Tissue-engineered islet-like cell clusters generated from adipose tissue-derived stem cells on three-dimensional electrospun scaffolds can reverse diabetes in an experimental rat model and the role of porosity of scaffolds on cluster differentiation.

In the current study, three-dimensional (3D) nanofibrous scaffolds with pore sizes in the range of 24-250 μm and 24-190 μm were fabricated via a two-step electrospinning method to overcome the limitation of obtaining three-dimensionality with large pore sizes for islet culture using conventional electrospinning. The scaffolds supported the growth and differentiation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells to islet-like clusters (ILCs). The pore size of the scaffolds was found to influence the cluster size, viability and insulin release of the differentiated islets.

Hyaluronic Acid Dictates Chondrocyte Morphology and Migration in Composite Gels.

Tissue equivalent collagen-hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels are widely used for cartilage tissue engineering; however, not much importance has been given to investigate how cellular responses are altered with varying concentrations of hyaluronic acid in gels. In this study, different concentrations of hyaluronic acid dialdehyde (HAD) were combined with collagen to fabricate collagen-HAD composite (CH) gels, and the influence of HAD on cell shape, migration, viability, cytoskeletal organization, and gel contraction was examined. The microstructure and the mechanical strength of the composite gels were altered by varying HAD concentrations.

A simple and effective method for making multipotent/multilineage scaffolds with hydrophilic nature without any postmodification/treatment.

A number of biodegradable and bioresorbable materials, as well as scaffold designs, have been experimentally and/or clinically studied for tissue engineering of diverse tissue types. Cell-material responses are strongly dependent on the properties of the scaffold material. In this study, scaffolds based on polycaprolactone (PCL) and PCL blended with a triblock copolymer, Polycaprolactone-polytetrahydrofuran-polycaprolactone (PCL-PTHF-PCL) at different ratios were fabricated by electrospinning.

Biomimetic fiber assembled gradient hydrogel to engineer glycosaminoglycan enriched and mineralized cartilage: An in vitro study.

The study investigated the potential of electrospun fiber assembled hydrogel, with physical gradients of chondroitin sulfate (CS) and sol-gel-derived bioactive glass (BG), to engineer hyaline and mineralized cartilage in a single 3D system. Electrospun poly(caprolactone) (PCL) fibers incorporated with 0.1% w/w of CS (CSL) and 0.

Fabrication of a microvesicles-incorporated fibrous membrane for controlled delivery applications in tissue engineering.

A scaffold, which can provide mechanical support for tissue regeneration and simultaneously release functionally active biomolecules are highly desirable for tissue engineering applications. Herein, we report the fabrication of a fibrous mesh of polycaprolactone (PCL) incorporating PCL-pluronic (F127) microvesicles through electrospinning, by exploiting the slow dissolution of PCL in glacial acetic acid (g-AA). Micro-vesicles 1-10 μm in diameter were fabricated through a non-solubility driven spontaneous self-assembly and stabilization of F127 with low molecular weight PCL in tetrahydrofuran-water mixture.

Enhanced encapsulation of chondrocytes within a chitosan/hyaluronic acid hydrogel: a new technique.

Two encapsulation techniques for rabbit chondrocytes in chitosan/hyaluronic acid gel have been compared. The standard technique involves the cross-linking of chitosan and hyaluronic acid at 2:1 (w/w). In the modified technique, cells were initially added to 33% of hyaluronic acid dialdehyde and the gelation process was completed with the remaining 67%.

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane-F68 hybrid vesicles for folate receptor targeted anti-cancer drug delivery.

Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (POSS)-F68 hybrid vesicles with an average diameter of 700 nm are produced using a stable solution of heterofunctional POSS having 3-aminopropyl and vinyl groups and pluronic F68 in ethanol-water mixture. Thermogram and zeta potential values evidence the spontaneous self-assembly of POSS into bilayers through H-bonding interaction between the aminopropyl groups, and the effective stabilization of the POSS-bilayers by amphiphilic F68 during solvent-evaporation to form the vesicles. The vesicles are noncytotoxic and dispersible in aqueous solvents through steric stabilization provided by the hydrophilic F68.

A new synthesis route to high surface area sol gel bioactive glass through alcohol washing: a preliminary study.

Bioactive glass is one of the widely used bone repair material due to its unique properties like osteoconductivity, osteoinductivity and biodegradability. In this study bioactive glass is prepared by the sol gel process and stabilized by a novel method that involves a solvent instead of the conventional calcinations process. This study represents the first attempt to use this method for the stabilization of bioactive glass.