Modified Au:Fe-Ni magnetic micromotors improve drug delivery and diagnosis in MCF-7 cells and spheroids.

Nano/micromotors hold immense potential for revolutionizing drug delivery and detection systems, especially in the realm of cancer diagnosis and treatment, owing to their distinctive features, including precise propulsion, maneuverability, and meticulously designed surface modifications. In this study, we explore the capabilities of modified and magnetically driven micromotors as active drug delivery systems within 2D and 3D cell culture environments and cancer diagnosis. We synthesized gold (Au) and iron-nickel (Fe-Ni) metallic-based magnetic micromotors (Au:Fe-Ni MMs) through electrochemical methods, equipping them with functionalities for controlled doxorubicin (DOX) release and cancer cell recognition.

Effects of bone surface topography and chemistry on macrophage polarization.

Surface structure plays a crucial role in determining cell behavior on biomaterials, influencing cell adhesion, proliferation, differentiation, as well as immune cells and macrophage polarization. While grooves and ridges stimulate M2 polarization and pits and bumps promote M1 polarization, these structures do not accurately mimic the real bone surface. Consequently, the impact of mimicking bone surface topography on macrophage polarization remains unknown.

Mesenchymal stem cells derived-exosomes enhanced amniotic membrane extract promotes corneal keratocyte proliferation.

Amniotic membrane extract (AME) and Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells derived-exosomes (WJ-MSC-Exos) are promising therapeutic solutions explored for their potential in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, particularly in skin and corneal wound healing applications. AME is an extract form of human amniotic membrane and known to contain a plethora of cytokines and growth factors, making it a highly attractive option for topical applications. Similarly, WJ-MSC-Exos have garnered significant interest for their wound healing properties.

Cell adhesion molecule immobilized gold surfaces for enhanced neuron-electrode interfaces.

To provide a long-term solution for increasing the biocompatibility of neuroprosthetics, approaches to reduce the side effects of invasive neuro-implantable devices are still in need of improvement. Physical, chemical, and bioactive design aspects of the biomaterials are proven to be important for providing proper cell-to-cell, cell-to-material interactions. Particularly, modification of implant surfaces with bioactive cues, especially cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) that capitalize on native neural adhesion mechanisms, are promising candidates in favor of providing efficient interfaces.

A typical method for decellularization of plants as biomaterials.

Decellularization is a process by which cells are removed from tissues or organs, leaving behind the extracellular matrix (ECM) structure. This process has gained interest in the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine as a way to prepare suitable scaffolds for tissue reconstruction. Although the initial efforts come with the animal tissues, this technique can also be applied to various plant tissues with simple modifications, as plant-derived biomaterials have the benefit of being biocompatible and serving as a safe, all-natural substitute for synthetic or animal originated materials.

Multifunctional Silk Fibroin/Carbon Nanofiber Scaffolds for In Vitro Cardiomyogenic Differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Energy Harvesting from Simulated Cardiac Motion.

In this proof-of-concept study, cardiomyogenic differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is combined with energy harvesting from simulated cardiac motion in vitro. To achieve this, silk fibroin (SF)-based porous scaffolds are designed to mimic the mechanical and physical properties of cardiac tissue and used as triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) electrodes. The load-carrying mechanism, β-sheet content, degradation characteristics, and iPSC interactions of the scaffolds are observed to be interrelated and regulated by their pore architecture.

Emerging applications of 3D engineered constructs from plant seed extracts.

Seeds, by-products derived from various plants such as mango, quince, and apples, are considered waste, though they have emerging commercial potential, and have been used in biological, industrial, and physiological research. Seed-derived natural macromolecules- mainly polysaccharides, mucilage, gums, and cellulose-have physicochemical and structural diversification, giving the potential for forming gels, texturing, thickening, and providing interfacial adsorption. Seed-derived natural macromolecules have been widely used during the last few years in cell research and tissue engineering applications.

Bone surface mimicked PDMS membranes stimulate osteoblasts and calcification of bone matrix.

Cellular microenvironments play a crucial role in cell behavior. In addition to the biochemical cues present in the microenvironments, biophysical and biomechanical properties on surfaces have an impact on cellular functionality and eventually cellular fate. Effects of surface topography on cell behavior are being studied extensively in the literature.

Adsorption behavior of serum proteins on anodized titanium is driven by surface nanomorphology.

Protein adsorption behavior can play a critical role in defining the outcome of a material by affecting the subsequent in vivo response to it. To date, the effect of surface properties on protein adsorption behavior has been mainly focused on surface chemistry, but research on the effect of nanoscale surface topography remains limited. In this study, the adsorption behavior of human serum albumin, immunoglobulin G, and fibrinogen in terms of the adsorbed amount and conformational changes were investigated on bare and anodized titanium (Ti) samples (40 and 60 V applied voltages).

Synthesis and characterization of stimuli-responsive hydrogels: evaluation of external stimuli influence on L929 fibroblast viability.

In this study, poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) [p(HEMA)] based hydrogels responsive to the pH, temperature and magnetic field were synthesized. The surface properties of p(HEMA) were improved by designing the stimuli-responsive hydrogels made of MAGA, NIPAAm and methacrylate-decorated magnetite nanoparticles as a function of pH-, thermo- and magnetic responsive cell culture surfaces. These materials were then modified an abundant extracellular matrix component, type I collagen, which has been considered as a biorecognition element to increase the applicability of hydrogels to cell viability.

Biomimetic sharkskin surfaces with antibacterial, cytocompatible, and drug delivery properties.

Fighting with the infection is one of the most challenging and costly burdens of the healthcare system. Several types of antibiotics and antibacterial agents have been designed and used in combating this dilemma. Nevertheless, the overuse of drugs and the difficulties of proper delivery have led to the development of drug-resistance in many species of bacteria which has reduced the efficacy of antibiotics.

Designing of various biosensor devices for determination of apoptosis: A comprehensive review.

Apoptosis is a type of cell death caused by the occurrence of both pathological and physiological conditions triggered by ligation of death receptors outside the cell or triggered by DNA damage and/or cytoskeleton disruption. Timely monitoring of apoptosis can effectively help early diagnosis of related diseases and continuous assessment of the effectiveness of drugs. Detecting caspases, a protease family closely related to cellular apoptosis, and its identification as markers of apoptosis is a popular procedure.

Rose petal topography mimicked poly(dimethylsiloxane) substrates for enhanced corneal endothelial cell behavior.

Low proliferation capacity of corneal endothelial cells (CECs) and worldwide limitations in transplantable donor tissues reveal the critical need of a robust approach for in vitro CEC growth. However, preservation of CEC-specific phenotype with increased proliferation has been a great challenge. Here we offer a biomimetic cell substrate design, by optimizing mechanical, topographical and biochemical characteristics of materials with CEC microenvironment.

Magnetic field-induced Ca intake by mesenchymal stem cells is mediated by intracellular Zn and accompanied by a Zn influx.

Chronic exposure to magnetic fields (MFs) has a diverse range of effects on biological systems but definitive molecular mechanisms of the interaction remain largely unknown. One of the most frequently reported effects of MF exposure is an elevated concentration of intracellular Ca through disputed pathways. Other prominent effects include increased oxidative stress and upregulation of neural markers through EGFR activation in stem cells.

Impact of Poly(dimethylsiloxane) Surface Modification with Conventional and Amino Acid-Conjugated Self-Assembled Monolayers on the Differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells into Cardiomyocytes.

Cardiomyocytes, differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), have the potential to produce patient- and disease-specific pharmacological and toxicological platforms, in addition to their cardiac cell therapy applications. However, the lack of both a robust and a simple procedure for scalable cell substrate production is one of the major limitations in this area. Mimicking the natural healthy myocardium extracellular matrix (ECM) properties by altering the cell substrate properties, such as stiffness and chemical/biochemical composition, can significantly affect cell substrate interfacial characteristics and potentially influence cellular behavior and differentiation of iPSCs to cardiomyocytes.

Plant-Based Scaffolds in Tissue Engineering.

A wide range of platforms has been developed for 3D culture of cells to aggregate and align cells to resemble conditions in order to enhance communication between cells and promote differentiation. The cellulose skeleton of plant tissue can serve as an attainable scaffold for mammalian cells after decellularization, which is advantageous when compared to synthetic polymers or animal-derived scaffolds. Adjustable variables to modify the physical and biochemical properties of the resulting scaffolds include the protocol for the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-based decellularization procedure, surface coatings for cell attachment, plant type for decellularization, differentiation media, and integrity and shape of the substrate.

A Transient Survival Model of Alteration of Electrophysiological Properties Due to Amyloid Beta Toxicity Based on SH-SY5Y Cell Line.

Background: Accumulation of toxic strands of amyloid beta (AB), which cause neurofibrillary tangles and, ultimately, cell death, is suspected to be the main culprit behind clinical symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Although the mechanism of cell death due to AB accumulation is well known, the intermediate phase between the start of accumulation and cell death is less known and investigated, partially due to technical challenges in identifying partially affected cells.

Objective: First, we aimed to establish an in vitro model that would show resilience against AB toxicity.

Bioinspired hydrogel surfaces to augment corneal endothelial cell monolayer formation.

Corneal endothelial cells (CECs) have limited proliferation ability leading to corneal endothelium (CE) dysfunction and eventually vision loss when cell number decreases below a critical level. Although transplantation is the main treatment method, donor shortage problem is a major bottleneck. The transplantation of in vitro developed endothelial cells with desirable density is a promising idea.

Effects of physicochemical properties of polyacrylamide (PAA) and (polydimethylsiloxane) PDMS on cardiac cell behavior.

In vitro cell culture is commonly applied in laboratories around the world. Cultured cells are either of primary origin or established cell lines. Such transformed cell lines are increasingly replaced by pluripotent stem cell derived organotypic cells with more physiological properties.

Acoustic impedance measurement of tissue mimicking materials by using scanning acoustic microscopy.

Tissue-mimicking materials (TMMs) play a key role in the quality assurance of ultrasound diagnostic equipment and should have acoustic properties similar to human tissues. We propose a method to quantify the acoustic properties of TMM samples through the use of an 80 MHz Scanning Acoustic Microscopy (SAM), which provides micrometer resolution and fast data recording. We produced breast TMM samples in varying compositions that resulted in acoustic impedance values in the range of 1.

Development of electrically conductive porous silk fibroin/carbon nanofiber scaffolds.

Tissue engineering applications typically require three-dimensional scaffolds which provide the requisite surface area for cellular functions, while allowing transport of nutrients, waste and oxygen to and from the surrounding tissues. Scaffolds need to ensure sufficient mechanical properties to provide mechanically stable frameworks under physiologically relevant stress levels. Meanwhile, electrically conductive platforms are also desirable for the regeneration of specific tissues, where electrical impulses are transmitted throughout the tissue for proper physiological functioning.

A facile surface modification of poly(dimethylsiloxane) with amino acid conjugated self-assembled monolayers for enhanced osteoblast cell behavior.

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is a biocompatible synthetic polymer and used in various applications due to its low toxicity and tunable surface properties. However, PDMS does not have any chemical cues for cell binding. Plasma treatment, protein coating or surface modification with various molecules have been used to improve its surface characteristics.

Substrate stiffness effects on SH-SY5Y: The dichotomy of morphology and neuronal behavior.

Like many other cell types, neuroblastoma cells are also known to respond to mechanical cues in their microenvironment in vitro. They were shown to have mechanotransduction pathways, which result in enhanced neuronal morphology on stiff substrates. However, in previous studies, the differentiation process was monitored only by morphological parameters.

Characterization of carotid endothelial cell proliferation on Au, Au/GO, and Au/rGO surfaces by electrical impedance spectroscopy.

To the best of the authors' knowledge, testing the biocompatibility of graphene coatings can be considered as the first to demonstrate human carotid endothelial cell (HCtAEC) proliferation on Au, graphene oxide-coated Au (Au/GO), and reduced graphene oxide-coated Au (Au/rGO) surfaces. We hypothesized that stent material modified with graphene (G)-based coatings could be used as electrodes for electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in monitoring cell cultures, i.e.