Publications by authors named "Erika L F C de Alvarenga"

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are considered one of the most severe chronic complications of diabetes and can lead to amputation in severe cases. In addition, bacterial infections in diabetic chronic wounds aggravate this scenario by threatening human health. Wound dressings made of polymer matrices with embedded metal nanoparticles can inhibit microorganism growth and promote wound healing, although the current clinical treatments for diabetic chronic wounds remain unsatisfactory.

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Natural polymeric nanobiocomposites hold promise in repairing damaged bone tissue in tissue engineering. These materials create an extracellular matrix (ECM)-like microenvironment that induces stem cell differentiation. In this study, we investigated a new cytocompatible nanobiocomposite made from cotton cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) combined with chitosan polymer to induce osteogenic stem cell differentiation.

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Adhesive interactions play a critical role in cell biology, influencing vital processes from proliferation to cell death. Integrins regulate cell-ECM (extracellular matrix) adhesion and must associate with phosphorylating proteins such as ILK (integrin-linked kinase). Dysregulation of ILK expression is associated with anchorage-independent growth, cell survival and inhibition of apoptosis.

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