Electrospun nanofiber composite mat based on ulvan for wound dressing applications.

Wound dressings can be used to create a temporary healing environment and expedite the wound healing process. Ulvan (ULV) is a sulfated polysaccharide with potent antiviral and anti-inflammatory activities. Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a hydrophobic biodegradable polyester that exhibits slow degradation, strong mechanical strength, and excellent biocompatibility.

Influence of the Components and Orientation of Hydroxyapatite Fibrous Substrates on Osteoblast Behavior.

Synthetic hydroxyapatite has good biocompatibility, bioactivity and osteoconductive ability because its chemical properties and biological properties are similar to those of bioapatite in bone tissue. Strontium-substituted hydroxyapatite has better degradability than hydroxyapatite and can both promote osteogenesis and inhibit adipogenesis in mesenchymal stem cells. Hence, hydroxyapatite and strontium-substituted hydroxyapatite are widely used as bone graft materials, cell carriers and drug/gene delivery carriers.

The Effect of Strontium-Substituted Hydroxyapatite Nanofibrous Matrix on Osteoblast Proliferation and Differentiation.

Natural bone tissue consists primarily of bioapatite and collagen. Synthetic hydroxyapatite (HA) possesses good biocompatibility, bioactivity, and osteoconductivity due to its chemical and biological similarity to bioapatite. Hence, HA has been widely used as a bone graft, cell carrier and drug/gene delivery carrier.

Preparation of a Fucoidan-Grafted Hyaluronan Composite Hydrogel for the Induction of Osteoblast Differentiation in Osteoblast-Like Cells.

A suitable bone substitute is necessary in bone regenerative medicine. Hyaluronan (HA) has excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability and is widely used in tissue engineering. Additionally, research on fucoidan (Fu), a fucose- and sulfate-rich polysaccharide from brown seaweed, for the promotion of bone osteogenic differentiation has increased exponentially.

Collagen Scaffolds Containing Hydroxyapatite-CaO Fiber Fragments for Bone Tissue Engineering.

Collagen (COL) and hydroxyapatite (HAp) are the major components of bone, therefore, COL-HAp composites have been widely used as bone substitutes to promote bone regeneration. We have reported that HAp-CaO fibers (HANFs), which were fabricated by a sol-gel route followed by an electrospinning technique, possessed good drug-loading efficiency and limited the burst release of tetracycline. In the present study, we used HANF fragments to evaluate the effects of COL-HANF scaffolds on MG63 osteoblast-like cell behaviors.

Protective Effect of Low-Molecular-Weight Fucoidan on Radiation-Induced Fibrosis Through TGF-β1/Smad Pathway-Mediated Inhibition of Collagen I Accumulation.

Radiation-induced fibrosis (RIF) occurs after radiation therapy in normal tissues due to excessive production and deposition of extracellular matrix proteins and collagen, possibly resulting in organ function impairment. This study investigates the effects of low-molecular-weight fucoidan (LMF) on irradiated NIH3T3 cells. Specifically, we quantified cellular metabolic activity, fibrosis-related mRNA expression, transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1), and collagen-1 protein expression, and fibroblast contractility in response to LMF.

Fabrication and Characteristics of PCL Membranes Containing Strontium-Substituted Hydroxyapatite Nanofibers for Guided Bone Regeneration.

Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) membranes have been widely used in guided tissue regeneration (GTR) and guided bone regeneration (GBR). In addition, hydroxyapatite is the major inorganic component and an essential composition of hard bone and teeth. Recently, numerous studies have demonstrated that strontium-substituted hydroxyapatite (SrHA) not only enhances osteogenesis but also inhibits adipogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells.

Fabrication of polycaprolactone tubular scaffolds with an orthogonal-bilayer structure for smooth muscle cells.

In this study, we used electrospinning to prepare a bilayered polycaprolactone (PCL) tubular graft consisting of an internal layer comprising axial nanofibers and an external layer comprising circumferentially aligned nanofibers. Subsequently, the surfaces of the electrospun PCL tubular scaffolds were modified with 1,6-diaminohexane to introduce amino groups and were then chemically conjugated with gelatin (Gel). The amino groups and Gel were successfully immobilized on the PCL scaffolds according to a ninhydrin assay, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopic analysis and contact angle analysis.

Fabrication and Characterization of Strontium-Substituted Hydroxyapatite-CaO-CaCO₃ Nanofibers with a Mesoporous Structure as Drug Delivery Carriers.

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) is the main inorganic component and an essential part of hard bone and teeth. Due to its excellent biocompatibility, bioactivity, and osteoconductivity, synthetic HAp has been widely used as a bone substitute, cell carrier, and therapeutic gene or drug carrier. Recently, numerous studies have demonstrated that strontium-substituted hydroxyapatite (SrHAp) not only enhances osteogenesis but also inhibits adipogenesis in mesenchymal stem cells.

Fabrication and Characteristics of Porous Hydroxyapatite-CaO Composite Nanofibers for Biomedical Applications.

Hydroxyapatite (HAp), a major inorganic and essential component of normal bone and teeth, is a promising biomaterial due to its excellent biocompatibility, bioactivity, and osteoconductivity. Therefore, synthetic HAp has been widely used as a bone substitute, cell carrier, and delivery carrier of therapeutic genes or drugs. Mesoporous materials have attracted considerable attention due to their relatively high surface area, large pore volume, high porosity, and tunable pore size.

Macroporous microbeads containing apatite-modified mesoporous bioactive glass nanofibres for bone tissue engineering applications.

Mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG) has a greater surface area and pore volume than conventional BG. Hence, MBG is useful as a drug delivery carrier. Previously, MBG has been fabricated as dense or porous blocks.

Fabrication and Cytotoxicity of Fucoidan-Cisplatin Nanoparticles for Macrophage and Tumor Cells.

Fucoidan, an anionic, sulfated polysaccharide from brown seaweed, is known to exhibit antitumor and immunomodulatory functions. To develop an immune protection and chemotherapeutic agent, fucoidan-cisplatin nanoparticles (FCNPs) were designed. FCNPs were prepared by mixing cisplatin with fucoidan solution or fucoidan with cisplatin solution, followed by dialysis to remove trace elements.

Construction of cell-containing, anisotropic, three-dimensional collagen fibril scaffolds using external vibration and their influence on smooth muscle cell phenotype modulation.

Numerous methods have been developed for preparing guiding channels/tracks to promote the alignment of highly oriented cell types. However, these manufacture methods cannot fabricate interconnected guiding channels within three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds. Providing a suitable architectural scaffold for cell attachment could lead cells to more rapidly display a desired phenotype and perform their unique functions.

Preparation of Nanofibrous Structure of Mesoporous Bioactive Glass Microbeads for Biomedical Applications.

A highly ordered, mesoporous (pore size 2~50 nm) bioactive glass (MBG) structure has a greater surface area and pore volume and excellent bone-forming bioactivity compared with traditional bioactive glasses (BGs). Hence, MBGs have been used in drug delivery and bone tissue engineering. MBGs can be developed as either a dense or porous block.

Hierarchically biomimetic scaffold of a collagen-mesoporous bioactive glass nanofiber composite for bone tissue engineering.

Mesoporous bioactive glass nanofibers (MBGNFs) were prepared by a sol-gel/electrospinning technique. Subsequently, a collagen-MBGNF (CM) composite scaffold that simultaneously possessed a macroporous structure and collagen nanofibers was fabricated by a gelation and freeze-drying process. Additionally, immersing the CM scaffold in a simulated body fluid resulted in the formation of bone-like apatite minerals on the surface.

Biodegradation of three tetracyclines in swine wastewater.

Tetracyclines (TCs), including tetracycline (TC), oxytetracycline (OTC), and chlortetracycline (CTC), are amongst the most common antibiotics used in animal husbandry. Residual amounts of these antibiotics in the environment are a concern because they contribute to selection of resistant bacteria. In this study, we investigated the biodegradation of three TCs in swine wastewater.

Hyaluronan-cisplatin conjugate nanoparticles embedded in Eudragit S100-coated pectin/alginate microbeads for colon drug delivery.

Hyaluronan-cisplatin conjugate nanoparticles (HCNPs) were chosen as colon-targeting drug-delivery carriers due to the observation that a variety of malignant tumors overexpress hyaluronan receptors. HCNPs were prepared by mixing cisplatin with a hyaluronan solution, followed by dialysis to remove trace elements. The cells treated with HCNPs showed significantly lower viability than those treated with cisplatin alone.

Use of microcapsules with electrostatically immobilized bacterial cells or enzyme extract to remove nonylphenol in wastewater sludge.

We investigated the use of a high-voltage electrostatic system to immobilize bacterial cells or enzyme extract in alginate microcapsules for removing nonylphenol (NP) from wastewater sludge. With applied potential increased from 0 to 12kV, the gel bead diameter decreased from 950 to 250 μm. The amount of bacterial cells or enzyme extract immobilized in alginate microcapsules was greater than that in suspension, for improved tolerance to environmental loadings.

Development of pH-sensitive pectinate/alginate microspheres for colon drug delivery.

The purposes of this study were to develop and evaluate calcium pectinate/alginate microspheres (PAMs) and to exploit their pH-sensitive properties for colon-targeted delivery of encapsulated cisplatin. PAMs were prepared using an electrospraying method. The PAMs, as cores, were then coated with Eudragit S100 using a polyelectrolyte multilayer coating technique in aqueous solution.

Preparation and characterization of mesoporous bioactive glass/polycaprolactone nanofibrous matrix for bone tissues engineering.

A polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibrous composite matrix having mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBG) was fabricated using the electrospinning method, and the microstructural, physical and biological properties of the composite matrix were characterized. The fiber diameters of PCL, 5 % MBG/PCL (5 M-PCL) and 10 % MBG/PCL (10 M-PCL) were 575 ± 162 nm, 312 ± 134 nm and 321 ± 144 nm, respectively. The bioactivity of the composite matrix was evaluated by soaking the matrix in 1.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, platelet-rich plasma and nanohydroxyapatite-type I collagen beads were integral parts of biomimetic bone substitutes for bone regeneration.

Platelet rich plasma (PRP), which includes many growth factors, can activate osteoid production, collagen synthesis and cell proliferation. Nanohydroxyapatite-type I collagen beads (CIB), which mimetic natural bone components, are not only flexible fillers for bone defect but also encourage osteogenesis. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are often used as an abundant cell source for tissue engineering.

MG63 osteoblast-like cells exhibit different behavior when grown on electrospun collagen matrix versus electrospun gelatin matrix.

Electrospinning is a simple and efficient method of fabricating a non-woven polymeric nanofiber matrix. However, using fluorinated alcohols as a solvent for the electrospinning of proteins often results in protein denaturation. TEM and circular dichroism analysis indicated a massive loss of triple-helical collagen from an electrospun collagen (EC) matrix, and the random coils were similar to those found in gelatin.

Fabrication and evaluation of a biodegradable cohesive plug based on reconstituted collagen/γ-polyglutamic acid.

In the past decade, numerous studies have been devoted to developing natural bioadhesives that have the notable capacity to adhere to wet surfaces. Collagen and γ-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA) are well-known natural hydrophilic polymers that have both been utilized for their versatility in a wide range of biomedical applications. The aim of this study was the construction and characterization of a cohesive plug composed of γ-PGA and reconstituted collagen fibrils crosslinked with water-soluble carbodiimide.

Single-photon and two-photon cellular imagings of gold nanorods and dyes.

A method to obtain the expressions of gold nanorods (GNRs) and dye molecules simultaneously is proposed for the single-photon and two-photon cellular imagings by using laser scanning confocal microscopy. For our experiment, GNRs with an average aspect ratio of 2.14 were synthesized using electrochemical method, and the peak of absorption spectrum of GNRs is at 600 nm.

Electrospun hyaluronate-collagen nanofibrous matrix and the effects of varying the concentration of hyaluronate on the characteristics of foreskin fibroblast cells.

In this study we propose a novel electrospinning fabrication process for the production of a nanofibrous matrix composed of collagen and hyaluronate. This procedure utilized 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol and formic acid as a mixed solvent. Fluorescence microscopy photographs revealed that the resulting electrospun nanofibers contained both collagen and hyaluronate.