Connexin43 carboxyl-terminal peptides reduce scar progenitor and promote regenerative healing following skin wounding.

Aim: Gap-junctional connexin43 (Cx43) has roles in multiple aspects of skin wound healing - including scarring. The aim here was to study the effects of a cell-permeant peptide from the Cx43 carboxyl-terminus (CT) on scarring and regeneration following cutaneous injury.

Materials & Methods: The effects of Cx43 CT peptide were studied in mouse and pig models of cutaneous injury.

Rapid biofabrication of tubular tissue constructs by centrifugal casting in a decellularized natural scaffold with laser-machined micropores.

Centrifugal casting allows rapid biofabrication of tubular tissue constructs by suspending living cells in an in situ cross-linkable hydrogel. We hypothesize that introduction of laser-machined micropores into a decellularized natural scaffold will facilitate cell seeding by centrifugal casting and increase hydrogel retention, without compromising the biomechanical properties of the scaffold. Micropores with diameters of 50, 100, and 200 mum were machined at different linear densities in decellularized small intestine submucosa (SIS) planar sheets and tubular SIS scaffolds using an argon laser.

Tannic acid mimicking dendrimers as small intestine submucosa stabilizing nanomordants.

Chemical stabilization resulting in increased resistance to proteolytic degradation is one of the approaches in prevention of post-implantational aneurysm development in decellularized natural vascular scaffolds. Recently, tannic acid (TA) and tannic acid mimicking dendrimers (TAMD) have been suggested as potential stabilization agents for collagen and elastin. The aim of this work was to determine the stabilizing effects of TAMD on decellularized natural scaffolds.

Osteogenic protein-1 enhances osseointegration of titanium implants coated with peri-apatite in rabbit femoral defect.

This study evaluated the effect of osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1) carried by Peri-Apatite (PA) on bone healing in the gap surrounding implants in a rabbit model. Cylindrical titanium implants (3 x 9 mm) were uniformly coated with PA precipitated from a calcium and phosphate solution. OP-1 solution containing 60 microg OP-1 was directly loaded on the implants immediately before implantation for the experimental group, whereas buffer solution was loaded on the implants for the control.

Comparison of cutting rates among single-patient-use and multiple-patient-use diamond burs.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the volumetric cutting rates of 6 cylindrical-shaped single-patient-use and 2 cylindrical-shaped multiple-patient-use diamond burs using a machinable ceramic material. The degree of wear among burs from each type was also compared using scanning electron microscopy.

Materials And Methods: Six types of single-patient-use diamond burs and 2 types of multiple-patient-use diamond burs with similar cylindrical shape and dimensions were selected.