Human Whole Blood Interactions with Craniomaxillofacial Reconstruction Materials: Exploring In Vitro the Role of Blood Cascades and Leukocytes in Early Healing Events.

The present study investigated early interactions between three alloplastic materials (calcium phosphate (CaP), titanium alloy (Ti), and polyetheretherketone (PEEK) with human whole blood using an established in vitro slide chamber model. After 60 min of contact with blood, coagulation (thrombin-antithrombin complexes, TAT) was initiated on all test materials (Ti > PEEK > CaP), with a significant increase only for Ti. All materials showed increased contact activation, with the KK-AT complex significantly increasing for CaP ( < 0.

Bone formation beyond the skeletal envelope using calcium phosphate granules packed into a collagen pouch-a pilot study.

In this proof-of-concept, bone neoformation beyond the skeletal envelope is explored by using a collagen pouch (= 6) packed with calcium phosphate (CaP) granules placed over the frontal bone in sheep (= 3). At 13 weeks, macroscopic examination showed specimens covered by an adherent fibrinous envelope with slight vascularization. Histology revealed colonization of the implant by newly formed woven bone and fibrous connective tissue.

Guiding bone formation using semi-onlay calcium phosphate implants in an ovine calvarial model.

The restoration of cranio-maxillofacial deformities often requires complex reconstructive surgery in a challenging anatomical region, with abnormal soft tissue structures and bony deficits. In this proof-of-concept, the possibility of vertical bone augmentation was explored by suspending hemispherically shaped titanium-reinforced porous calcium phosphate (CaP) implants (n = 12) over the frontal bone in a sheep model (n = 6). The animals were euthanized after week 13 and the specimens were subject to micro-computed tomography (μCT) and comprehensive histological analysis.

Targeted ToF-SIMS Analysis of Macrophage Content from a Human Cranial Triphasic Calcium Phosphate Implant.

Macrophages play a key role in determining the fate of implanted biomaterials, especially for biomaterials such as calcium phosphates (CaPs) where these cells play a vital role in material resorption and osteogenesis, as shown in different models, including clinical samples. Although substantial consideration is given to the design and validation of different CaPs, relatively little is known about their material-cell interaction. Specifically, the intracellular content of different CaP phases remains to be assessed, even though CaP-filled macrophages have been observed in several studies.

Role of Surface Chemistry in the In Vitro Lung Response to Nanofibrillated Cellulose.

Wood-derived nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) has emerged as a sustainable material with a wide range of applications and increasing presence in the market. Surface charges are introduced during the preparation of NFC to facilitate the defibrillation process, which may also alter the toxicological properties of NFC. In the present study, we examined the in vitro toxicity of NFCs with five surface chemistries: nonfunctionalized, carboxymethylated, phosphorylated, sulfoethylated, and hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium-substituted.

In Vitro Biological Impact of Nanocellulose Fibers on Human Gut Bacteria and Gastrointestinal Cells.

Wood-derived nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) has long been recognized as a valuable nanomaterial for food-related applications. However, the safety of NFC cannot be predicted just from the chemical nature of cellulose, and there is a need to establish the effect of the nanofibers on the gastrointestinal tract, to reassure the safe use of NFC in food-related products. The present work selected the intestinal cells Caco-2 and the gut bacteria and to evaluate the in vitro biological response to NFC.

Biocompatibility of Nanocellulose-Reinforced PVA Hydrogel with Human Corneal Epithelial Cells for Ophthalmic Applications.

Transparent composite hydrogel in the form of a contact lens made from poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) was subjected to in vitro biocompatibility evaluation with human corneal epithelial cells (HCE-2 cells). The cell response to direct contact with the hydrogels was investigated by placing the samples on top of confluent cell layers and evaluating cell viability, morphology, and cell layer integrity subsequent to 24 h culture and removal of the hydrogels. To further characterize the lens-cell interactions, HCE-2 cells were seeded on the hydrogels, with and without simulated tear fluid (STF) pre-conditioning, and cell viability and morphology were evaluated.

Cyanobacterial diversity held in microbial biological resource centers as a biotechnological asset: the case study of the newly established LEGE culture collection.

Cyanobacteria are a well-known source of bioproducts which renders culturable strains a valuable resource for biotechnology purposes. We describe here the establishment of a cyanobacterial culture collection (CC) and present the first version of the strain catalog and its online database (http://lege.ciimar.

In vitro biological responses to nanofibrillated cellulose by human dermal, lung and immune cells: surface chemistry aspect.

Background: Nanocellulose, and particularly nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC), has been proposed for a diversity of applications in industry and in the biomedical field. Its unique physicochemical and structural features distinguish nanocellulose from traditional materials and enable its use as an advance nanomaterial. However, its nanoscale features may induce unknown biological responses.

Hyperelastic Nanocellulose-Reinforced Hydrogel of High Water Content for Ophthalmic Applications.

A nanocellulose-reinforced poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel material of exceptionally high water content for ophthalmic applications is presented (>90 wt %), which also features a hitherto unprecedented combination of optical, mechanical, viscoelastic, oxygen permeability, and biocompatibility properties. The hydrogel combines the desired softness with remarkable strain-dependent mechanical strength and thereby demonstrates hyperelastic, rubber-like mechanical properties. The observed unusual mechanical behavior is due to both high water content and the combination of relatively stiff cellulose nanowhiskers entangled in a soft polymer matrix of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), thus mimicking the structural characteristics of the cornea's main constituents, i.

Dose-dependent autophagic effect of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in human HaCaT cells at non-cytotoxic levels.

Background: Interactions between nanoparticles and cells are now the focus of a fast-growing area of research. Though many nanoparticles interact with cells without any acute toxic responses, metal oxide nanoparticles including those composed of titanium dioxide (TiO2-NPs) may disrupt the intracellular process of macroautophagy. Autophagy plays a key role in human health and disease, particularly in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

The conifer biomarkers dehydroabietic and abietic acids are widespread in Cyanobacteria.

Terpenes, a large family of natural products with important applications, are commonly associated with plants and fungi. The diterpenoids dehydroabietic and abietic acids are defense metabolites abundant in resin, and are used as biomarkers for conifer plants. We report here for the first time that the two diterpenoid acids are produced by members of several genera of cyanobacteria.

Vascular toxicity of ultra-small TiO2 nanoparticles and single walled carbon nanotubes in vitro and in vivo.

Ultra-small nanoparticles (USNPs) at 1-3 nm are a subset of nanoparticles (NPs) that exhibit intermediate physicochemical properties between molecular dispersions and larger NPs. Despite interest in their utilization in applications such as theranostics, limited data about their toxicity exist. Here the effect of TiO2-USNPs on endothelial cells in vitro, and zebrafish embryos in vivo, was studied and compared to larger TiO2-NPs (30 nm) and to single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs).

Phylogenetic, chemical and morphological diversity of cyanobacteria from Portuguese temperate estuaries.

Cyanobacteria from estuarine habitats have been poorly studied regarding diversity and potential bioactive compounds production compared with their fresh and marine waters' congeners. In this work, 44 cyanobacteria isolates characterised from three Portuguese estuarine environments. Identification was performed based on diacritical morphological features of the isolates (e.

Determination of the non protein amino acid β-N-methylamino-l-alanine in estuarine cyanobacteria by capillary electrophoresis.

A capillary electrophoretic method for the determination of the amino acid β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) was achieved using a fused-silica capillary column (50 cm × 75 μm I.D.) filled with 5 mM sodium tetraborate solution (pH 9), with an applied voltage of 25 kV, at 25 °C.

The non-protein amino acid β-N-methylamino-L-alanine in Portuguese cyanobacterial isolates.

The tailor made amino acid β-N-methyl-amino-L-alanine (BMAA) is a neurotoxin produced by cyanobacteria. It has been associated with certain forms of progressive neurodegenerative disease, including sporadic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. Some different reports of BMAA in cyanobacterial blooms from lakes, reservoirs, and other water resources have been made by different investigators.

Bioactivity of benthic and picoplanktonic estuarine cyanobacteria on growth of photoautotrophs: inhibition versus stimulation.

Understanding potential biochemical interactions and effects among cyanobacteria and other organisms is one of the main keys to a better knowledge of microbial population structuring and dynamics. In this study, the effects of cyanobacteria from benthos and plankton of estuaries on other cyanobacteria and green algae growth were evaluated. To understand how the estuarine cyanobacteria might influence the dynamics of phytoplankton, experiments were carried out with the freshwater species Microcystis aeruginosa and Chlorella sp.

Cytotoxicity in L929 fibroblasts and inhibition of herpes simplex virus type 1 Kupka by estuarine cyanobacteria extracts.

The cyanobacteria are known to be a rich source of metabolites with a variety of biological activities in different biological systems. In the present work, the bioactivity of aqueous and organic (methanolic and hexane) crude extracts of cyanobacteria isolated from estuarine ecosystems was studied using different bioassays. The assessment of DNA damage on the SOS gene repair region of mutant PQ37 strain of Escherichia coli was performed.

Primary screening of the bioactivity of brackishwater cyanobacteria: toxicity of crude extracts to Artemia salina larvae and Paracentrotus lividus embryos.

Cyanobacteria are a diverse group of Gram-negative bacteria that produce an array of secondary compounds with selective bioactivity against vertebrates, invertebrates, plants, microalgae, fungi, bacteria, viruses and cell lines. The aim of this study was to assess the toxic effects of aqueous, methanolic and hexane crude extracts of benthic and picoplanktonic cyanobacteria isolated from estuarine environments, towards the nauplii of the brine shrimp Artemia salina and embryos of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus. The A.

Morphological, toxicological and molecular characterization of a benthic Nodularia isolated from Atlantic estuarine environments.

A polyphasic study of a benthic Nodularia isolate (LEGE06071) from an Atlantic environment, specifically salt pans, was performed. LEGE06071 resembled both type strains of Nodularia sphaerocarpa and Nodularia harveyana, while ACOI00729 (purchased isolate) was identified as N. sphaerocarpa.