A miR-activated hydrogel for the delivery of a pro-chondrogenic microRNA-221 inhibitor as a minimally invasive therapeutic approach for articular cartilage repair.

Articular cartilage has limited capacity for repair (or for regeneration) under pathological conditions, given its non-vascularized connective tissue structure and low cellular density. Our group has successfully developed an injectable hydrogel for cartilage repair, composed of collagen type I (Col I), collagen type II (Col II), and methacrylated-hyaluronic acid (MeHA), capable of supporting chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) towards articular cartilage-like phenotypes. Recent studies have demonstrated that silencing may be an effective approach in promoting improved MSC chondrogenesis.

Risk assessment tool for compatibility of concurrent administration of intravenous medications with parenteral nutrition admixture.

Compatibility of parenteral nutrition admixture (PNA) and intravenous medications (IVMs) is a major consideration for clinicians and clinical pharmacists, especially when concurrent administration of PNA with IVMs is unavoidable. This is relatively common in children and neonates, where limited vascular access can be challenging. The purpose of this paper is to create a risk assessment tool that will assist clinical judgment in evaluating the potential incompatibility risk between PNA media and the IVMs when they are administered together through the same intravenous line.

Comparison of the mechanical properties of porcine buccal mucosa and ureter and the clinical implications.

Purpose: Buccal mucosal grafts have a well-established role in urology regarding the management of ureteric stricture disease. Despite its established use as a graft material there is a lack of data on the mechanical properties of buccal mucosa. We aim to compare the passive mechanical properties of porcine buccal mucosa with the ureter.

Neurotrophic extracellular matrix proteins promote neuronal and iPSC astrocyte progenitor cell- and nano-scale process extension for neural repair applications.

The extracellular matrix plays a critical role in modulating cell behaviour in the developing and adult central nervous system influencing neural cell morphology, function and growth. Neurons and astrocytes, play vital roles in neural signalling and support respectively and respond to cues from the surrounding matrix environment. However, a better understanding of the impact of specific individual extracellular matrix proteins on both neurons and astrocytes is critical for advancing the development of matrix-based scaffolds for neural repair applications.