Biocompatibility of hydrogel-based scaffolds for tissue engineering applications.

Recently, understanding of the extracellular matrix (ECM) has expanded rapidly due to the accessibility of cellular and molecular techniques and the growing potential and value for hydrogels in tissue engineering. The fabrication of hydrogel-based cellular scaffolds for the generation of bioengineered tissues has been based on knowledge of the composition and structure of ECM. Attempts at recreating ECM have used either naturally-derived ECM components or synthetic polymers with structural integrity derived from hydrogels.

Evaluation of biocompatibility of the AC8 peptide and its potential use as a drug carrier.

Peptide-based nanoparticles have emerged as promising drug delivery systems for targeted cancer therapy. Yet, the biocompatibility of these nanoparticles has not been elucidated. Here, the in vitro biocompatibility and toxicity and in vivo immunocompatibility and bioactivity of the self/coassembling peptide AC8 in its nanoparticle form are evaluated.

Biocompatibility of engineered nanoparticles for drug delivery.

The rapid advancement of nanotechnology has raised the possibility of using engineered nanoparticles that interact within biological environments for treatment of diseases. Nanoparticles interacting with cells and the extracellular environment can trigger a sequence of biological effects. These effects largely depend on the dynamic physicochemical characteristics of nanoparticles, which determine the biocompatibility and efficacy of the intended outcomes.

A new amphipathic, amino-acid-pairing (AAP) peptide as siRNA delivery carrier: physicochemical characterization and in vitro uptake.

RNA interference has emerged as a powerful tool in biological and pharmaceutical research; however, the enzymatic degradation and polyanionic nature of short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) lead to their poor cellular uptake and eventual biological effects. Among nonviral delivery systems, cell-penetrating peptides have been recently employed to improve the siRNA delivery efficiency. Here we introduce an 18-mer amphipathic, amino-acid-pairing peptide, C6, as an siRNA delivery carrier.