Moving Toward Biomimetic Tissue-Engineered Scaffolds.

Advancing experimental methodologies to accurately replicate the physiological and pathological characteristics of biological tissues is pivotal in tissue engineering [...

Polyetheretherketone Double Functionalization with Bioactive Peptides Improves Human Osteoblast Response.

In recent years, the demand for orthopedic implants has surged due to increased life expectancy, necessitating the need for materials that better mimic the biomechanical properties of human bone. Traditional metal implants, despite their mechanical superiority and biocompatibility, often face challenges such as mismatched elastic modulus and ion release, leading to complications and implant failures. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), a semi-crystalline polymer with an aromatic backbone, presents a promising alternative due to its adjustable elastic modulus and compatibility with bone tissue.

Comparison of the activity of two elastin-like recombinant carriers fused to the antimicrobial peptide indolicidin.

Recombinant fusion biotechnology is a powerful tool for producing antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which can contribute to limiting the number of potentially infectious microorganisms. AMPs are often expressed in fusion with a carrier protein, a strategy that prevents toxic effects on host bacterial cells and protects them from proteolytic degradation. Among the many fusion carriers available, elastin-like polypeptides offer several valuable advantages related to their unique thermo-responsive behavior.

Strategies for the Covalent Anchoring of a BMP-2-Mimetic Peptide to PEEK Surface for Bone Tissue Engineering.

Researchers in the field of tissue engineering are always searching for new scaffolds for bone repair. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a chemically inert polymer that is insoluble in conventional solvents. PEEK's great potential in tissue engineering applications arises from its ability to not induce adverse reactions when in contact with biological tissues and its mechanical properties, which are similar to those of human bone.

Proteolytically Resistant Bioactive Peptide-Grafted Sr/Mg-Doped Hardystonite Foams: Comparison of Two Covalent Functionalization Strategies.

Hardystonite-based (HT) bioceramic foams were easily obtained via thermal treatment of silicone resins and reactive oxide fillers in air. By using a commercial silicone, incorporating strontium oxide and magnesium oxide precursors (as well as CaO and ZnO), and treating it at 1100 °C, a complex solid solution (CaSrZnMgSiO) that has superior biocompatibility and bioactivity properties compared to pure hardystonite (CaZnSiO) can be obtained. Proteolytic-resistant adhesive peptide mapped on vitronectin (D2HVP), was selectively grafted to Sr/Mg-doped HT foams using two different strategies.