Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology最新文献

This comprehensive review examines cutting-edge developments in hydrogel technology for thyroid disease management, encompassing both diagnostic and therapeutic applications. As a promising polymeric biomaterial with a three-dimensional (3D) network structure, hydrogels demonstrate exceptional potential in thyroid disease due to their unique combination of properties: (1) remarkable biocompatibility, (2) precisely tunable physicochemical characteristics, and (3) controlled drug release capabilities. Our analysis systematically evaluates hydrogel applications across the spectrum of thyroid disorders, including (i) diagnostic approaches for thyroid nodules, (ii) therapeutic interventions for endocrine dysfunction (hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and post-thyroidectomy hypoparathyroidism), (iii) innovative treatments for thyroid neoplasms, and (iv) hemostasis, wound healing, repair of thyroid cartilage and laryngeal nerve injuries following thyroid surgery. It focuses on analyzing their advantages and challenges in drug delivery, minimally invasive therapy, tissue engineering, and postoperative care. Finally, future development directions for hydrogels in the field of thyroid disease are discussed.

Objective: To compare the clinical outcomes of locking plate versus cancellous screw fixation in structural autologous bone grafting for medial tibial bone defects during total knee arthroplasty.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 66 patients with medial tibial bone defects who underwent TKA between January 2024 and December 2024. Among them, 34 patients received locking plate fixation (LP group), and 32 patients received cancellous screw fixation (CS group). Postoperative outcomes, including the hip-knee-ankle (HKA), Knee Society Score (KSS) and postoperative complications were recorded and compared to evaluate graft integration and functional recovery.

Results: All patients successfully completed the surgery. At the final follow-up, both groups showed significant improvement in HKA angle, KSS Knee Score, and KSS Function Score compared to preoperative values (P < 0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups at any time point in terms of KSS Knee and Function Scores (P > 0.05). No postoperative complications occurred in either group during the follow-up period.

Conclusion: Compared with conventional cancellous screw fixation, the use of locking plate combined with structural autologous bone grafting provides similarly favorable clinical outcomes. Furthermore, locking plate offer broader intraoperative applicability and may serve as an effective internal fixation strategy for managing medial tibial bone defects during TKA.

Objective: Prototype foamy virus (PFV) is an attractive gene delivery platform due to its large cargo capacity and favorable safety profile; however, the structural basis of its interaction with heparan sulfate (HS), a critical attachment factor for viral entry, remains undefined. The objective of this study was to identify the structural determinants of HS recognition within PFV Env and to evaluate whether rational, structure-guided engineering could enhance viral entry and gene transfer efficiency.

Methods: We applied a structure-guided engineering strategy combining in silico structural modeling, molecular docking, and systematic mutagenesis of the PFV Env receptor-binding domain (RBD), targeted residue substitutions, and combinatorial mutations spanning the upper domain (UD) and lower domain (LD) were generated and evaluated using quantitative cell-based transduction assays. In addition, Tet-On-inducible Env-expressing stable producer cell lines were established to provide a reproducible platform for functional validation.

Results: Alanine substitutions at R298, R440, and E446 in the UD abolished infectivity, confirming their essential roles in HS-mediated attachment. In contrast, selective substitutions at adjacent positions, Q296R and G403F in the UD, and E232N, I330F, and I334F in the LD, enhanced transduction efficiency by up to 1.32-fold relative to the wild type. Combinatorial variants integrating beneficial UD and LD mutations exhibited synergistic effects, achieving a transduction efficiency of 68.9%, corresponding to a 1.55-fold increase over the wild type (44.4%). Interspecies domain replacement with simian foamy virus Env reduced infectivity, underscoring the context-specific nature of PFV-HS interactions. In the inducible stable cell system, the LD var6 mutant achieved 8.6% transduction compared to 4.4% for the wild type, representing up to a 1.95-fold increase.

Discussion: These findings define the structural determinants of HS recognition in PFV Env and demonstrate that residue-level, structure-guided engineering can enhance PFV transduction efficiency. This study provides experimentally validated insight into PFV Env-HS interactions and establishes a rational framework for further optimization of PFV-based gene delivery technologies.

The outbreak of infectious diseases and rapid pathogens' evolution have highlighted the urgency for developing new therapeutics to protect public health and the economy from massive loss. Drug discovery for infectious diseases involves a multi-stage and multi-disciplinary pipeline, often leading to increased risk and mortality due to the prolonged course. However, advancements in technology have been reshaping the field by offering alternative in vitro models-facilitating drug discovery, studying the mechanism of infectious diseases, and developing patient-specific solutions. Recently, 3D bioprinting has been emerging as a revolutionary technology that enables researchers to precisely create custom 3D constructs that mimic human physiology and can be used as either platforms for delivering therapeutics and/or cells locally or in vitro tissue models for drug screening. Herein, we shed light on recent advancements in the use of 3D bioprinting technologies to introduce platforms employed for fabricating 3D structures to control and study infectious diseases.

Craniomaxillofacial bone regeneration poses significant clinical challenges due to the anatomical complexity of this region and the inherent limitations of conventional reconstructive techniques. Stem cell-based therapies have emerged as a promising alternative in that stem cells harness the capacities of multilineage differentiation and paracrine signaling to enhance tissue regeneration. Nonetheless, the overall clinical efficacy of stem cell therapy remains a subject of debate. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to comprehensively evaluate the safety and effectiveness of stem cell therapy in oral and craniofacial bone regeneration. A comprehensive search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science was conducted in July 2024, identifying 59 eligible prospective studies-including randomized controlled trials (RCTs), controlled clinical trials and single-arm studies-involving more than five participants each. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool for randomized studies and ROBINS-I for non-randomized studies. The included studies encompassed a broad range of surgical indications, such as alveolar cleft repair, alveolar ridge augmentation, sinus floor augmentation, periodontal defect regeneration, mandibular fracture management, pathological bone defect repair, and temporomandibular joint disorders. Over three-quarters of studies utilized bone marrow aspirate (BMA) and/or mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), either alone or combined with biomaterial scaffolds. Across diverse procedures, stem cell therapy was associated with clinical and histological benefits, especially in the quality and maturity of regenerated bone. Meta-analysis showed that the addition of stem cells significantly improved the histologic quality of regenerated bone (p = 0.0446), although this enhancement was not evident in radiographic assessments (p = 0.1094). Additionally, meta-analyses demonstrated that stem cell therapy did not result in significant improvements in periodontal clinical attachment level (CAL) gain (p = 0.0730) or linear bone height (p = 0.1858) and width (p = 0.8323) compared to conventional treatments. Notably, volumetric (3D) radiographic assessments indicated significantly enhanced bone volume regeneration in stem cell-treated groups (p = 0.0218). Overall, stem cell therapy shows promising potential in craniomaxillofacial bone regeneration, but heterogeneity among studies underscores the need for further standardized clinical trials to establish definitive benefits, as well as consistent reporting.

Systematic review registration: The protocol of this systematic review was registered on PROSPERO with the ID CRD42024619352.

Introduction: This study developed a MALDI-TOF MS metabolomics analysis method based on MXene nanomaterial functionalization platform for early diagnosis of bloodstream infections (BSI). Currently, BSI detection mainly relies on methods such as blood culture, PCR, and single biomarkers (such as PCT, CRP), which have problems such as long detection time, low sensitivity, and insufficient specificity. Therefore, it is urgent to establish a high-throughput detection technology that is fast, sensitive, and capable of multidimensional analysis.

Method: This study synthesized and characterized MXene nanomaterials, and utilized their ultra-high specific surface area and controllable surface functional groups to construct MXene matrices, significantly improving the enrichment and ionization efficiency of serum metabolites. We used this platform to perform metabolic profiling analysis on 50 BSI positive samples and 50 non BSI control samples, and analyzed the data using principal component analysis (PCA), orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), and heatmaps.

Result: The platform achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.981, a sensitivity of 92%, and a specificity of 96% in BSI diagnosis, demonstrating superior performance compared to traditional single biomarkers. Further screening identified multiple potential metabolic markers (M/Z=203.64, 206.75, 218.67, 220.70), all of which had AUCs higher than 0.969.

Discussion: This study not only confirmed the application potential of MXene in mass spectrometry, but also provided a highly sensitive and high-throughput metabonomics technology platform for early screening of infectious diseases. This progress is expected to promote the transformation of BSI diagnosis from single indicator detection to multidimensional metabolic fingerprint analysis.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a long-term chronic liver disease condition that stems from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and results from multiple factors, including lifestyle, metabolic dysfunction, and genetic predisposition. The increasing prevalence of NAFLD in the global population is expected to reach over 35% by 2030. It thus has become a significant public health concern because of its association with metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, early diagnosis is crucial to avoid further liver disease complications and to provide early and effective patient care. Though there are diagnostic measures available for NASH/MASH detection, like biopsy and serological assays, these are mostly invasive and do not provide the complete picture of the liver condition. Point-of-care diagnostics like biosensors can help overcome these limitations by allowing for a rapid, inexpensive, and more straightforward diagnostic method that also aligns with the present global health needs. Moreover, integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches for automated analysis alongside real-time cloud-based reporting and telehealth interfaces can potentially aid in expanding the utility of these systems into integrated diagnostic systems. Through this review, we aim to address the interplay of technological innovation, public health significance, and implementation barriers in advancing biosensor diagnostics for effective and reliable detection of NASH/MASH for better liver health.

Background: Rotator cuff tears represent a prevalent musculoskeletal challenge with high postoperative retear rates despite surgical advances. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has emerged as a promising biological adjunct in arthroscopic repair, though clinical evidence remains inconsistent regarding its efficacy in improving structural and functional outcomes.

Methods: This PRISMA-guided meta-analysis evaluated 13 randomized controlled trials (n = 880 patients) comparing PRP-augmented versus conventional arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Primary outcomes included retear rates and functional scores (UCLA, Constant, SST, ASES, VAS). Statistical analysis employed fixed/random-effects models with subgroup analyses of PRP formulations and tear characteristics.

Results: PRP augmentation significantly improved functional outcomes, with mean differences of 1.82 points (95% CI: 1.13-2.51) for UCLA scores, 2.31 points (95% CI: 1.02-3.61) for Constant scores, and 0.43 points (95% CI: 0.11-0.75) for SST scores (all p < 0.01). VAS pain scores decreased by 0.23 points (95% CI: -0.41 to -0.05, p = 0.01). However, retear rates showed no significant reduction (RR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.48-1.05, p = 0.09). Benefits were most pronounced in medium/large tears treated with leukocyte-poor PRP and double-row repairs (I² = 0-40% for functional outcomes). Conclusion: While PRP enhances early functional recovery and pain control after rotator cuff repair, its capacity to improve structural integrity remains unproven. Clinical implementation requires standardization of PRP protocols and targeted application in patients with larger tears. Future research should investigate optimized biomaterial formulations and personalized treatment strategies.

Lung cancer is a major cause of cancer related mortality due to delayed diagnosis and limited therapeutic efficiency. Early detection and effective immune modulation are important to control lung cancer. Advancements in nanotechnology have improved oncology due to sensitive, specific, and minimally invasive detection platforms along with immune regulatory therapeutic approaches. Smart nanoplatforms fabricated with high precision and responsiveness have the ability to treat diseases as well as the immune system. These systems combine functional nanomaterials with biomolecular recognition elements to detect biomarkers such as exosomes, DNA, RNA, and proteins. They also facilitate targeted immune activation through checkpoint inhibition, nanovaccines, and tumor microenvironment reprogramming. Moreover, artificial intelligence and machine learning are enhancing the interpretation of complex data, which increases the diagnostic accuracy and predictive power. Despite advances in diagnostic and immune modulation, there are also several challenges related to biological barriers and biocompatibility. This review comprehensively explains the molecular basis of lung cancer, recent progress in nanotechnology based diagnostics and immunotherapy, and the design of multifunctional smart nanoplatforms. Future studies emphasize integrating personalized medicine, digital modeling, and bioinspired nanosystems for clinically translatable solutions in early lung cancer management.