PCL-gelatin composite nanofibers electrospun using diluted acetic acid-ethyl acetate solvent system for stem cell-based bone tissue engineering.

Composite nanofibrous scaffolds with various poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)/gelatin ratios (90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40, 50:50 wt.%) were successfully electrospun using diluted acetic and ethyl acetate mixture. The effects of this solvent system on the solution properties of the composites and its electrospinning properties were investigated.

Gelatin nanoparticles loaded poly(ε-caprolactone) nanofibrous semi-synthetic scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.

Nanofibrous semi-synthetic polymeric nanocomposite scaffolds were engineered by incorporating a maximum of 15 wt% biopolymeric gelatin nanoparticles (nGs) into the synthetic polymer poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) prior to electrospinning. The effect of nGs in altering the physico-chemical properties, cell material interaction and biodegradability of the scaffolds was evaluated. Experimental results showed that the inherent hydrophobicity of PCL scaffolds remained unaltered even after the incorporation of hydrophilic nGs.

Folate targeted polymeric 'green' nanotherapy for cancer.

The concept of 'green' chemotherapy by employing targeted nanoparticle mediated delivery to enhance the efficacy of phytomedicines is reported. Poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles encapsulating a well known nutraceutical namely, grape seed extract (GSE)-'NanoGSE'-was prepared by a nanoprecipitation technique. The drug-loaded nanoparticles of size approximately 100 nm exhibited high colloidal stability at physiological pH.

Role of nanofibrous poly(caprolactone) scaffolds in human mesenchymal stem cell attachment and spreading for in vitro bone tissue engineering--response to osteogenic regulators.

In this study, we evaluated the role of fiber size scale in the adhesion and spreading potential of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) on electrospun poly(caprolactone) (PCL) nanofibrous and microfibrous scaffolds. The effect of in vivo regulators in inducing osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs on PCL nanofibrous scaffolds was investigated using osteogenic differentiation marker gene expression and matrix mineralization. Here, we report for the first time the influence of in vivo regulators in an in vitro setting with hMSCs for bone tissue engineering on PCL nanofibrous matrices.

Preparation and characterization of novel beta-chitin-hydroxyapatite composite membranes for tissue engineering applications.

Beta-chitin is a biopolymer principally found in shells of squid pen. It has the properties of biodegradability, biocompatibility, chemical inertness, wound healing, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. Hydroxyapatite (HAp) is a natural inorganic component of bone and teeth and has osteoconductive property.