International Journal of Biomaterials最新文献

Background: The regeneration of injured tissues remains a major clinical challenge. Among emerging biomaterials, collagen with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) showed promising outcomes, individually and in combination.

Objective: To systematically review clinical evidence on the efficacy, applications, and safety of PRP/PRF and collagen for regenerative medicine applications.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Wiley Online Library, Google Scholar, and ClinicalTrials.gov (search date: September, 2025). Inclusion criteria: clinical studies evaluating PRP/PRF and collagen formulations. Exclusion: preclinical only or nonoriginal research. Data were synthesized narratively.

Results: Twenty-six clinical studies were included. Applications included gingival recession, periodontitis, tendon injuries, bone regeneration, peripheral nerve repair, and chronic ulcers. Most studies reported positive outcomes, though many lacked control groups or had small sample sizes. No serious adverse events were reported.

Conclusion: PRP/PRF and collagen show potential for various clinical applications in regenerative medicine. However, randomized clinical studies are necessary to demonstrate their superiority to standard treatment and to standardize protocols.

Advances in drug delivery technologies involve the extracellular vesicles as a promising bioactive drug delivery vehicle expected to improve targeted therapeutic delivery in pharmaceutical innovations. Recently, Gram-negative bacterial extracellular vesicles (outer membrane vesicles or OMVs) have gained attention for their role in host-microbe interactions and potential in drug delivery. Bacterial extracellular vesicle (BEV) shedding is a conserved mechanism of intra- and interspecies communication, providing critical insights into host-microbe interactions. However, the biogenesis and compositional diversity of BEVs produced by Gram-positive bacteria remain underexplored. Understanding the translational application potential of BEVs remains elusive due to the suboptimal isolation of BEVs and limited structural-functional characterization. A comprehensive study to develop BEVs as delivery vehicles will provide critical insights into the perspective of microbial-host interplay and illuminate the modulation of the drug delivery strategy. Here, using a food-grade probiotic Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris MG1363 (strain NZ9000), we demonstrated that perturbing peptidoglycan biosynthesis with ampicillin, which targets penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), significantly enhances BEV production. We further explored the interaction between BEVs and host cells through this optimized BEV biogenesis, revealing its cargo-delivering capability. Furthermore, to understand the potential of BEVs as a multimodal drug delivery platform, we target multidrug-resistant microbial pathogens and cancer cell proliferation with drug-encapsulated BEVs. With a generally recognized as safe (GRAS) recognition of L. lactis, we demonstrated that drug-loaded L. lactis BEVs can offer recognizable therapeutic effects. These findings highlight the versatile nature of L. lactis BEVs as stable, safe, natural nanocarriers capable of personalized cargo delivery with broad therapeutic applications.

This study focuses on developing and characterizing electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) membranes as scaffolds for cell growth, leveraging their ability to mimic the extracellular matrix and promote cell proliferation. The membranes were fabricated by electrospinning and sterilized using ozone at room temperature. Comprehensive characterization techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), contact angle measurements, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and in vitro biocompatibility assays with MRC-5 cells, were employed. The electrospun membranes exhibited uniform fibers with an average diameter of 403 ± 100 nm and demonstrated sterility, with no microbial growth observed after incubation. Contact angle measurements revealed values of 123 ± 0.42° and 123 ± 0.25° for nonsterilized and sterilized membranes, respectively, indicating consistent hydrophobicity. Thermal analyses confirmed the structural stability of PCL membranes, while UV-Vis studies validated their controlled degradation and release kinetics. FTIR and Raman spectroscopy confirmed that ozone sterilization preserved the chemical integrity of the membranes, with no new organic functions observed. Biocompatibility assays demonstrated high cell viability (> 97%) and effective adhesion on the membranes, highlighting their compatibility and suitability for supporting cell proliferation. These results demonstrate the efficacy of ozone sterilization and the potential of electrospun PCL membranes for a wide range of biomedical applications, including tissue engineering, wound healing, and drug delivery systems.

Background: This study aimed to compare the effects of casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) in combination with gallic acid (GA) compared to their individual effects on improving the microhardness of artificial enamel lesions at different depths from the surface.

Materials and methods: Forty enamel blocks were fabricated, with one-third of each block coated in varnish to establish a protected sound zone. The blocks were submerged in a demineralizing solution for 96 h to create artificial enamel lesions. Subsequently, half of the demineralized region was coated with varnish to create a reference demineralized area. The samples were allocated to four groups, with the remaining exposed portions treated with three experimental pastes (CPP-ACP paste, GA paste, and CPP-ACP + GA paste) and one control paste, representing the remineralized area. Vickers microhardness was assessed at depths of 20, 50, 100, 150, and 200 μm from the enamel surface in each region. Data were analyzed utilizing one-way ANOVA, followed by post hoc LSD tests. Cohen's d effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were also calculated to assess the strength of pairwise comparisons.

Results: The CPP-ACP + GA paste exhibited the most significant enhancement in enamel microhardness at depths of 20, 50, and 100 μm with large effect sizes. While both CPP-ACP paste and GA paste significantly enhanced microhardness at 20 and 50 μm depths, they did not considerably impact microhardness at 100 μm depth.

Conclusion: The combined use of CPP-ACP and GA showed a superior enhancement in the microhardness of artificial enamel lesions compared to the individual application of each agent.

The present study focuses on developing novel gradient thin films for surface-based magnetic resonance imaging of fluids such as water. Four types of magnetic-polymer colloids were investigated as T2 contrast agents, including Janus magnetic-polystyrene and core-shell magnetic-poly(styrene/divinylbenzene/methacrylic acid) particles. These colloids were coated with amino dextran to enhance their performance. Key factors such as emulsion composition, particle size, and surface properties were systematically examined. Gradient thin films were fabricated on glass slides using a layer-by-layer self-assembled multilayer (LbL-SAMu) technique. The films consisted of positively charged poly(dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride) and negatively charged magnetic-polymer colloids. The developed colloids and thin films were characterized by their surface wettability, surface morphology, and zeta potential. These films exhibited relatively improved hydrophilicity and T2 contrast. The utilization of such gradient thin films as molecular probes could enhance clinical MRI for in vitro diagnosis. This study indicated that thin-film gradients can offer a facile technique for unique cellular imaging via a lab-on-chip device to enable effective point-of-care molecular diagnostics.

Introduction: Chronic musculoskeletal problems necessitate long-term symptomatic treatments. In such cases, diclofenac (D_fNa) is frequently prescribed. However, its demand for frequent administration might result in serious dose-dependent complications. Furthermore, most patients with these illnesses are elderly and may have difficulty swallowing. Such factors can contribute to patients' noncompliance. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a sustained-release orally disintegrating D_fNa tablet using locally accessible excipients.

Methods: D_fNa microspheres were prepared using the emulsion solvent evaporation technique. Several parameters, including drug-to-polymer ratio (DPR), stirring speed (SS), internal phase volume, and polyethylene glycol content, were explored for their effect on microsphere characteristics. Significant factors were then selected and further optimized to produce microspheres with desirable responses. Eventually, the optimized microspheres were compressed into orally disintegrating tablets with appropriate excipients through direct compression.

Results: Preliminary studies indicated that the DPR and SS significantly influenced the response variables. Consequently, their effects on the selected response variables (entrapment efficiency [EE] and Z) were further optimized. This optimization identified optimal conditions at a DPR of 1:1.41 and SS of 905.17 rpm with a predicted EE (69.44%) and Z (175.33 μm). Confirmation tests indicated that the experimental results are in agreement with the predicted values (a percentage error below 5%). Furthermore, the three confirmation batches showed no significant difference in their characteristics, indicating remarkable reproducibility. The microspheres exhibited a non-Fickian anomalous release mechanism, best described by the Higuchi model. All the orally disintegrating tablets prepared from the microspheres met the USP specifications. However, FT1 (compressed at 10 KN) showed a release profile and kinetics similar to those of the uncompressed microspheres. Therefore, it was selected as the best formulation of D_fNa in this study.

Conclusion: This study successfully formulated microsphere-based sustained-release orally disintegrating D_fNa tablets that sustained drug release for at least 12 h.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/ijbm/3568968.].

Nowadays, plastic has become an integral part of our daily used products. Packaging is the sector where a significant portion of plastics are being used, and it has increased many folds after the recent pandemic. The plastic-based cutlery, cups, bowls, and plates have been commonly used in ready-to-eat packaged food, and they include mostly single-use plastic; thus, there is an urgent need for substitution with eco-friendly alternatives. The edible cups, bowls, and cutlery could be a promising alternative to the plastic counterparts. This review debated the current scenario in edible cutlery fabrication and characterization. The plant-based, eco-friendly edible flour materials are commonly used for fabricating edible cutlery such as bowls, cups, and spoons. The fortification and enrichment of additives into the edible cutlery and tableware were promising to improve the physical and functional performance. To develop edible cutlery, various flours such as millet, wheat, and rice have already been explored, and the results are promising for attaining sustainable development. The edible spoons prepared by using various flours such as finger millet and wheat flour with ashwagandha powder showed high proximate composition, including protein 5.96% and carbohydrates 85.73%. Similarly, the edible cutlery prepared using rice flour, wheat flour, and banana blossom powder resulted in a high water absorption capacity of 31.59% and showed high biodegradable capacity and decayed in 5 days. The use of this edible tableware not only reduces plastic waste issues but also makes our food healthier and nutrition-rich. Hence, this review aims to provide an overview of edible cutlery's needs and current status.

Plant-derived compounds have attracted considerable attention in the field of antimicrobial therapy. This interest is primarily due to their natural origin and historical evidence of their use in traditional medicine systems. These derivatives are a rich reservoir of chemical diversity that has a promising potential for the development and production of new antimicrobial agents with the least amount of side effects and risks of drug resistance. However, the delivery of plant-derived antimicrobial agents, especially through the topical route, poses significant challenges. As the largest organ of the body, the skin acts as a first barrier against the entrance of microbial pathogens. A primary limitation to transdermal delivery of plant-derived antimicrobial agents is their complex molecular structures, which often prevent effective absorption through the skin. Therefore, developing and promoting an effective local drug delivery system to increase the potential of antimicrobial therapy is very important and effective in public health. This review discusses delivery strategies for plant-derived antimicrobial agents aimed at the bioavailability and stability of these compounds as well as their mode of action, ensuring targeted delivery to the site of infection with long-lasting effects and minimizing side effects. Besides, various topical drug delivery platforms are analyzed, including nanoparticles, liposomes, and innovative application methods such as microneedles.

The drying of medicinal plants is a crucial step in their processing since it preserves the active ingredients and increases their shelf life. Traditional drying methods often exhibit limitations such as extended drying time, loss of bioactive components, and decreased product quality. Novel drying methods have recently come to light as possible alternatives for drying medicinal plants. Reduced drying time, greater bioactive ingredient preservation, and improved product quality are just a few benefits of these novel methods. The bioactive components of medicinal plants can be preserved using these modern drying methods, which also provide possibilities for improved processing efficiency, less energy utilization, and increased product stability. However, while choosing a drying method, it is important to take into account the distinctive features of the medicinal plant, the desired quality attributes, and the economic feasibility. This review gives an overview of novel techniques such as microwave drying, vacuum drying, freeze drying, refractance window drying, Osmo drying, supercritical CO₂ drying, and spray drying for drying medicinal plants and some potential applications.