Publications by authors named "Faheem A Sheikh"

Burn injuries are serious injuries that have a big impact on a person's health and can even cause death. Incurring severe burns can incite an immune response and inflammation within the body, alongside metabolic changes. It is of utmost importance to grasp the fact that the effects of the burn injury extend beyond the body, affecting the mind and overall well-being.

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A key challenge in using melt electrowriting (MEW) technology is incorporating large amounts of bioactive inorganic materials, such as hydroxyapatite (HA). In the present study, following optimization of the fabrication parameters, 40 %-HA (HA40) nanoparticles were pre-mixed into medical-grade polycaprolactone (PCL) and processed using the MEW (MEW) technique to mimic the structure and function of the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) for bone regeneration. The HA40 fibrous composite scaffolds showed continuous writing and obtained a well-connected and orderly stacked fibre with a small diameter size (67 ± 8.

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Nanozymes are a group of nanomaterials that garnered significant attention due to their enzyme-mimicking properties and their catalytic activities comparable to those of natural enzymes. The ability of nanozymes to emulate crucial biological processes which can conquer the drawbacks of natural enzymes, such as their restricted thermostability as well as substrate range. Auriferous (gold) nanozymes possess remarkable enzyme-like properties, such as reductase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, oxidase, and catalase.

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Electrochemical sensing is emerging as a method of choice for the sensing and monitoring of contaminants in water. Various sensing platforms have been designed for sensing heavy metal ions and organic pollutants in water bodies. Herein, we report a new electrochemical platform that can be used for the detection of both heavy metal ions and nitro-based organic contaminants in water bodies.

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Background: In this study an approach was made to efficaciously synthesize gold enhanced titania nanorods by electrospinning. This study aims to address effects of gold enhanced titania nanorods on muscle precursor cells. Additionally, implant related microbial infections are prime cause of various disastrous diseases.

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Despite being an approved antiemetic for more than five decades, the clinical usefulness of prochlorperazine is limited by its low solubility and inconsistent absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, which presents challenges for nanotherapeutic interventions. Here, we report the preparation of a highly soluble and permeable nanofiber formulation of prochlorperazine using the Quality-by-Design approach. The final nanofiber formulation with drug entrapment of 88.

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Nanozymes, a new class of nanomaterials-based artificial enzymes, have gained huge attraction due to their high operational stability, working efficiency in extreme conditions, and resistance towards protease digestion. Nowadays, they are effectively substituted for natural enzymes for catalysis by closely resembling the active sites found in natural enzymes. Nanozymes can compensate for natural enzymes' drawbacks, such as high cost, poor stability, low yield, and storage challenges.

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Bacterial infections remain a serious and pervasive threat to human health. Bacterial antibiotic resistance, in particular, lowers treatment efficacy and increases mortality. The development of nanomaterials has made it possible to address issues in the biomedical, energy storage, and environmental fields.

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Glyphosate [-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] is a widely used phosphonate herbicide for different agricultural purposes. Due to its widespread use, suspected toxicity, and ubiquitous bioaccumulation, it is one of the most harmful contaminants found in drinking water. This demands efficient sensing and removal of glyphosate from contaminated water.

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In this study, polyurethane (PU) and cellulose acetate (CA) electrospun fibers encapsulating rosemary essential oil (REO) and adsorbed silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) were fabricated. The biologically inspired materials were analyzed for physicochemical characteristics using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometer, Fourier transform infrared, thermal gravimetric analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, water contact angle, and water uptake studies. Results confirmed the presence of CA and Ag NPs on the PU micro-nanofibers increased the hydrophilicity from 107.

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All the disciplines of science, especially biotechnology, have given continuous attention to the area of enzyme immobilization. However, the structural support made by material science intervention determines the performance of immobilized enzymes. Studies have proven that nanostructured supports can maintain better catalytic performance and improve immobilization efficiency.

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Article Synopsis
  • Prolonged stomach retention of losartan potassium (LP) is expected to enhance its absorption and conversion into a more potent active metabolite, losartan carboxylic acid (LCA).
  • Researchers developed expandable films for LP that retain in the stomach for longer, using a solvent casting method and tested their drug release properties.
  • In vivo studies showed these films improved pharmacokinetic parameters for LP and its active metabolite, demonstrating higher bioavailability compared to the existing market formulation, Cozaar.
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The arrangement and type of support has a significant impact on the efficiency of immobilized enzymes. 1-dimensional fibrous materials can be one of the most desirable supports for enzyme immobilization. This is due to their high surface area to volume ratio, internal porosity, ease of handling, and high mechanical stability, all of which allow a higher enzyme loading, release and finally lead to better catalytic efficiency.

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Article Synopsis
  • Bone development is influenced by various growth factors, including transforming growth factor-beta and bone morphogenetic protein, which are critical for effective bone repair.
  • The complexity of these factors' expressions during bone formation suggests that using just one therapeutic agent is not effective for bone healing.
  • A dual delivery approach, which combines multiple agents, has shown promise in enhancing bone regeneration by targeting different pathways and improving the overall efficiency of bone healing.
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Essential oils prevent superbug formation, which is mainly caused by the continuous use of synthetic drugs. This is a significant threat to health, the environment, and food safety. Plant extracts in the form of essential oils are good enough to destroy pests and fight bacterial infections in animals and humans.

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Cellulose nanofibers, which are troublesome to spin into fibers, can be easily fabricated by post-regeneration of its acetate-derived threads. Cellulose is a natural polymer; it enjoys better biocompatibility, cellular mimicking, and hydrophilic properties than its proportionate analog. Herein, we regenerated acetate-free nanofibers by alkaline de-acetylation of as-spun nanofibers.

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Carbon nanotubes are nano-sized cylindrical chicken wire-like structures made of carbon atoms. Carbon nanotubes have applications in electronics, energy storage, electromagnetic devices, environmental remediation and medicine as well. The biomedical applications of carbon nanotubes can be owed to features like low toxicity, non-immunogenicity, high in vivo stability and rapid cell entry.

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The present paper describes the addition of nitroxide-functionalized graphene oxide (GOFT) into polyamide 6 (PA6) micro- and nanofibers, which are obtained through electrospinning. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs demonstrate the presence of fibers. Tensile testing presents an unexpected and non-obvious behavior, in which the Young's modulus, tensile strength, and elongation simultaneously and remarkably increase compared to the pristine polymer nanofibers.

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Transmucosal surfaces bypass many limitations associated with conventional drug delivery (oral and parenteral routes), such as poor absorption rate, enzymatic activity, acidic environment and first-pass metabolism occurring inside the liver. However, these surfaces have several disadvantages such as poor retention time, narrow absorption window and continuous washout of the drug by the surrounding fluids. Electrospun nanofibers with their unique surface properties and encapsulation efficiency may act as novel drug carriers to overcome the challenges associated with conventional drug delivery routes, so as to achieve desired therapeutic responses.

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Article Synopsis
  • Researchers developed nanofiber scaffolds made of cellulose combined with titanium dioxide (TiO) and silver (Ag) nanoparticles for potential medical applications.
  • These scaffolds were created through electrospinning and treated to remove acetyl groups to ensure they consisted of pure cellulose along with the nanoparticles.
  • The final product exhibited antibacterial properties and biocompatibility, making it suitable for wound healing and possible future use in tissue integration.
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An efficient method for the development of myogenic differentiation using the stem cells can be beneficial in patients with severely compromised mobility, muscular damage, or degenerative diseases. The stem cells can prove to be excellent clinical source of myogenic progenitor cells due to their ability of self-proliferation, renewal, and differentiation into a specific phenotype. They represent an essential component of tissue engineering along with other factors (e.

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Tissue regeneration especially in case of bones is a complex process as a repair involved is often inadequate. The electrospun chitosan nanofibers incorporated with titanium dioxide and collagen due to their ability to enhance biomineralization have been widely explored for bone tissue regeneration. Moreover, the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possessing the properties of both self-renewal and multipotency offer a suitable recourse for cell-based regeneration strategies.

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Therapy based on stem cells utilizes these cells in neurodegeneration, brain/spinal cord injury, and much recently in repairing of severe heart diseases. Owning to their stemness, these cells are the potential source of progenitors that can offer a therapeutic remedy to a variety of diseases and/or disorders. The ability of these cells to regenerate and differentiate into specified phenotypes has great utility in tissue regeneration applications.

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Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) owing their multipotency are known as progenitors for the regeneration of adult tissues including that of neuronal tissue. The repair and/or regeneration of traumatic nerves is still a challenging task for neurosurgeons. It is also a well-established fact that the microenvironment plays a primary role in determining the fate of stem cells to a specific lineage.

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Synthetic polymers, especially those with biocompatible and biodegradable characteristics, may offer effective alternatives for the treatment of severe wounds and burn injuries. Ideally, the scaffold material should induce as little pain as possible, enable quick healing, and direct the growth of defect-free epidermal cells. The best material with this multifunctionality, such as self-healing dressings, should be hydrophilic and have uninterrupted and direct contact with the damaged tissue.

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