Novel Collagenous Sponge Composites for Osteochondral Regeneration in Rat Knee Models: A Comparative Study of Keratin, Hydroxyapatite, and Combined Treatments.

This study aims to evaluate the osteoconductive and osteoinductive potential of novel composite collagenous sponges enriched with keratin (K), hydroxyapatite (HA), and their combination (K+HA) for osteochondral regeneration in rat knee models. By examining cell proliferation, mineralization, and vascularization, we aim to determine the regenerative effectiveness of these materials in promoting osteochondral repair, particularly in load-bearing joints like the knee. Addressing the problem of osteochondral defects (OCD), which lead to osteoarthritis-a condition characterized by pain and functional impairment-the hereby research evaluates these biomaterials for their potential to foster bone and cartilage repair, especially in load-bearing joints as the knee.

Marine Resources Gels as Main Ingredient for Wound Healing Biomaterials: Obtaining and Characterization.

The skin, known as the largest organ of the body, is essential for maintaining physiological balance and acts as a barrier against the external environment. When skin becomes damaged and wounds appear on the skin's surface, a complex healing process, involving multiple types of cells and microenvironments, take place. Selecting a suitable dressing for a wound is crucial for accelerating healing, reducing treatment costs, and improving the patient's overall health.

Novel Collagen Membrane Formulations with Irinotecan or Minocycline for Potential Application in Brain Cancer.

Our study explores the development of collagen membranes with integrated minocycline or irinotecan, targeting applications in tissue engineering and drug delivery systems. Type I collagen, extracted from bovine skin using advanced fibril-forming technology, was crosslinked with glutaraldehyde to create membranes. These membranes incorporated minocycline, an antibiotic, or irinotecan, a chemotherapeutic agent, in various concentrations.

Development of Innovative Biocomposites with Collagen, Keratin and Hydroxyapatite for Bone Tissue Engineering.

This study follows the process for the development of an innovative biomimetic composite derived from bovine collagen with keratin, with hydroxyapatite being hybridized into its architecture, and it builds a comprehensive evaluation of the composite's characteristics. The novel biomimetic materials are tailored with special traits to be achieved for the repair of osteochondral defects (OCDs). The purpose of the present research is to create a reliable effective alternative to existing bone graft materials while leveraging the intrinsic properties of the components for enhanced osteoinduction and integration.

Development and Investigation of an Innovative 3D Biohybrid Based on Collagen and Silk Sericin Enriched with Flavonoids for Potential Wound Healing Applications.

Skin tissue injuries necessitate particular care due to associated complex healing mechanisms. Current investigations in the domain of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine are focused on obtaining novel scaffolds adapted as potential delivery systems to restore lost tissue functions and properties. In this study, we describe the fabrication and evaluation of a novel 3D scaffold structure based on collagen and silk sericin (CollSS) enriched with microcapsules containing natural compounds, curcumin (C), and/or quercetin (Q).

Synthesis, Physicochemical Characteristics, and Biocompatibility of Multi-Component Collagen-Based Hydrogels Developed by E-Beam Irradiation.

Herein, three different recipes of multi-component hydrogels were synthesized by e-beam irradiation. These hydrogels were obtained from aqueous polymer mixtures in which different proportions of bovine collagen gel, sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), poly(vinylpyrrolidone), chitosan, and poly(ethylene oxide) were used. The cross-linking reaction was carried out exclusively by e-beam cross-linking at 25 kGy, a dose of irradiation sufficient both to complete the cross-linking reaction and effective for hydrogel sterilization.

3D Porous Collagen Matrices-A Reservoir for In Vitro Simultaneous Release of Tannic Acid and Chlorhexidine.

The treatment of wounds occurring accidentally or as a result of chronic diseases most frequently requires the use of appropriate dressings, mainly to ensure tissue regeneration/healing, at the same time as treating or preventing potential bacterial infections or superinfections. Collagen type I-based scaffolds in tandem with adequate antimicrobials can successfully fulfill these requirements. In this work, starting from the corresponding hydrogels, we prepared a series of freeze-dried atelocollagen type I-based matrices loaded with tannic acid () and chlorhexidine digluconate () as active agents with a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity and also as crosslinkers for the collagen network.

Correlations on the Structure and Properties of Collagen Hydrogels Produced by E-Beam Crosslinking.

In this study, a collagen hydrogel using collagen exclusively produced in Romania, was obtained by electron beam (e-beam) crosslinking. The purpose of our study is to obtain new experimental data on the crosslinking of collagen and to predict as faithfully as possible, its behavior at high irradiation doses and energies. To pursue this, the correlations between macromolecular structure and properties of collagen hydrogels were determined by rheological analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), respectively.

Molecular Mapping of Antifungal Mechanisms Accessing Biomaterials and New Agents to Target Oral Candidiasis.

Oral candidiasis has a high rate of development, especially in immunocompromised patients. Immunosuppressive and cytotoxic therapies in hospitalized HIV and cancer patients are known to induce the poor management of adverse reactions, where local and systemic candidiasis become highly resistant to conventional antifungal therapy. The development of oral candidiasis is triggered by several mechanisms that determine oral epithelium imbalances, resulting in poor local defense and a delayed immune system response.

An Overview of Cellulose Derivatives-Based Dressings for Wound-Healing Management.

Presently, notwithstanding the progress regarding wound-healing management, the treatment of the majority of skin lesions still represents a serious challenge for biomedical and pharmaceutical industries. Thus, the attention of the researchers has turned to the development of novel materials based on cellulose derivatives. Cellulose derivatives are semi-synthetic biopolymers, which exhibit high solubility in water and represent an advantageous alternative to water-insoluble cellulose.

Collagen-Carboxymethylcellulose Biocomposite Wound-Dressings with Antimicrobial Activity.

Microbial infections associated with skin diseases are frequently investigated since they impact on the progress of pathology and healing. The present work proposes the development of freeze-dried, glutaraldehyde cross-linked, and non-cross-linked biocomposite dressings with a porous structure, which may assist the reepithelization process through the presence of collagen and carboxymethylcellulose, along with a therapeutic antimicrobial effect, due to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) addition. Phisyco-chemical characterization revealed the porous morphology of the obtained freeze-dried composites, the presence of high crystalline silver nanoparticles with truncated triangular and polyhedral morphologies, as well as the characteristic absorption bands of collagen, silver, and carboxymethylcellulose.

Ciprofloxacin-Collagen-Based Materials with Potential Oral Surgical Applications.

We report in this paper the synthesis and characterization of a new collagen-based material. This material was obtained in a spongy form and was functionalized with an antibiotic, ciprofloxacin. The targeted applications of these kind of materials concern the post-operative prophylaxis.

Mesenchymal stromal cell-derived factors promote the colonization of collagen 3D scaffolds with human skin cells.

The development of stem cell technology in combination with advances in biomaterials has opened new ways of producing engineered tissue substitutes. In this study, we investigated whether the therapeutic potential of an acellular porous scaffold made of type I collagen can be improved by the addition of a powerful trophic agent in the form of mesenchymal stromal cells conditioned medium (MSC-CM) in order to be used as an acellular scaffold for skin wound healing treatment. Our experiments showed that MSC-CM sustained the adherence of keratinocytes and fibroblasts as well as the proliferation of keratinocytes.

Selection of Optimal Operating Conditions for Extraction of L. Essential Oil by the Steam Distillation Method.

L. is one of the important aromatic and medicinal species from the Mediterranean area. It is used in various fields such as culinary, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, therapeutic, and industrial applications.

Release of the Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Flufenamic Acid by Multiparticulate Delivery Systems Promotes Adipogenic Differentiation of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells.

Engineered tissue-like structures often instigate an inflammatory response in the host that can inhibit wound healing and ultimately lead to the rejection of the implant. In our previous study, we have characterized the properties and biocompatibility of novel multiparticulate drug delivery systems (MDDS), based on collagen matrix with gradual release of anti-inflammatory drug flufenamic acid, we evaluated their anti-inflammatory potential and demonstrated their efficiency against burns and soft tissue lesions. In addition to these results, FA was previously described as a stimulant for adipogenesis, therefore we hypothesized that MDDS might also be appropriate for adipose tissue engineering.

Efficiency of Multiparticulate Delivery Systems Loaded with Flufenamic Acid Designed for Burn Wound Healing Applications.

Burns are soft tissue injuries that require particular care for wound healing. Current tissue engineering approaches are aimed at identifying the most efficient treatment combinations to restore the tissue properties and function by using adapted scaffolds or delivery platforms for tissue repair and regeneration by triggering molecules. To reduce the inflammation associated with skin burns, the addition of an anti-inflammatory factor in these scaffolds would greatly increase the quality of the therapy.

Collagen-Polyvinyl Alcohol-Indomethacin Biohybrid Matrices as Wound Dressings.

The aim of this study is to design, develop and evaluate new biohybrid sponges based on polymers (collagen and polyvinyl alcohol) with and without indomethacin as anti-inflammatory drug model to be used for tissue regeneration in wound healing. Type I fibrillar collagen in the form of a gel and different concentrations of polyvinyl alcohol were mixed together to prepare composite gels. Both control samples, without indomethacin and with indomethacin, were obtained.

Development, Optimization and In Vitro/In Vivo Characterization of Collagen-Dextran Spongious Wound Dressings Loaded with Flufenamic Acid.

The aim of this study was the development and optimization of some topical collagen-dextran sponges with flufenamic acid, designed to be potential dressings for burn wounds healing. The sponges were obtained by lyophilization of hydrogels based on type I fibrillar collagen gel extracted from calf hide, dextran and flufenamic acid, crosslinked and un-crosslinked, and designed according to a 3-factor, 3-level Box-Behnken experimental design. The sponges showed good fluid uptake ability quantified by a high swelling ratio.