Positive Charge-Concentrated Dimeric Lipopeptides with Enhanced Protease Resistance: A Potential Solution for Systemic Bacterial Infections.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) show potential as antibiotic alternatives for bacterial infections; nevertheless, the susceptibility to proteases limits their broader utilization. This study developed engineered lipopeptides using antienzymolysis modifications and cysteine (Cys)-dimerization strategy. As the key parameters for the functioning of AMPs, hydrophobicity and positive charges were concentrated within the peptide sequence by adjusting the intermolecular disulfide bond placement to study their distribution effects.

Porous Gelatin Methacrylate Gel Engineered by Freeze-Ultraviolet Promotes Osteogenesis and Angiogenesis.

Alveolar bone defect reconstruction is a common challenge in stomatology. To address this, a thermosensitive/photosensitive gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) gel was developed based on various air solubilities and light-curing technologies. The gel was synthesized by using a freeze-ultraviolet (FUV) method to form a porous and quickly (within 15 min) solidifying modified network structure.

An Injectable Black Phosphorus Hydrogel for Rapid Tooth Extraction Socket Healing.

The excess production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) will delay tooth extraction socket (TES) healing. In this study, we developed an injectable thermosensitive hydrogel (NBP@BP@CS) used to treat TES healing. The hydrogel formulation incorporated black phosphorus (BP) nanoflakes, recognized for their accelerated alveolar bone regeneration and ROS-scavenging properties, and dl-3--butylphthalide (NBP), a vasodilator aimed at enhancing angiogenesis.

Injectable Thermosensitive Gel CH-BPNs-NBP for Effective Periodontitis Treatment through ROS-Scavenging and Jaw Vascular Unit Protection.

Periodontitis, a prevalent inflammatory condition in the oral cavity, is closely associated with oxidative stress-induced tissue damage mediated by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. The jaw vascular unit (JVU), encompassing both vascular and lymphatic vessels, plays a crucial role in maintaining tissue fluid homeostasis and contributes to the pathological process in inflammatory diseases of the jaw. This study presents a novel approach for treating periodontitis through the development of an injectable thermosensitive gel (CH-BPNs-NBP).

Bioactive materials from berberine-treated human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells promote alveolar bone regeneration by regulating macrophage polarization.

Alveolar bone regeneration has been strongly linked to macrophage polarization. M1 macrophages aggravate alveolar bone loss, whereas M2 macrophages reverse this process. Berberine (BBR), a natural alkaloid isolated and refined from Chinese medicinal plants, has shown therapeutic effects in treating metabolic disorders.

Morphometric analysis of paired fibula and mandible for optimal fibular mandibular reconstruction in a Chinese population.

To analyze the morphology of paired fibula and mandible aiming to choose optimal fibular segments for mandibular reconstruction in a Chinses population. A total of 118 cases of paired mandible and fibula was collected. All patients were received preoperative cone beam CT (CBCT) scans for mandibular evaluation and CT-angiographical (CTA) examination of the bilateral lower legs, respectively.

Polydopamine-Ag composite surface guides HBMSCs adhesion and proliferation.

Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (HBMSCs) are regarded as an important resource in the field of maxillofacial bone regeneration because of their favorable properties when compared with other stem cells. Hence, finding suitable materials that could extend the application of HBMSCs has become an emerging medical topic and socioeconomic problem. In this work, polydopamine (PDA)-Ag surface was fabricated by PDA assisted photoreduction method, and the obtained PDA-Ag composite surface significantly promoted HBMSCs adhesion and proliferation.

Uncoupling protein-2 regulates M1 macrophage infiltration of gingiva with periodontitis.

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease accompanied by alveolar bone loss. Moreover, M1 macrophages play a critical role in the development of periodontal disease. Uncoupling protein-2 (UCP2) is a mitochondrial transporter protein that controls M1 macrophage activation by modulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) production.

Reconfigurable Surface with Photodefinable Physicochemical Properties for User-Designable Cell Scaffolds.

Surfaces with specific topography and chemical composition are quite useful in many applications ranging from functional interfaces to cell incubation scaffolds. Although these surfaces can be easily fabricated by combining topography-construction methods and surface-functionalization strategies, their properties are often static after fabrication or merely switchable between "on" and "off" states. Developing surfaces that can be on-demand regulated are quite important for the generation of smart surfaces for future applications.

A comparative study of HAMSCs/HBMSCs transwell and mixed coculture systems.

Our previous studies indicated that a coculture system containing human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HAMSCs) and human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (HBMSCs) has the potential of application for bone regeneration. However, there is currently no enough comparative investigation between HAMSCs/HBMSCs transwell and mixed coculture systems. This study aimed to assess the phenotype and mechanisms regulated by indirect and direct coculture systems, respectively.

Composite of Gadolinium-Labeled Dendrimer Nanocluster And Graphene Oxide Nanosheet for Highly Efficient Liver -Weighted Imaging Probe.

Magnetic resonance contrast agent employs the use of gadolinium chelates, which has many limitations for clinical use including a low contrast effect, a short diagnostic window, and a brief blood circulation time. On this basis, we designed a gadolinium-labeled dendrimer nanocluster (GdDN) loaded graphene oxide nanosheet (GO-GdDN) to boost contrast ability for imaging in vivo and improve blood circulation time. GO-GdDN presented an ultrahigh relaxivity up to 19.

LncRNA H19 Knockdown in Human Amniotic Mesenchymal Stem Cells Suppresses Angiogenesis by Associating with EZH2 and Activating Vasohibin-1.

Human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (HAMSCs) are promising seed cells with great advantages in promoting angiogenesis. However, the mechanisms underlying angiogenesis facilitated by HAMSCs are still unclear. Long noncoding RNA H19 is involved in many biological processes, such as enhancing angiogenesis and proliferation, invasion, and migration of cancer cells.

Fast Strategy to Functional Paper Surfaces.

Paper, with advantages of low-cost, easy fabrication and disposal, flexibility and renewability, is a suitable substrate material for various applications. Functionalization and patterning on paper substrates are commonly required in many applications. Although many methods have been developed to achieve this, they typically suffer from some drawbacks such as time-consuming process, specific device dependence, lack of flexibility, low patterning resolution, and so forth.

Correction: Development of hollow ferrogadolinium nanonetworks for dual-modal MRI guided cancer chemotherapy.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/C8RA09102A.].

Development of hollow ferrogadolinium nanonetworks for dual-modal MRI guided cancer chemotherapy.

The development of hollow ferrogadolinium nanonetworks has not been reported for nanomedicine application until now. In this study, we developed a hollow and porous ferrogadolinium nanonetwork structure using the one-pot solvothermal method. This nanoparticle could be simultaneously used as a and dual-modal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent.

Human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells promote osteogenesis of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells against glucolipotoxicity.

Epidemiological evidence suggests that diabetes mellitus (DM) is an important factor in promoting periodontitis. It not only affects the attachment of connective tissue but also causes loss of alveolar bone. Hence, there is an urgent need to find an effective treatment for DM-induced bone deficiency.