Inhibition of autophagy attenuates cognitive decline and mitochondrial dysfunction in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model with chronic cerebral hypoperfusion.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) on cognitive function, amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition, cellular autophagy, and mitochondrial dynamics in an Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse model, and to evaluate the intervention effects of autophagy modulation on these outcomes. Utilizing the APP/PS1 mouse model combined with CCH, we assessed cognitive function, Aβ deposition, and the expression levels of relevant proteins through behavioral tests and immunohistochemical analysis. Our findings revealed pronounced cognitive deficits and increased Aβ deposition in the AD + CCH group mice, along with upregulation of mitochondrial fission proteins (Drp1, Fis1) and downregulation of mitochondrial fusion proteins (Opa1, Mfn1), indicating a shift towards mitochondrial fission and promoting cell apoptosis.

A closed-loop modular multiorgan-on-chips platform for self-sustaining and tightly controlled oxygenation.

To mimic physiological microenvironments in organ-on-a-chip systems, physiologically relevant parameters are required to precisely access drug metabolism. Oxygen level is a critical microenvironmental parameter to maintain cellular or tissue functions and modulate their behaviors. Current organ-on-a-chip setups are oftentimes subjected to the ambient incubator oxygen level at 21%, which is higher than most if not all physiological oxygen concentrations.

Hyaluronic acid methacrylate/laponite hydrogel loaded with BMP4 and maintaining its bioactivity for scar-free wound healing.

Scar-free wound healing is a challenging process due to the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix and collagen. To overcome this issue, hydrogels with superior biochemical and mechanical properties have been used in combination with medicinal compounds as wound dressings. In this study, a novel composite hydrogel consisting of double-crosslinked photocurable hyaluronic acid methacrylate (HAMA) and Laponite (Lap) loaded with bioactive bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) was developed and thoroughly characterized for its properties such as degradation, morphology, porosity, compression, skin adhesion and load release.

Therapeutic silencing of SMOC2 prevents kidney function loss in mouse model of chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. We developed a mouse model that mimics human CKD with inflammation, extracellular matrix deposition, tubulointerstitial fibrosis, increased proteinuria, and associated reduction in glomerular filtration rate over time. Using this model, we show that genetic deficiency of SMOC2 or therapeutic silencing of SMOC2 with small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) after disease onset significantly ameliorates inflammation, fibrosis, and kidney function loss.

Titanium Vacancies in TiO Nanofibers Enable Highly Efficient Photodriven Seawater Splitting.

Invited for the cover of this issue are Xiao-Yu Yang and co-workers at Wuhan University of Technology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, University of the Witwatersrand, and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The image depicts Ti vacancies in TiO as powerful drivers of photo- and photo-electrocatalytic seawater splitting for hydrogen production. Read the full text of the article at 10.

Smartphone-based colorimetric detection system for portable health tracking.

Colorimetric tests for at-home health monitoring became popular 50 years ago with the advent of the urinalysis test strips, due to their reduced costs, practicality, and ease of operation. However, developing digital systems that can interface these sensors in an efficient manner remains a challenge. Efforts have been put towards the development of portable optical readout systems, such as smartphones.

Titanium Vacancies in TiO Nanofibers Enable Highly Efficient Photodriven Seawater Splitting.

Photodriven seawater splitting is considered to be one of the most promising techniques for sustainable hydrogen production. However, the high salinity of seawater would deactivate catalysts and consume the photogenerated carriers. Metal vacancies in metal oxide semiconductors are critical to directed electron transfer and high salinity resistance; they are thus desirable but remain a challenge.

lncRNA PRR34-AS1 promotes HCC development via modulating Wnt/β-catenin pathway by absorbing miR-296-5p and upregulating E2F2 and SOX12.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) belongs to the most frequent cancer with a high death rate worldwide. Thousands of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been confirmed to influence the development of human cancers, including HCC. Nevertheless, the biological role of PRR34 antisense RNA 1 (PRR34-AS1) in HCC remains obscure.

The alterations of microbiota and pathological conditions in the gut of patients with colorectal cancer undergoing chemotherapy.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has become a serious threat to human life and health. Most patients are diagnosed at the late stage of advanced CRC, resulting in losing their best opportunity for surgical treatment. Chemotherapy plays a crucial role in the control and treatment of advanced CRC.

Pentapeptide IKVAV-engineered hydrogels for neural stem cell attachment.

Spinal cord injury remains irreversible with current treatment paradigms, due to the inability to rebuild the regenerative environment for neurons after injury. Neural tissue engineering that encapsulates the neural stem/progenitor cells within an artificial scaffold provides a possibility to regenerate neurons for spinal cord injury repair. The attachment and survival of these neural cells usually require similar microenvironments to the extracellular matrix for support.

The electrostimulation and scar inhibition effect of chitosan/oxidized hydroxyethyl cellulose/reduced graphene oxide/asiaticoside liposome based hydrogel on peripheral nerve regeneration in vitro.

The application of hollow nerve conduits in the repair of peripheral nerve defects is effected by inferior recovery, and nerve extension is hampered by the scar tissue generated during the repair process. In this study, the filler in hollow nerve conduit, chitosan/oxidized hydroxyethyl cellulose (CS/OHEC) hydrogel loaded asiaticoside liposome and the conductive reduced graphene oxide (rGO) were developed and used to reform the microenvironment for peripheral nerve regeneration. The physiochemical properties of CS/OHEC/rGO/asiaticoside liposome hydrogel were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and compressive modulus, porosity, swelling ratio, degradation and conductivity.

Citrate reduced oxidative damage in stem cells by regulating cellular redox signaling pathways and represent a potential treatment for oxidative stress-induced diseases.

Chemical substances containing citrate such as calcium citrate, citrate esters and citric acid exhibit anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in different cells and tissues. However, data on the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and mechanisms of action of citrate are insufficient. In this study, we systematically evaluated the anti-oxidant capacity of citrate using chemical, cellular and animal assays.

Tacrolimus- and Nerve Growth Factor-Treated Allografts for Neural Tissue Regeneration.

Treatment of injured peripheral nerves, especially long-distance nerve defects, remains a significant challenge in regenerative medicine due to complex biological conditions and a lack of biomaterials for effective nerve reconstruction. Without proper treatment, nerve injury leads to motor and sensory dysfunction. Here, we have developed an efficacious nerve allograft treated with a dual drug containing acrolimus and nerve growth factor to bridge the nerve gap and achieve rapid neural tissue recovery without immunological rejection.

Aqueous Two-Phase Emulsion Bioink-Enabled 3D Bioprinting of Porous Hydrogels.

3D bioprinting technology provides programmable and customizable platforms to engineer cell-laden constructs mimicking human tissues for a wide range of biomedical applications. However, the encapsulated cells are often restricted in spreading and proliferation by dense biomaterial networks from gelation of bioinks. Herein, a cell-benign approach is reported to directly bioprint porous-structured hydrogel constructs by using an aqueous two-phase emulsion bioink.

Painful Terminal Neuroma Prevention by Capping PRGD/PDLLA Conduit in Rat Sciatic Nerves.

Neuroma formation after amputation as a long-term deficiency leads to spontaneous neuropathic pain that reduces quality of life of patients. To prevent neuroma formation, capping techniques are implemented as effective treatments. However, an ideal, biocompatible material covering the nerves is an unmet clinical need.

A conductive sodium alginate and carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel doped with polypyrrole for peripheral nerve regeneration.

Polymer materials with electrically conductive properties have good applications in their respective fields because of their special properties. However, they usually exhibited poor mechanical properties and biocompatibility. In this work, we present a simple approach to prepare conductive sodium alginate (SA) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) polymer hydrogels (SA/CMCS/PPy) that can provide sufficient help for peripheral nerve regeneration.

Umbilical cord blood-derived non-hematopoietic stem cells retrieved and expanded on bone marrow-derived extracellular matrix display pluripotent characteristics.

Background: Umbilical cord blood (UCB) not only contains hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), but also non-hematopoietic stem cells (NHSCs) that are able to differentiate into a number of distinct cell types. Based on studies published to date, the frequency of NHSCs in UCB is believed to be very low. However, the isolation of these cells is primarily based on their adhesion to tissue culture plastic surfaces.

Micro-Nanostructured Polyaniline Assembled in Cellulose Matrix via Interfacial Polymerization for Applications in Nerve Regeneration.

Conducting polymers have emerged as frontrunners to be alternatives for nerve regeneration, showing a possibility of the application of polyaniline (PANI) as the nerve guidance conduit. In the present work, the cellulose hydrogel was used as template to in situ synthesize PANI via the limited interfacial polymerization method, leading to one conductive side in the polymer. PANI sub-micrometer dendritic particles with mean diameter of ∼300 nm consisting of the PANI nanofibers and nanoparticles were uniformly assembled into the cellulose matrix.

Degradation characteristics, cell viability and host tissue responses of PDLLA-based scaffold with PRGD and β-TCP nanoparticles incorporation.

This study is aimed to evaluate the degradation characteristics, cell viability and host tissue responses of PDLLA/PRGD/β-TCP (PRT) composite nerve scaffold, which was fabricated by poly(d, l-lactic acid) (PDLLA), RGD peptide(Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Tyr, GRGDY, abbreviated as RGD) modified poly-{(lactic acid)-co-[(glycolic acid)-alt-(l-lysine)]}(PRGD) and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP). The scaffolds' in vitro degradation behaviors were investigated in detail by analysing changes in weight loss, pH and morphology. Then, the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl) -2,5-diphenyl-2 -H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and cell live/dead assay were carried out to assess their cell viability.

A novel bioactive nerve conduit for the repair of peripheral nerve injury.

The use of a nerve conduit provides an opportunity to regulate cytokines, growth factors and neurotrophins in peripheral nerve regeneration and avoid autograft defects. We constructed a poly-D-L-lactide (PDLLA)-based nerve conduit that was modified using poly{(lactic acid)-co-[(glycolic acid)-alt-(L-lysine)]} and β-tricalcium phosphate. The effectiveness of this bioactive PDLLA-based nerve conduit was compared to that of PDLLA-only conduit in the nerve regeneration following a 10-mm sciatic nerve injury in rats.

Promotion of peripheral nerve regeneration and prevention of neuroma formation by PRGD/PDLLA/β-TCP conduit: report of two cases.

In the field of nerve repair, one major challenge is the formation of neuroma. However, reports on both the promotion of nerve regeneration and prevention of traumatic neuroma in the clinical settings are rare in the field of nerve repair. One of the reasons could be the insufficiency in the follow-up system.

A Supramolecular Gel Approach to Minimize the Neural Cell Damage during Cryopreservation Process.

The storage method for living cells is one of the major challenges in cell-based applications. Here, a novel supramolecular gel cryopreservation system (BDTC gel system) is introduced, which can observably increase the neural cell viability during cryopreservation process because this system can (1) confine the ice crystal growth in the porous of BDTC gel system, (2) decrease the amount of ice crystallization and cryopreservation system's freezing point, and (3) reduce the change rates of cell volumes and osmotic shock. In addition, thermoreversible BDTC supramolecular gel is easy to be removed after thawing so it does not hinder the adherence, growth, and proliferation of cells.

Effect of Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles on the Growth Potential of Hepatoma Cells in Nude Mice.

Aim: To evaluate the activity of hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanoparticles against the proliferation of hepatoma cells.

Methods: HAP nanoparticles were prepared by homogeneous precipitation. The size distribution and morphology of these nanoparticles were determined by laser particle analysis and transmission electron microscopy, respectively.

Calcium Carbonate Nanoplate Assemblies with Directed High-Energy Facets: Additive-Free Synthesis, High Drug Loading, and Sustainable Releasing.

Developing drug delivery systems (DDSs) with high drug-loading capacity and sustainable releasing is critical for long-term chemotherapeutic efficacy, and it still remains challenging. Herein, vaterite CaCO3 nanoplate assemblies with exposed high-energy {001} facets have been synthesized via a novel, additive-free strategy. The product shows a high doxorubicin-loading capacity (65%); the best of all the CaCO3-based DDSs so far.

PRGD/PDLLA conduit potentiates rat sciatic nerve regeneration and the underlying molecular mechanism.

Peripheral nerve injury requires optimal conditions in both macro-environment and micro-environment for reestablishment. Though various strategies have been carried out to improve the macro-environment, the underlying molecular mechanism of axon regeneration in the micro-environment provided by nerve conduit remains unclear. In this study, the rat sciatic nerve of 10 mm defect was made and bridged by PRGD/PDLLA nerve conduit.