Human IL12p80 Promotes Murine Oligodendrocyte Differentiation to Repair Nerve Injury.

Nerve injury of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system still poses a major challenge in modern clinics. Understanding the roles of neurotrophic factors and their molecular mechanisms on neuro-regeneration will not only benefit patients with neural damage but could potentially treat neurodegenerative disorders, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In this study, we showed that human IL12 p40-p40 homodimer (hIL12p80) within PLA and PLGA conduits improved sciatic nerve regeneration in mice.

Micropatterned topographies reveal measurable differences between cancer and benign cells.

During metastasis, cancer cells migrate away from the primary tumor-site, encountering different microenvironment topographies that may facilitate or inhibit cancer cell adherence and growth; those relate to sites of invasion and seeding. To evaluate topography effects, poly-lactic-poly-glycolic (PLGA) gels are generated as flat substrates, porous, or with rectangular microchannels of varying widths (5-100 µm) and depths (10/20 µm). The topography effect on time-dependent adherence, proliferation, morphology, alignment and long-term structural development of metastatic breast-cancer and benign cells are evaluated; adherence at short time-scales (3 h) is compared to developed morphologies and multicellular structures (>2 days) indicating function.

Flexible Photonic Crystal Material for Multiple Anticounterfeiting Applications.

In this study, a nanoimprinting method was introduced to fabricate polycarbonate films with transparent and flexible photonic crystal (FPC) structures. The fabricated flexible polymer films display a full-color grating because of the nanohemispherical structures on the surface. Through the Bragg diffraction formula, it was confirmed that the FPC polymer films transfer a part of the light energy to the second-order diffraction spectrum.

Optimization of micropatterned poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) films for enhancing dorsal root ganglion cell orientation and extension.

Nerve conduits have been a viable alternative to the 'gold standard' autograft for treating small peripheral nerve gap injuries. However, they often produce inadequate functional recovery outcomes and are ineffective in large gap injuries. Ridge/groove surface micropatterning has been shown to promote neural cell orientation and guide growth.

Control of cell proliferation by a porous chitosan scaffold with multiple releasing capabilities.

The aim of this study was to develop a porous chitosan scaffold with long-acting drug release as an artificial dressing to promote skin wound healing. The dressing was fabricated by pre-freezing at different temperatures (-20 and -80 °C) for different periods of time, followed by freeze-drying to form porous chitosan scaffolds with different pore sizes. The chitosan scaffolds were then used to investigate the effect of the controlled release of fibroblast growth factor-basic (bFGF) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1) on mouse fibroblast cells (L929) and bovine carotid endothelial cells (BEC).

Nerve guidance conduit with a hybrid structure of a PLGA microfibrous bundle wrapped in a micro/nanostructured membrane.

Nerve repair in tissue engineering involves the precise construction of a scaffold to guide nerve cell regeneration in the desired direction. However, improvements are needed to facilitate the cell migration/growth rate of nerves in the center of a nerve conduit. In this paper, we propose a nerve guidance conduit with a hybrid structure comprising a microfibrous poly(lactic--glycolic acid) (PLGA) bundle wrapped in a micro/nanostructured PLGA membrane.

An endothelial cultured condition medium embedded porous PLGA scaffold for the enhancement of mouse embryonic stem cell differentiation.

In this study, we have developed a microporous poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffold that combines a continuous release property and a three-dimensional (3D) scaffolding technique for the precise and efficient formation of endothelial cell lineage from embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Eight PLGA scaffolds (14.29%, 16.

Synthesis of antibacterial TiO2/PLGA composite biofilms.

Unlabelled: This study developed a TiO2/PLGA [poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)] composite biomaterial, which possesses antibacterial properties but is biocompatible, for artificial dressing applications. A sol-gel method was used for the preparation of the nano TiO2 powder with anatase phase. Several concentration ratios of TiO2 versus PLGA were analyzed to optimize the disinfection efficiency of the composite biomaterial.

A material-independent cell-environment niche based on microreciprocating motion for cell growth enhancement.

In tissue engineering, cell-cell, cell-scaffold and cell-environment communication balances regulate how cell populations participate in tissue generation, maintenance and repair. These communication balances are called niches. In this study, an easily implemented and material-independent cell-environment niche based on microreciprocating motions is developed to enhance cell growth.

The influence of different nanostructured scaffolds on fibroblast growth.

Skin serves as a protective barrier, modulating body temperature and waste discharge. It is therefore desirable to be able to repair any damage that occurs to the skin as soon as possible. In this study, we demonstrate a relatively easy and cost-effective method for the fabrication of nanostructured scaffolds, to shorten the time taken for a wound to heal.

Hollow three-dimensional endothelialized microvessel networks based on femtosecond laser ablation.

In this study, a novel method for the fabrication of hollow three-dimensional (3D) poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microvessel scaffolds is proposed. In this novel fabrication method, a salt ingot, which was used as a temporary frame to define the shape of the desired scaffold, was fabricated by extrusion molding. The salt ingot was immersed in a PLGA solution and the PGLA enveloped the ingot entirely.

Fabrication of pillared PLGA microvessel scaffold using femtosecond laser ablation.

One of the persistent challenges confronting tissue engineering is the lack of intrinsic microvessels for the transportation of nutrients and metabolites. An artificial microvascular system could be a feasible solution to this problem. In this study, the femtosecond laser ablation technique was implemented for the fabrication of pillared microvessel scaffolds of polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA).

Fabrication of orderly nanostructured PLGA scaffolds using anodic aluminum oxide templates.

In this research, two simple fabrication methods to fabricate orderly nanostructured PLGA scaffolds using anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template were conducted. In the vacuum air-extraction approach, the PLGA solution was cast on an AAO template first. The vacuum air-extraction process was then applied to suck the semi-congealed PLGA into the nanopores of the AAO template to form a bamboo sprouts array of PLGA.