Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells Derived from Dental Tissues Mediate the Immunoregulation of T Cells through the Purinergic Pathway.

Human dental tissue mesenchymal stem cells (DT-MSCs) constitute an attractive alternative to bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) for potential clinical applications because of their accessibility and anti-inflammatory capacity. We previously demonstrated that DT-MSCs from dental pulp (DP-MSCs), periodontal ligaments (PDL-MSCs), and gingival tissue (G-MSCs) show immunosuppressive effects similar to those of BM, but to date, the DT-MSC-mediated immunoregulation of T lymphocytes through the purinergic pathway remains unknown. In the present study, we compared DP-MSCs, PDL-MSCs, and G-MSCs in terms of CD26, CD39, and CD73 expression; their ability to generate adenosine (ADO) from ATP and AMP; and whether the concentrations of ADO that they generate induce an immunomodulatory effect on T lymphocytes.

Optimization of Diclofenac-Loaded Bicomponent Nanofibers: Effect of Gelatin on In Vitro and In Vivo Response.

The use of electrospun fibers as anti-inflammatory drug carriers is currently one of the most interesting approaches for the design of drug delivery systems. In recent years, biodegradable polymers blended with naturally derived ones have been extensively studied to fabricate bioinspired platforms capable of driving biological responses by releasing selected molecular/pharmaceutical signals. Here, sodium diclofenac (DicNa)-loaded electrospun fibers, consisting of polycaprolactone (PCL) or gelatin-functionalized PCL, were studied to evaluate fibroblasts' in vitro and in vivo response.

Molecular Dynamic Simulations for Biopolymers with Biomedical Applications.

Computational modeling (CM) is a versatile scientific methodology used to examine the properties and behavior of complex systems, such as polymeric materials for biomedical bioengineering. CM has emerged as a primary tool for predicting, setting up, and interpreting experimental results. Integrating in silico and in vitro experiments accelerates scientific advancements, yielding quicker results at a reduced cost.

Mineralized Microgels via Electrohydrodynamic Atomization: Optimization and In Vitro Model for Dentin-Pulp Complex.

There is growing interest in the use of micro-sized hydrogels, including bioactive signals, as efficient platforms for tissue regeneration because they are able to mimic cell niche structure and selected functionalities. Herein, it is proposed to optimize bioactive composite microgels via electrohydrodynamic atomization (EHDA) to regenerate the dentin-pulp complex. The addition of disodium phosphate (NaHPO) salts as mineral precursors triggered an in situ reaction with divalent ions in solution, thus promoting the encapsulation of different amounts of apatite-like phases.

In Vitro Bone Differentiation of 3D Microsphere from Dental Pulp-Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Bone defects lead to the structural loss of normal architecture, and those in the field of bone tissue engineering are searching for new alternatives to aid bone regeneration. Dental pulp-mesenchymal stem cells (DP-MSC) could provide a promising alternative to repair bone defects, principally due to their multipotency and capacity to fabricate three-dimensional (3D) spheroids. The present study aimed to characterize the 3D DP-MSC microsphere and the osteogenic differentiation capacity potential cultured by a magnetic levitation system.

Citalopram improves vasomotor syndrome and urogenital syndrome of menopause in Mexican women: a randomized clinical trial.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the efficacy of non-hormonal therapy with citalopram vs fluoxetine for treating vasomotor syndrome (VMS) and urogenital syndrome of menopause (GSM) in Mexican women.

Methods: A parallel prospective randomized clinical trial was conducted in 91 postmenopausal women with a total score on the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) ≥ 17 and with the clinical diagnosis of VSM and GSM. Patients were randomly assigned to receive citalopram (n = 49) or fluoxetine (n = 42).

3D-Printed Tubular Scaffolds Decorated with Air-Jet-Spun Fibers for Bone Tissue Applications.

The fabrication of instructive materials to engineer bone substitute scaffolds is still a relevant challenge. Current advances in additive manufacturing techniques make possible the fabrication of 3D scaffolds with even more controlled architecture at micro- and submicrometric levels, satisfying the relevant biological and mechanical requirements for tissue engineering. In this view, integrated use of additive manufacturing techniques is proposed, by combining 3D printing and air-jet spinning techniques, to optimize the fabrication of PLA tubes with nanostructured fibrous coatings for long bone defects.

Composite Fiber Spun Mat Synthesis and In Vitro Biocompatibility for Guide Tissue Engineering.

Composite scaffolds are commonly used strategies and materials employed to achieve similar analogs of bone tissue. This study aims to fabricate 10% wt polylactic acid (PLA) composite fiber scaffolds by the air-jet spinning technique (AJS) doped with 0.5 or 0.

Case Report: Formation of 3D Osteoblast Spheroid Under Magnetic Levitation for Bone Tissue Engineering.

Skeletal reconstruction is necessary in cases of bone defects created by tumors, trauma, and abnormalities. Regeneration of bone defects remains a critical problem, and current approaches are based on biocompatible scaffolds. Spheroids represent a simple 3D system since no supporting material is required for cell growth.

Antimicrobial effect of gold nanoparticles in the formation of the Staphylococcus aureus biofilm on a polyethylene surface.

The main of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effect on the in vitro formation of the Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formed on a polyethylene (PE) surface with a nanostructured Gold (Au) coating for medical devices. An experimental in vitro study was carried out using PE discs with an Au nanoparticle coating (AuNPs) on one side (experimental group) and without coating on the other (control group); the discs were mounted in the CDC biofilm reactor adding broth of yeast-dextrose-peptone (YPD) sterile culture inoculated with S. aureus in a cell suspension (5 × 10 cells/ml).

Green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using a Dysphania ambrosioides extract. Structural characterization and antibacterial properties.

The Structural properties of Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) as well as their antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa; as well as bacteria that are usually found in the mouth of humans and are related to dental conditions, such as Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguinis, are presented in this report. ZnO-NPs were grown by green synthesis, using the Mexican plant Dysphania ambrosioides known in Mexico as "epazote", which was used by native populations of Mexico as a dewormer, is currently used widely in traditional Mexican cuisine and is rich in organic compounds as flavonoids and terpenes which may favor the synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs). ZnO-NPs were synthesized by the mentioned technology and were compared with commercial ZnO-NPs as a reference.

Regeneration of Mineralized Bone Tissue in Anisotropic Biomimetic Sponges.

In the last two decades, alginate scaffolds have been variously studied as extracellular matrix analogs for tissue engineering. However, relevant evidence is still lacking concerning their ability to mimic the microenvironment of hierarchical tissues such as bone. Hence, an increasing amount of attention has recently been devoted to the fabrication of macro/microporous sponges with pore anisotropy able to more accurately replicate the cell niche structure as a trigger for bioactive functionalities.

Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells Derived from Dental Tissues: A Comparative In Vitro Evaluation of Their Immunoregulatory Properties Against T cells.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (BM-MSCs) have immunoregulatory properties and have been used as immune regulators for the treatment of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Human dental tissue mesenchymal stem cells (DT-MSCs) constitute an attractive alternative to BM-MSCs for potential clinical applications because of their accessibility and easy preparation. The aim of this in vitro study was to compare MSCs from dental pulp (DP-MSCs), gingival tissue (G-MSCs), and periodontal ligament (PDL-MSCs) in terms of their immunosuppressive properties against lymphoid cell populations enriched for CD3 T cells to determine which MSCs would be the most appropriate for in vivo immunoregulatory applications.

Neuronal Transdifferentiation Potential of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Neonatal and Adult Sources by a Small Molecule Cocktail.

Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are good candidates for brain cell replacement strategies and have already been used as adjuvant treatments in neurological disorders. MSCs can be obtained from many different sources, and the present study compares the potential of neuronal transdifferentiation in MSCs from adult and neonatal sources (Wharton's jelly (WhJ), dental pulp (DP), periodontal ligament (PDL), gingival tissue (GT), dermis (SK), placenta (PLAC), and umbilical cord blood (UCB)) with a protocol previously tested in bone marrow- (BM-) MSCs consisting of a cocktail of six small molecules: I-BET151, CHIR99021, forskolin, RepSox, Y-27632, and dbcAMP (ICFRYA). Neuronal morphology and the presence of cells positive for neuronal markers (TUJ1 and MAP2) were considered attributes of neuronal induction.

Influence of diameter of fiber membrane scaffolds on the biocompatibility of hPDL mesenchymal stromal cells.

This study evaluated the influence in the biocompatibility of human periodontal ligament (hPDL) mesenchymal stromal cell onto poly lactic-acid (PLA) films and PLA fiber membrane. Fiber scaffold was prepared via air jet spinning (AJS) from PLA solutions (6, 7, and 10%) and analyzed using SEM, AFM and FTIR. Biocompatibility was evaluated by adhesion, proliferation and cell-material interaction.

In vitro and in vivo biological characterization of poly(lactic acid) fiber scaffolds synthesized by air jet spinning.

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is one of the most promising renewable and biodegradable polymers for mimic extracellular matrix for tissue engineering applications. In this work, PLA spun membrane scaffold were successfully prepared by air jet spinning technology. Morphology, mechanical properties, in vitro biocompatibility, and in vitro and in vivo degradation of PLA fibrous scaffold were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared, and scanning electron microscope (SEM).

Optimization of fully aligned bioactive electrospun fibers for "in vitro" nerve guidance.

Complex architecture of natural tissues such as nerves requires the use of multifunctional scaffolds with peculiar topological and biochemical signals able to address cell behavior towards specific events at the cellular (microscale) and macromolecular (nanoscale) level. In this context, the electrospinning technique is useful to generate fiber assemblies having peculiar fiber diameters at the nanoscale and patterned by unidirectional ways, to facilitate neurite extension via contact guidance. Following a bio-mimetic approach, fully aligned polycaprolactone fibers blended with gelatin macromolecules have been fabricated as potential bioactive substrate for nerve regeneration.

Poly(Epsilon-lysine) dendrons tethered with phosphoserine increase mesenchymal stem cell differentiation potential of calcium phosphate gels.

Calcium phosphates (CaP) are considered as biomaterials of choice for the treatment of critical-sized bone defects. Novel injectable CaP materials integrating poly(epsilon-lysine) generation 3 dendrons tethered with phosphoserine were obtained by sol-gel synthesis. This type of dendron was integrated to mimic the biochemical structure of noncollagenous proteins present in the forming osteoids during bone repair.

Proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation of hMSCs on cellulose-based hydrogels.

Purpose: The aim of this project was to study the proliferation and differentiation of human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hMSCs) onto a cellulose-based hydrogel for bone tissue engineering.

Methods: Modified-cellulose hydrogel was prepared via double esterification crosslinking using citric acid. The response of human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hMSCs) in terms of cell proliferation and differentiation into osteoblastic phenotype was evaluated by using Alamar blue assay and Alkaline phosphatase activity.

Conductive PANi/PEGDA macroporous hydrogels for nerve regeneration.

Only recently polymers with intrinsic conductive properties have been studied in relation to their incorporation into bioactive scaffolds for use in tissue engineering. The reason for this interest is that such scaffolds could electrically stimulate cells and thus regulate specific cellular activities, and by this means influence the process of regeneration of those tissues that respond to electrical impulses. In our work, macroporous hydrogels are developed with controlled pore morphology and conductive properties to enable sufficient cell signaling to supply events inherent to nerve regeneration.

Influence of gelatin cues in PCL electrospun membranes on nerve outgrowth.

The design of functionalized polymers that can elicit specific biological responses and the development of methods to fabricate new devices that incorporate biological cues are of great interest to the biomedical community. The realization of nanostructured matrices that exhibit biological properties and that comprise fibers with diameters of similar scale to those of the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) would enable the provision of tailored materials for tissue engineering. Accordingly, the goal of this work is to create a biologically active functionalized electrospun matrix capable of guiding neurite growth for the regeneration of nerve tissue.

Human Cementum Protein 1 induces expression of bone and cementum proteins by human gingival fibroblasts.

We recently presented evidence showing that a human cementoblastoma-derived protein, named Cementum Protein 1 (CEMP1) may play a role as a local regulator of cementoblast differentiation and cementum-matrix mineralization. This protein was shown to be expressed by cementoblasts and progenitor cells localized in the periodontal ligament. In this study we demonstrate that transfection of CEMP1 into human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) induces mineralization and expression of bone and cementum-matrix proteins.

Correlation between oxidative stress and alteration of intracellular calcium handling in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction.

Myocardial Ca(2+) overload and oxidative stress are well documented effects associated to isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial necrosis, but information correlating these two issues is scarce. Using an ISO-induced myocardial infarction model, 3 stages of myocardial damage were defined: pre-infarction (0-12 h), infarction (12-24 h) and post-infarction (24-96 h). Alterations in Ca(2+) homeostasis and oxidative stress were studied in mitochondria, sarcoplasmic reticulum and plasmalemma by measuring the Ca(2+) content, the activity of Ca(2+) handling proteins, and by quantifying TBARs, nitric oxide (NO) and oxidative protein damage (changes in carbonyl and thiol groups).

Molecular cloning, expression and immunolocalization of a novel human cementum-derived protein (CP-23).

Cementum is a unique mineralized connective tissue that covers the root surfaces of the teeth. The cementum is critical for appropriate maturation of the periodontium, both during development as well as that associated with regeneration of periodontal tissues, IU; however, one major impediment to understand the molecular mechanisms that regulate periodontal regeneration is the lack of cementum markers. Here we report on the identification and characterization of one such differentially human expressed gene, termed "cementum protein-23" (CP-23) that appears to be periodontal ligament and cementum-specific.