Hierarchically macroporous/mesoporous POC composite scaffolds with IBU-loaded hollow SiO microspheres for repairing infected bone defects.

Infected bone defects are normally regarded as contraindications for bone repair. In the present study, a hollow mesoporous structure of silica (SiO) microspheres was first synthesized and loaded with ibuprofen (IBU). Poly(1,8-octanediol-co-citrate) (POC) and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-Ca(PO), β-TCP), together with IBU-loaded SiO were fabricated by a 3D printing technique based on the Freeform Fabrication System with Micro-Droplet Jetting (FFS-MDJ).

Charge-Reversal APTES-Modified Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles with High Drug Loading and Release Controllability.

In this study, we demonstrate a facile strategy (DL-SF) for developing MSN-based nanosystems through drug loading (DL, using doxorubicin as a model drug) followed by surface functionalization (SF) of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) via aqueous (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) silylation. For comparison, a reverse functionalization process (i.e.

Mitochondrial DNA Rearrangement Spectrum in Brain Tissue of Alzheimer's Disease: Analysis of 13 Cases.

Background: Mitochondrial dysfunction may play a central role in the pathologic process of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but there is still a scarcity of data that directly links the pathology of AD with the alteration of mitochondrial DNA. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive assessment of mtDNA rearrangement events in AD brain tissue.

Patients And Methods: Postmortem frozen human brain cerebral cortex samples were obtained from the Banner Sun Health Research Institute Brain and Body Donation Program, Sun City, AZ.

[Effects of PI3K/Akt Pathway in Wound Healing Process of Mice Skin].

Objective: To investigate the expressions and time-dependent changes of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K), phospho-PI3K (p-PI3K), protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) and phospho-Akt (p-Akt) during wound healing process of mice skin.

Methods: The changes of PI3K, p-PI3K, Akt and p-Akt expression in skin wound were detected by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and real-time PCR.

Results: Immunohistochemistry showed the expression of PI3K and p-Akt were observed in mononuclear and fibroblast after skin wound, and reached peak in reconstruction.

Large-pore mesoporous Ca-Si-based bioceramics with high in vitro bioactivity and protein adsorption capability for bone tissue regeneration.

Mesoporous Ca-Si-based bioceramics represented by mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBG) have attracted much attention in the field of bone tissue regeneration due to their excellent bioactivity, biocompatibility and osteoconductivity. However, the small mesopores (<7 nm) have greatly hindered their ability to encapsulate macromolecular proteins with ability to significantly induce bone growth. To solve this problem, a novel type of large-pore mesoporous silica (LPMS) was first synthesized using a simple one-step method at high temperatures.

Correlation of particle properties with cytotoxicity and cellular uptake of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles in human gastric cancer cells.

Three types of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HAPNs) were synthesized employing a sonochemistry-assisted microwave method by changing microwave power (from 200 to 300W) or using calcination treatment: L200 (200W, lyophilization), L300 (300W, lyophilization) and C200 (200W, lyophilization & calcination). Their physiochemical properties were characterized and correlated with cytotoxicity to human gastric cancer cells (MGC80-3). The major differences among these HAPN preparations were their size and specific surface area, with the L200 showing a smaller size and higher specific surface area.

Image enhancement based on in vivo hyperspectral gastroscopic images: a case study.

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) has been recognized as a powerful tool for noninvasive disease detection in the gastrointestinal field. However, most of the studies on HSI in this field have involved ex vivo biopsies or resected tissues. We proposed an image enhancement method based on in vivo hyperspectral gastroscopic images.

Fabrication and clinical application of easy-to-operate pre-cured CPC/rhBMP-2 micro-scaffolds for bone regeneration.

Bone tissue engineering scaffolds loading growth factors have been considered as the most perspective among all bone substitutes, yet little progress of its clinical translation has been made. The concept of "micro-scaffolds" was proposed in this study to provide a trajectory to the clinical translation of porous scaffolds. Combining CPC and rhBMP-2, a pre-cured CPC/rhBMP-2 micro-scaffold has been successfully developed and further applied as an easy-to-operate filler for bone regeneration in a pilot clinical study.

Magnesium modification up-regulates the bioactivity of bone morphogenetic protein-2 upon calcium phosphate cement via enhanced BMP receptor recognition and Smad signaling pathway.

Efficient presentation of growth factors is one of the great challenges in tissue engineering. In living systems, bioactive factors exist in soluble as well as in matrix-bound forms, both of which play an integral role in regulating cell behaviors. Herein, effect of magnesium on osteogenic bioactivity of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) was investigated systematically with a series of Mg modified calcium phosphate cements (xMCPCs, x means the content of magnesium phosphate cement wt%) as matrix model.

Experimental study and finite element analysis based on equivalent load method for laser ultrasonic measurement of elastic constants.

The laser ultrasonic generation of Rayleigh surface wave and longitudinal wave in an elastic plate is studied by experiment and finite element method. In order to eliminate the measurement error and the time delay of the experimental system, the linear fitting method of experimental data is applied. The finite element analysis software ABAQUS is used to simulate the propagation of Rayleigh surface wave and longitudinal wave caused by laser excitation on a sheet metal sample surface.

Facilitated receptor-recognition and enhanced bioactivity of bone morphogenetic protein-2 on magnesium-substituted hydroxyapatite surface.

Biomaterial surface functionalized with bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) is a promising approach to fabricating successful orthopedic implants/scaffolds. However, the bioactivity of BMP-2 on material surfaces is still far from satisfactory and the mechanism of related protein-surface interaction remains elusive. Based on the most widely used bone-implants/scaffolds material, hydroxyapatite (HAP), we developed a matrix of magnesium-substituted HAP (Mg-HAP, 2.

Interaction between two adjacent grounded sources in frequency domain semi-airborne electromagnetic survey.

Multi-source and multi-frequency emission method can make full use of the valuable and short flight time in frequency domain semi-airborne electromagnetic (FSAEM) exploration, which has potential to investigate the deep earth structure in complex terrain region. Because several sources are adjacent in multi-source emission method, the interaction of different sources should be considered carefully. An equivalent circuit model of dual-source is established in this paper to assess the interaction between two individual sources, where the parameters are given with the typical values based on the practical instrument system and its application.

A fundamental study on the dynamics of multiple biomarkers in mouse excisional wounds for wound age estimation.

Wound age estimation is a classic but still modern theme in forensic practice. More experiments on different types of wound are needed to further improve its accuracy. In this study, mouse skin excisional wounds were created to simulate dermal defective injury.

Strontium attenuates rhBMP-2-induced osteogenic differentiation via formation of Sr-rhBMP-2 complex and suppression of Smad-dependent signaling pathway.

Unlabelled: Strontium (Sr(2+)) has pronounced effects on stimulating bone formation and inhibiting bone resorption in bone regeneration. In this current study, the effect and the underlying mechanism involved of Sr(2+) on the biological activity of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) were studied in detail with pluripotent skeletal muscle myogenic progenitor C2C12 model cell line. The results indicated that Sr(2+) could bind recombinant human BMP-2 (rhBMP-2) rapidly, even in the presence of Ca(2+) and Mg(2+), and inhibited rhBMP-2-induced osteogenic differentiation in vitro and osteogenetic efficiency in vivo.

Recovery and separation of erythromycin from industrial wastewater by imprinted magnetic nanoparticles that exploit β-cyclodextrin as the functional monomer.

A type of surface imprinting over magnetic Fe3 O4 nanoparticles utilizing erythromycin-A as a template for use in the separation and recovery of erythromycin was developed and investigated. As the intermolecular forces play a key role in the performance of imprinted materials, differential scanning calorimetry, and (1) H NMR spectroscopy was employed to evaluate the interactions between erythromycin and the functional monomer β-cyclodextrin. To synthesize the surface imprinted polymers, magnetic Fe3 O4 nanoparticles, the core materials, were modified with a free radical initiator to initialize polymerization in a "grafting from" manner.

Functionalized mesoporous bioactive glass scaffolds for enhanced bone tissue regeneration.

Mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG), which possesses excellent bioactivity, biocompatibility and osteoconductivity, has played an important role in bone tissue regeneration. However, it is difficult to prepare MBG scaffolds with high compressive strength for applications in bone regeneration; this difficulty has greatly hindered its development and use. To solve this problem, a simple powder processing technique has been successfully developed to fabricate a novel type of MBG scaffold (MBGS).

Bioinspired trimodal macro/micro/nano-porous scaffolds loading rhBMP-2 for complete regeneration of critical size bone defect.

Unlabelled: Critical size bone defects raise great demands for efficient bone substitutes. Mimicking the hierarchical porous architecture and specific biological cues of natural bone has been considered as an effective strategy to facilitate bone regeneration. Herein, a trimodal macro/micro/nano-porous scaffold loaded with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) was developed.

Fast setting and anti-washout injectable calcium-magnesium phosphate cement for minimally invasive treatment of bone defects.

The development of injectable calcium phosphate cements (ICPC) represents a promising approach for minimally invasive surgical techniques. However, the undesirable anti-washout property and slow setting time of ICPC greatly hinder its clinical application. Xanthan gum (XG) has strong hydrophilic, shape retention and rheological properties.

Preparation of an rhBMP-2 loaded mesoporous bioactive glass/calcium phosphate cement porous composite scaffold for rapid bone tissue regeneration.

In this work, a novel composite scaffold was constructed by combining mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG) and calcium phosphate cement (CPC) materials using a simple centrifugal embedding approach. Furthermore, recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) was facilely incorporated into this scaffold through a freeze-drying process. It is found that the resultant scaffold not only presents a hierarchical pore structure (interconnected pores of around 200 μm and 2-10 μm) and a sufficient compressive strength (up to 1.

Preferential tumor accumulation and desirable interstitial penetration of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles with dual coating of chitosan oligosaccharide and polyethylene glycol-poly(D,L-lactic acid).

Unlabelled: Despite advances in polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) as effective delivery systems for anticancer drugs, rapid clearance from blood and poor penetration capacity in heterogeneous tumors still remain to be addressed. Here, a dual coating of poly (ethylene glycol)-poly (d,l-lactic acid) (PEG-PDLLA) and water-soluble chitosan oligosaccharide (CO) was used to develop PLGA-based NPs (PCPNPs) with colloidal stability for delivery of paclitaxel (PTX). The PCPNPs were prepared by a modified nanoprecipitation process and exhibited homogeneous size of 165.

Nanostructured hydroxyapatite surfaces-mediated adsorption alters recognition of BMP receptor IA and bioactivity of bone morphogenetic protein-2.

Unlabelled: Highly efficient loading of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) onto carriers with desirable performance is still a major challenge in the field of bone regeneration. Till now, the nanoscaled surface-induced changes of the structure and bioactivity of BMP-2 remains poorly understood. Here, the effect of nanoscaled surface on the adsorption and bioactivity of BMP-2 was investigated with a series of hydroxyapatite surfaces (HAPs): HAP crystal-coated surface (HAP), HAP crystal-coated polished surface (HAP-Pol), and sintered HAP crystal-coated surface (HAP-Sin).

β-Tricalcium phosphate/poly(glycerol sebacate) scaffolds with robust mechanical property for bone tissue engineering.

Despite good biocompatibility and osteoconductivity, porous β-TCP scaffolds still lack the structural stability and mechanical robustness, which greatly limit their application in the field of bone regeneration. The hybridization of β-TCP with conventional synthetic biodegradable PLA and PCL only produced a limited toughening effect due to the plasticity of the polymers in nature. In this study, a β-TCP/poly(glycerol sebacate) scaffold (β-TCP/PGS) with well interconnected porous structure and robust mechanical property was prepared.

Calcium ion-induced formation of β-sheet/-turn structure leading to alteration of osteogenic activity of bone morphogenetic protein-2.

Preserving bioactivity of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) still remains a challenge in protein-based therapy. It is not known how Ca(2+) released from extracellular matrix or existing in physiological environment influences bioactivity in situ till now. Here, effects of extracellular Ca(2+) on conformation and osteogenic bioactivity of recombinant human BMP-2 (rhBMP-2) were investigated systematically.

Biofabricated nanoparticle coating for liver-cell targeting.

Biology routinely uses noncovalent interactions to perform complex functions that range from the molecular recognition of ligand-receptor binding to the reversible self-assembly/disassembly of hierarchical nanostructures (e.g., virus particles).