Development of an alginate-chitosan biopolymer composite with dECM bioink additive for organ-on-a-chip articular cartilage.

In vitro use of articular cartilage on an organ-on-a-chip (OOAC) via microfluidics is challenging owing to the dense extracellular matrix (ECM) composed of numerous protein moieties and few chondrocytes, which has limited proliferation potential and microscale translation. Hence, this study proposes a novel approach for using a combination of biopolymers and decellularised ECM (dECM) as a bioink additive in the development of scalable OOAC using a microfluidic platform. The bioink was tested with native chondrocytes and mesenchymal stem cell-induced chondrocytes using biopolymers of alginate and chitosan composite hydrogels.

Standardizing Chondrocyte Isolation and Articular Cartilage Decellularization: A Versatile Bioink for Tissue Engineering Applications.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a noncellular component of tissues that provides structural and biochemical support to cells. The purpose of decellularization is to provide a tissue-specific niche to preserve the architecture, composition, and signaling molecules of the ECM. The current protocol discusses the standardization of chondrocyte isolation and the preparation of acellular ECM as a bioink additive from human native articular cartilage.

Extracellular matrix composition analysis of human articular cartilage for the development of organ-on-a-chip.

Introduction: Articular cartilage has a complex extracellular matrix (ECM) that provides it a defined architecture for its load-bearing properties. The complete understanding of ECM components is imperative for developing biomimetic organ-on-a-chip tissue construct.

Objective: This study aimed to decellularize and characterize the ECM for its protein profiling to generate a niche for enhanced chondrocyte proliferation.

Effect of engineered superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in targeted cardiac precursor cell delivery by MRI.

A scientific approach is presented describing the fabrication of nanoprobe (GloTrack) that can act as cardiac precursor label to segregate cells from cardiac/non cardiac origins and traced by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Signal regulatory protein alpha (SIRPA) and kinase domain receptor (KDR) recognizing antibodies, form a layer on super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle - poly-ethylene glycol (SPION-PEG) complex, and bind to protein expressed on the surface of cardiac muscle cells. Physical attributes size, distribution, labelling efficiency, echocardiogram (ECG) changes and bio-distribution by MRI were analysed.

Distinct cell death markers identified in critical care patient survivors diagnosed with sepsis.

Sepsis is an abnormal immune response to infection characterized by an overwhelming systemic inflammation and cell death. Non-apoptotic cell death pertaining to pyroptosis, necroptosis and autophagy contribute to sepsis pathogenesis apart from classical apoptotic cell death. The objective of the current study is to investigate the presence of molecular markers of relevance to apoptotic and non-apoptotic cell death in control healthy subjects and septic patient survivors.

Development of Bioengineered Organ Using Biological Acellular Rat Liver Scaffold and Hepatocytes.

The increasing demand for organs for transplantation necessitates the development of substitutes to meet the structural and physiological functions. Tissue decellularization and recellularization aids in retaining the three-dimensional integrity, biochemical composition, tissue ultra-structure, and mechanical behavior, which makes them functionally suitable for organ transplantation. Herein, we attempted to rebuild functional liver grafts in small animal model (Wistar rat) with a potential of translation.

Standardization and quality assessment for clinical grade mesenchymal stem cells from human adipose tissue.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells have immense potential in stem cell-based therapies, however there is a pre-requisite to develop a curative cell dose. Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells are promising mainly due to their potential abundance, immunomodulatory effect and remarkable differentiation potential. Nevertheless, senescence may develop during their expansion due to the incidence of genetic instability.

Association of TNF-α, IL-10 and IL-6 promoter polymorphisms in pulmonary tuberculosis patients and their household contacts of younger age group.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of cytokine genes have been found to be involved in the clinical outcome of Tuberculosis. The present study was aimed to identify the high risk genotypes in Tuberculosis patients and their household contacts. A total of 490 subjects were studied which includes 150 active pulmonary tuberculosis patients (APTB), 190 household contacts (HHC) and 150 healthy controls (HC).

In vitro allogeneic immune cell response to mesenchymal stromal cells derived from human adipose in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

We investigated the regulatory activity of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) (n=10) towards immune cells in a cohort of 84 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, 36 apparently healthy controls. We co-cultured MSCs with lymphocyte subsets of T, B, and T regulatory cells (Tregs). Levels of the pro- and anti-inflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and interleukin-10 (IL-10)) were estimated in serum and co-culture supernatants.

Cytokine production and mRNA expression in pulmonary tuberculosis patients and their household contacts of younger age group (15-25years).

Household contacts of tuberculosis patients are at high risk of infection and development of active disease. In this study we evaluated the cytokine production and mRNA expression of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10&IL-6 stimulated with r32kDa M. bovis BCGAg in active pulmonary tuberculosis patients (APTB), household contacts (HHC) and healthy controls (HC).

Evaluation of TNF-α, IL-10 and IL-6 Cytokine Production and Their Correlation with Genotype Variants amongst Tuberculosis Patients and Their Household Contacts.

Background: Household contacts of diagnostically established tuberculosis (TB) patients are highly susceptible to disease development. It is surmised that cytokines perhaps play a synergistic and a prognostic role in the activation of the otherwise latent infection in these house hold contacts. Evaluation of the cytokines and any of their inherent polymorphisms might provide a useful diagnostic tool in evaluating the immune regulation and the progression of the disease.

Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy in MDR/XDR Tuberculosis: A Concise Review.

Multi-drug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis is a major public health problem worldwide. Drug resistance arises due to non-compliance of antibiotic therapy. Herein, we explored the therapeutic options available ranging from conservative treatment approaches to alternate adjunct therapies such as mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapy interventions.

Proliferation and differentiation potential of human adipose-derived stem cells grown on chitosan hydrogel.

Applied tissue engineering in regenerative medicine warrants our enhanced understanding of the biomaterials and its function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the proliferation and differentiation potential of human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) grown on chitosan hydrogel. The stability of this hydrogel is pH-dependent and its swelling property is pivotal in providing a favorable matrix for cell growth.

Fluorescent magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for cardiac precursor cell selection from stromal vascular fraction and optimization for magnetic resonance imaging.

Fluorescent magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles have been used to label cells for imaging as well as for therapeutic purposes. The purpose of this study was to modify the approach to develop a nanoprobe for cell selection and imaging with a direct therapeutic translational focus. The approach involves physical coincubation and adsorption of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle-polyethylene glycol (SPION-PEG) complexes with a monoclonal antibody (mAb) or a set of antibodies.

Evaluation of the autologous bone marrow mononuclear therapy and functional restoration in the scarred myocardium by imaging analysis.

A 62-year-old male patient with previous history of myocardial infarction, akinetic myocardial segments, and an ejection fraction of 31% with the NYHA class III category was selected for the autologous bone marrow (ABM)-derived mononuclear cell fraction injection during CABG surgery. Nitrate augmented myocardial tracer uptake was imaged by ECG gated SPECT pre- and 1 year post-ABM therapy, using radiotracer Tc99m Sestamibi. The baseline gated SPECT demonstrated full thickness infarct in 40% area of LAD territory.

Impact of ethnicity, donor status and HLA matching on renal allograft survival: a single center study.

The role of histocompatibility testing in renal transplantation is passing through an immense debate on its utility in predicting long-term graft survival. The current study, which includes fifty-one patients with end-stage renal disease, aims at evaluating the impact of the HLA matching in live related donor (LRD) (parents, siblings and near relatives) and live unrelated donor (LURD) transplants on one year graft survival rates, in a single center. Patients were followed-up for one-year after renal transplantation and observed for renal complications inclu-ding infections and rejection.

Histocompatibility testing of cultivated human bone marrow stromal cells - a promising step towards pre-clinical screening for allogeneic stem cell therapy.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) lack major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-II and only show minimal MHC-I expression. Despite MSCs demonstrating T-cell anergy, there are no established methods to evaluate their suitability. It is crucial to evaluate the complete mismatch of MHC compatibility in view of the hypo-immunogenic nature and immunomodulatory properties of MSCs with respect to their proliferation potential (PP) and utility in terms of passage number.

Rh antigen expression during erythropoeisis: Comparison of cord and adult derived CD34 cells.

Objectives: Concentrations of O(2) and CO(2) in the fetal circulation differ to that in maternal blood. Previous studies done in algae demonstrate the functional role of Rh antigen as CO(2) transporter. As a preliminary study, it was the aim of this project to compare the expression of Rh polypeptides on cord and adult red blood cell progenitors during ex vivo proliferation and differentiation of CD34(+) cells during erythropoeisis.