present study describes the production of hyaluronan based porous microparticles by a semi-continuous gas anti-solvent (GAS) precipitation process to be used as a growth factor delivery system for in vivo treatment of ulcers. Operative process conditions, such as pressure, nozzle diameter and HYAFF11 solution concentrations, were adjusted to optimize particle production in terms of morphology and size. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light scattering demonstrated that porous nano-structured particles with a size of 300 and 900 nm had a high specific surface suitable for absorption of growth factors from the aqueous environment within the polymeric matrix.

New 3D hyaluronan-based scaffold for in vitro reconstruction of the rat sciatic nerve.

Objective: For peripheral nerve regeneration, three-dimensional distribution and growth of cells within the porous scaffold are of clinical significance. The purpose of this study was to test in vitro a novel hyaluronic acid-based tubular conduit (HYAFF-11 biomaterials: 1 x 10 mm) as a nerve guide.

Methods: Human fibroblasts, RN22 Schwann cell lines, human umbilical vein endothelial cells and primary nerve cells, obtained from neonatal rat sciatic nerve, were harvested and seeded on HYAFF-11 devices.

Osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation: comparison of human and rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells cultured into polymeric scaffolds.

Hyaluronan-based scaffold were used for in vitro commitment of human and rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). Cells were cultured either in monolayer and in 3D conditions up to 35 days. In order to monitor the differentiating processes molecular biology and morphological studies were performed at different time points.

Extracellular matrix-enriched polymeric scaffolds as a substrate for hepatocyte cultures: in vitro and in vivo studies.

Tissue engineering is a promising approach to developing hepatic tissue suitable for the functional replacement of a failing liver. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether an extracellular cell matrix obtained from fibroblasts-cultured within scaffolds of hyaluronic acid (HYAFF) could influence the proliferation rate and survival of rat hepatocytes both during long-term culture and after in vivo transplantation. Cultures were evaluated by histological and morphological analysis, a proliferation assay and metabolic activity (albumin secretion).