We applied solid- and solution-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to examine the structure of multidomain peptides composed of self-assembling β-sheet domains linked to bioactive domains. Bioactive domains can be selected to stimulate specific biological responses (., receptor binding), while the β-sheets provide the desirable nanoscale properties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMyocardial infarction (MI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in aging and metabolically unhealthy populations. A major target of regenerative tissue engineering is the restoration of viable cardiomyocytes to preserve cardiac function and circumvent the progression to heart failure post-MI. Amelioration of ischemia is a crucial component of such restorative strategies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDiabetes Mellitus Type 2 (T2D) is an emerging health burden in the USand worldwide, impacting approximately 15% of Americans. Current front-line therapeutics for T2D patients include sulfonylureas that act to reduce A1C and/or fasting blood glucose levels, or Metformin that antagonizes the action of glucagon to reduce hepatic glucose production. Next generation glucomodulatory therapeutics target members of the high-affinity glucose transporter Sodium-Glucose-Linked-Transporter (SGLT) family.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFACS Appl Mater Interfaces
January 2024
Introduction: In order to enhance the existing body of research regarding the prevalence of violations committed by pedestrians and bicyclists, this observational study utilized personal-specific, train-specific, operational, and behavioral data extracted from recorded videos at seven railroad grade crossings (RRGCs).
Method: A total of 7,332 pedestrians and 1,684 bicyclist crossing events were observed during 279 gate operation phases at seven study locations. First, two separate violation models (binary logit) for pedestrians and bicyclists were developed to determine the influence of personal-specific characteristics and other behavioral traits on probability of pedestrians' and bicyclists' violation.
The human Betacoronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is a novel pathogen claiming millions of lives and causing a global pandemic that has disrupted international healthcare systems, economies, and communities. The virus is fast mutating and presenting more infectious but less lethal versions. Currently, some small-molecule therapeutics have received FDA emergency use authorization for the treatment of COVID-19, including Lagevrio (molnupiravir) and Paxlovid (nirmaltrevir/ritonavir), which target the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and the 3CLpro main protease, respectively.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNovel design of proteins to target receptors for treatment or tissue augmentation has come to the fore owing to advancements in computing power, modeling frameworks, and translational successes. Shorter proteins, or peptides, can offer combinatorial synergies with dendrimer, polymer, or other peptide carriers for enhanced local signaling, which larger proteins may sterically hinder. Here, we present a generalized method for designing a novel peptide.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe dental pulp has irreplaceable roles in maintaining healthy teeth and its regeneration is a primary aim of regenerative endodontics. This study aimed to replicate the characteristics of dental pulp tissue by using cranial neural crest (CNC)-like cells (CNCLCs); these cells were generated by modifying several steps of a previously established method for deriving NC-like cells from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). CNC is the anterior region of the neural crest in vertebrate embryos, which contains the primordium of dental pulp cells or odontoblasts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPro-angiogenic and anti-angiogenic peptide hydrogels were evaluated against the standard of care wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) therapy, Aflibercept (Eylea). AMD was modeled in rats (laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) model), where the contralateral eye served as the control. After administration of therapeutics, vasculature was monitored for 14 days to evaluate leakiness.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Railroad grade crossings (RRGCs) have emerged as critical transportation infrastructures from the point of safety and operational aspects because two modes of transportation intermingle at the intersecting zone; the understanding of safety and traffic operation at RRGC is of prime concern while planning and designing this transportation facility.
Method: In this context, this work tries to comprehend RRGC performance-related parameters from published literature and figure out critical gaps. An international synthesis on the identified potential parameters influencing the RRGC performance (i.
The COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) global pandemic, caused by the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) virus, currently has limited treatment options which include vaccines, anti-virals, and repurposed therapeutics. With their high specificity, tunability, and biocompatibility, small molecules like peptides are positioned to act as key players in combating SARS-CoV-2, and can be readily modified to match viral mutation rate. A recent expansion of the understanding of the viral structure and entry mechanisms has led to the proliferation of therapeutic viral entry inhibitors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOne of the major constraints against using polymeric scaffolds as tissue-regenerative matrices is a lack of adequate implant vascularization. Self-assembling peptide hydrogels can sequester small molecules and biological macromolecules, and they can support infiltrating cells . Here we demonstrate the ability of self-assembling peptide hydrogels to facilitate angiogenic sprouting into polymeric scaffolds after subcutaneous implantation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with poor intrinsic healing responses and long-term cognitive decline. A major pathological outcome of TBI is acute glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity (GME) experienced by neurons. Short peptides based on the neuroprotective extracellular glycoprotein ependymin have shown the ability to slow down the effect of GME - however, such short peptides tend to diffuse away from target sites after delivery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAngiogenesis is critical for tissue healing and regeneration. Promoting angiogenesis in materials implanted within dental pulp after pulpectomy is a major clinical challenge in endodontics. We demonstrate the ability of acellular self-assembling peptide hydrogels to create extracellular matrix mimetic architectures that guide in vivo development of neovasculature and tissue deposition.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe opioid epidemic in the United States is a serious public health crisis affecting over 1.7 million Americans. In the last two decades, almost 450 000 people have died from an opioid overdose, with nearly 20% of these deaths occurring in 2017 and 2018 alone.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe retinal physiology can accrue oxidative damage and inflammatory insults due to age and metabolic irregularities. Two notable diseases that involve retinal and choroidal neovascularization are proliferative diabetic retinopathy and wet age-related macular degeneration. Currently, these diseases are mainly treated with anti-VEGF drugs (VEGF = vascular endothelial growth factor), generally on a monthly dosage scheme.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCytokine-directed monocyte infiltration is involved in multiple pathological processes. Immuno-isolating matrices that can sequester cell-released chemokines in a microenvironment may prolong the viability and functionality of implanted materials. We describe a self-assembling peptide-based hydrogel that can capture the cytokine CCL2 released in the extracellular space by immune cells and stromal cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims: The study aims to assess the prevalence of smartphone addiction and its effects on sleep quality among medical students.
Study Setting And Design: A cross-sectional study was carried out by convenience sampling of medical students at a tertiary care hospital in South India.
Materials And Methods: Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4 Edition, Text Revision axis I disorders research version was used for screening past and current psychiatric illness.
Self-assembled peptide nanofibers can form biomimetic hydrogels at physiological pH and ionic strength through noncovalent and reversible interactions. Inspired by natural antimicrobial peptides, we designed a class of cationic amphiphilic self-assembled peptides (CASPs) that self-assemble into thixotropic nanofibrous hydrogels. These constructs employ amphiphilicity and high terminal charge density to disrupt bacterial membranes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe describe progress and obstacles in the development of novel peptide-hydrogel therapeutics for unmet medical needs in ischemia treatment, focusing on the development and translation of therapies specifically in peripheral artery disease (PAD). Ischemia is a potentially life-threatening complication in PAD, which affects a significant percentage of the elderly population. While studies on inducing angiogenesis to treat PAD were started two decades ago, early results from animal models as well as clinical trials have not yet been translated into clinical practice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPathological neovascularization may cause or worsen intraocular posterior segment diseases such as diabetic retinopathy. Prevention of aberrant vascularization is thus an important clinical target. Therapeutic antiangiogenic agents are generally used in diffusible monomeric formulation (e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurrent standard of care for treating infected dental pulp, root canal therapy, retains the physical properties of the tooth to a large extent, but does not aim to rejuvenate the pulp tissue. Tissue-engineered acellular biomimetic hydrogels have great potential to facilitate the regeneration of the tissue through the recruitment of autologous stem cells. We propose the use of a dentinogenic peptide that self-assembles into β-sheet-based nanofibers that constitute a biodegradable and injectable hydrogel for support of dental pulp stem cells.
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