Navigating oligodendrocyte precursor cell aging in brain health.

Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) comprise 5-8 % of the adult glial cell population and stand out as the most proliferative cell type in the central nervous system (CNS). OPCs are responsible for generating oligodendrocytes (OLs), the myelinating cells of the CNS. However, OPC functions decline as we age, resulting in impaired differentiation and inadequate remyelination.

Early Inhibition of Phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) Instills Cognitive Resilience in APPswe/PS1dE9 Mice.

Microglia activity can drive excessive synaptic loss during the prodromal phase of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and is associated with lowered cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) due to cAMP phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B). This study aimed to investigate whether long-term inhibition of PDE4B by A33 (3 mg/kg/day) can prevent synapse loss and its associated cognitive decline in APPswe/PS1dE9 mice. This model is characterized by a chimeric mouse/human APP with the Swedish mutation and human PSEN1 lacking exon 9 (dE9), both under the control of the mouse prion protein promoter.

Utilization of Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Quantum Dots to Neutralize ROS and Modulate Intracellular Antioxidant Pathways to Improve Dry Eye Disease Therapy.

Purpose: Patients afflicted with dry eye disease (DED) experience significant discomfort. The underlying cause of DED is the excessive accumulation of ROS on the ocular surface. Here, we investigated the nitrogen doped-graphene quantum dots (NGQDs), known for their ROS-scavenging capabilities, as a treatment for DED.

Sustained Release of Voriconazole Using 3D-Crosslinked Hydrogel Rings and Rods for Use in Corneal Drug Delivery.

Corneal disorders and diseases are prevalent in the field of clinical ophthalmology. Fungal keratitis, one of the major factors leading to visual impairment and blindness worldwide, presents significant challenges for traditional topical eye drop treatments. The objective of this study was to create biocompatible 3D-crosslinked hydrogels for drug delivery to the cornea, intending to enhance the bioavailability of ophthalmic drugs.

A tissue-adhesive F127 hydrogel delivers antioxidative copper-selenide nanoparticles for the treatment of dry eye disease.

Dry eye disease (DED) is currently the most prevalent condition seen in ophthalmology outpatient clinics, representing a significant public health issue. The onset and progression of DED are closely associated with oxidative stress-induced inflammation and damage. To address this, an aldehyde-functionalized F127 (AF127) hydrogel eye drop delivering multifunctional antioxidant CuSe nanoparticles (CuSe NPs) was designed.

Interactive neuroinflammation pathways and transcriptomics-based identification of drugs and chemical compounds for schizophrenia.

Objectives: Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder affecting 1% of the population. Accumulating evidence indicates that neuroinflammation is involved in the pathology of these disorders by altering neurodevelopmental processes and specifically affecting glutamatergic signalling and astrocytic functioning. The aim of this study was to curate interactive biological pathways involved in schizophrenia for the identification of novel pharmacological targets implementing pathway, gene ontology, and network analysis.

Polymeric Microspheres Designed to Carry Crystalline Drugs at Their Surface or Inside Cavities and Dimples.

Injectable polymer microparticles with the ability to carry and release pharmacologically active agents are attracting more and more interest. This study is focused on the chemical synthesis, characterization, and preliminary exploration of the utility of a new type of injectable drug-releasing polymer microparticle. The particles feature a new combination of structural and physico-chemical properties: (i) their geometry deviates from the spherical in the sense that the particles have a cavity; (ii) the particles are porous and can therefore be loaded with crystalline drug formulations; drug crystals can reside at both the particle's surfaces and inside cavities; (iii) the particles are relatively dense since the polymer network contains covalently bound iodine (approximately 10% by mass); this renders the drug-loaded particles traceable (localizable) by X-ray fluoroscopy.

A novel approach to achieve semi-sustained drug delivery to the eye through asymmetric loading of soft contact lenses.

Soft contact lenses are increasingly being explored as a vehicle for controlled delivery of ophthalmic drugs. However, traditional methods of drug-loading by soaking have limitations such as burst delivery and the release of drugs at the front side of the lens, leading to poor drug efficacy and systemic side effects. This study introduces a new methodology, termed asymmetric drug loading, whereby the ophthalmic drug 'Rebamipide' is attached to and released from the post-lens (=cornea-contacting) surface exclusively.

The potential utility of hybrid photo-crosslinked hydrogels with non-immunogenic component for cartilage repair.

Finding a suitable biomaterial for scaffolding in cartilage tissue engineering has proved to be far from trivial. Nonetheless, it is clear that biomimetic approaches based on gelatin (Gel) and hyaluronic acid (HA) have particular promise. Herein, a set of formulations consisting of photo-polymerizable Gel; photo-polymerizable HA, and allogenic decellularized cartilage matrix (DCM), is synthesized and characterized.

Polymer microparticles with a cavity designed for transarterial chemo-embolization with crystalline drug formulations.

Transarterial chemo-embolization with drug-eluting embolic beads (DEB-TACE) is still evolving. Recent developments include the introduction of radiopaque (X-ray imageable) drug-eluting particles. Here, we report on conceptually different radiopaque polymeric drug-eluting embolic particles, which are (i), cross-linked poly(methacrylates); (ii), radiopaque; (iii), microporous.

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of drug-eluting microspheres designed for transarterial chemoembolization therapy.

Poly(D,L-lactic acid) biodegradable microspheres, loaded with the drugs cisplatin and/or sorafenib tosylate, were prepared, characterized and studied. Degradation of the microspheres, and release of cisplatin and/or sorafenib tosylate from them, were investigated in detail. Incubation of the drug-carrying microspheres in phosphate buffered saline (pH=7.

Synthesis and characterization of a new vertebroplasty cement based on gold-containing PMMA microspheres.

There are a number of drawbacks to incorporating large concentrations of barium sulfate (BaSO4) as the radiopacifier in PMMA-based bone cements for percutaneous vertebroplasty. These include adverse effects on injectability, viscosity profile, setting time, mechanical properties of the cement and bone resorption. We have synthesized a novel cement that is designed to address some of these drawbacks.

Microsphere integrated microfluidic disk: synergy of two techniques for rapid and ultrasensitive dengue detection.

The application of microfluidic devices in diagnostic systems is well-established in contemporary research. Large specific surface area of microspheres, on the other hand, has secured an important position for their use in bioanalytical assays. Herein, we report a combination of microspheres and microfluidic disk in a unique hybrid platform for highly sensitive and selective detection of dengue virus.

Effect of anti-ApoA-I antibody-coating of stents on neointima formation in a rabbit balloon-injury model.

Background And Aims: Since high-density lipoprotein (HDL) has pro-endothelial and anti-thrombotic effects, a HDL recruiting stent may prevent restenosis. In the present study we address the functional characteristics of an apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) antibody coating in vitro. Subsequently, we tested its biological performance applied on stents in vivo in rabbits.

Polymethacrylate coated electrospun PHB fibers: An exquisite outlook for fabrication of paper-based biosensors.

Electrospun polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) fibers were dip-coated by polymethyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid, poly(MMA-co-MAA), which was synthesized in different molar ratios of the monomers via free-radical polymerization. Fabricated platfrom was employed for immobilization of the dengue antibody and subsequent detection of dengue enveloped virus in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). There is a major advantage for combination of electrospun fibers and copolymers.

Preparation and structure of drug-carrying biodegradable microspheres designed for transarterial chemoembolization therapy.

Biodegradable poly(D,L-lactic acid) drug-eluting microspheres containing anti-tumor drugs, cisplatin, and sorafenib tosylate have been prepared by the emulsion solvent evaporation method with diameter between 200 and 400 μm. Scanning electron microscopy showed that cisplatin microspheres had smooth surfaces, while sorafenib tosylate microspheres and cisplatin + sorafenib tosylate microspheres were porous at the surface and the pits of the latter were larger than those of the former. Notably, cisplatin + sorafenib tosylate microspheres had a fast drug release rate compared with microspheres containing one drug alone.

Recent advances in surface functionalization techniques on polymethacrylate materials for optical biosensor applications.

Biosensor chips for immune-based assay systems have been investigated for their application in early diagnostics. The development of such systems strongly depends on the effective protein immobilization on polymer substrates. In order to achieve this complex heterogeneous interaction the polymer surface must be functionalized with chemical groups that are reactive towards proteins in a way that surface functional groups (such as carboxyl, -COOH; amine, -NH2; and hydroxyl, -OH) chemically or physically anchor the proteins to the polymer platform.

Adsorption of albumin on flax fibers increases endothelial cell adhesion and blood compatibility in vitro.

The physical and chemical properties of flax (linen) are attractive from the perspective of biomaterials science and engineering. Flax textiles uniquely combine hydrophilicity and strength, with the technical know-how to produce precisely engineered two- and three-dimensional knitted or woven structures. It is, however, extremely difficult to completely remove endotoxins from the flax, and this essentially precludes the use of linen for implant purposes.

Development of novel membranes for blood purification therapies based on copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and n-butylmethacrylate.

Developments in membrane based blood purification therapies often come with longer treatment times and therefore longer blood-material contact, which requires long-term membrane biocompatibility. In this study, we develop for the first time membranes for blood purification using the material SlipSkin™, which is a copolymer, made from N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) and butylmethacrylate (BMA). Specific attention is focused on understanding the mechanism of pore formation and the tailoring of the membrane mechanical and transport properties to obtain the optimal membrane for blood purification therapies.

Utilization of flax fibers for biomedical applications.

Over the past decades, a large number of animal-derived materials have been introduced for several biomedical applications. Surprisingly, the use of plant-based materials has lagged behind. To study the feasibility of plant-derived biomedical materials, we chose flax (Linum usitatissimum).

A nontoxic additive to introduce x-ray contrast into poly(lactic acid). Implications for transient medical implants such as bioresorbable coronary vascular scaffolds.

Bioresorbable coronary vascular scaffolds are about to revolutionize the landscape of interventional cardiology. These scaffolds, consisting of a poly(L-lactic acid) interior and a poly(D,L-lactic acid) surface coating, offer a genuine alternative for metallic coronary stents. Perhaps the only remaining drawback is that monitoring during implantation is limited to two X-ray contrast points.

Design, synthesis, imaging, and biomechanics of a softness-gradient hydrogel nucleus pulposus prosthesis in a canine lumbar spine model.

A hydrogel nucleus pulposus prosthesis (NPP) was designed to swell in situ, have intrinsic radiopacity, and restore intervertebral disc height and biomechanical functionality. These features were examined using an ex vivo canine lumbar model. Nine NPPs were implanted in five spines and their visibility was assessed on radiography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).