Graphene-based materials (GBMs) hold strong promise to restore the spinal cord microenvironment and promote functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI). Nanocomposites consisting of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and adipose tissue-derived extracellular matrix (adECM) are known to promote neuronal growth in vitro and to evoke a biocompatible response in vivo when implanted on top of the intact spinal cord. In this study, pristine adECM and adECM-rGO nanocomposites are implanted directly after hemisection SCI in rats.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Tooth wear is the loss of dental hard tissue due to chemical and mechanical processes, and its prevalence ranges from 13 to 80 % in the general population. Management depends on understanding potential risk factors; however, the role of saliva as one of them is not completely understood. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between salivary pH and flow, and tooth wear in patients referred to a specialized dental clinic for tooth wear management.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTreating bone infections with common antibiotics is challenging, since pathogens like can reside inside macrophages. To target these intracellular bacteria, we have proposed nanoparticles (NPs) as drug carriers. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of hydroxyapatite and gelatin NPs, selected in view of their bone mimicry and potential for targeted delivery, as carriers for the antibacterial agents zinc and vancomycin.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDespite the immense need for effective treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI), no successful repair strategy has yet been clinically implemented. Multifunctional biomaterials, based on porcine adipose tissue-derived extracellular matrix (adECM) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), were recently shown to stimulate neural stem cell growth and differentiation. Nevertheless, their functional performance in clinically more relevant conditions remains largely unknown.
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