International Journal of Biomaterials最新文献

This study evaluated the effects of the biofunctional monomer CMET on the proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization of MDPC-23, odontoblast-like cells in a three-dimensional (3D) culture system using type I collagen. CMET (0.3%, w/v) facilitated the early adhesion and spreading of the cells in type I collagen gels. It significantly promoted cell proliferation in 0.2% and 0.3% concentrations. ALP activity also increased in the 0.3% CMET group. The 0.3% CMET group markedly enhanced odontogenic differentiation by upregulating mRNA of odontogenic differentiation markers such as DSPP and DSP-1. Mineral nodule formation in MDPC-23 cells grown in the 0.3% CMET group was markedly increased compared to that in the control group. After treating the cells with the three MAPK inhibitors, the ability of CMET to stimulate ALP activity in MDPC-23 cells was totally suppressed to control levels by the p38 inhibitor, SB202190. The enhancement of mineralization of MDPC-23 by CMET was partially impeded by SB202190. The results demonstrated that the biofunctional monomer CMET induced proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization of odontoblast-like cells in a 3D culture system using type I collagen gel at a concentration of 0.3%. Thus, combining CMET and type I collagen gel as a scaffold does not exhibit apparent cytotoxicity and is suggested to have immense potential for dentin regeneration.

Nanotechnology has emerged as a transformative field in recent years, greatly impacting medicine and healthcare with innovative solutions for complex diseases. Among these advancements, protein-based metal nanoparticles have shown exceptional promise in treating chronic illnesses, owing to their high biocompatibility, biodegradability, customizable surface properties, and precise drug delivery capabilities. Recent studies have highlighted advancements in targeting efficiency and controlled release, alongside the ability of protein-based metal nanoparticles to bypass the first-pass metabolism, enhancing bioavailability through novel administration routes. Cutting-edge research has also focused on functionalizing protein nanostructures with therapeutic metal ions, particularly silver, with a longstanding antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory history. New combinations of silver with protein-based nanoparticles are now showing significant potential in managing chronic and life-threatening conditions. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest synthesis methods, toxicity assessments, therapeutic applications, administration pathways, and advanced characterization techniques for protein-based silver nanoparticles, addressing the evolving landscape of nanomedicine.

Cancer is a pervasive and devastating disease affecting various parts of the body, posing significant challenges to human societies. Recently, the development of novel magnetic and biocompatible nanoparticles has emerged as a promising approach for magnetic hyperthermia in cancer treatment, complementing existing therapeutic methods. In the present work, Cu_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ mixed spinel nanoparticles were produced via a sol-gel combustion route. The produced magnetic nanopowders were studied via FTIR, SEM, XRD, and VSM techniques. XRD results confirmed the formation of the spinel structure of ferrites. Microstructural investigations showed that the synthesized nanoparticles have a particle size ranging from 20 to 200 nm. The VSM results displayed that the saturation magnetization and coercivity of Cu_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ nanoparticles were 57 emu/g and 24 Oe, respectively. Saturation magnetization for the Cu_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ specimens improved with increasing heat treatment temperature. In order to examine the samples' heating effectiveness for magnetic hyperthermia therapy, various magnetic fields were used. The temperature of the Cu_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ powders increased from 37°C to 47°C in 10 min when exposed to a 400-Oe magnetic field and 200-kHz frequency. Results showed that the fabricated products have the potential to be used as hyperthermia agents for cancer therapy. The novelty of this study focuses on the use of Cu_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ mixed spinel as a new hyperthermia agent with more biocompatible constituent elements.

Tooth discolouration is addressed as a serious consequence of different traumatic injuries as well as an undesirable outcome of various dental and maxillofacial treatments. In addition, the colour changes of teeth are one of the major concerns and chief complaints of dental patients, specifically when the corresponding injuries and/or treatments occur in the aesthetic zone. Endodontic therapy plays a major role in the formation of discolouration inside and outside the involved teeth since the dehydration of dental structure and the use of different biomaterials in Endodontics and related treatments have shown to result in the creation of colour changes in the involved tooth. Vital pulp therapy (VPT) modalities, as ultraconservative approaches in Endodontics, have demonstrated to simplify endodontic procedures and seem to be able to preserve the dental tissue; however, it has been shown that pulp bleeding and (bio)materials used in VPT could cause different degrees of tooth discolouration mainly due to the residual blood products and components within the formula of the (bio)material, penetrating deep into dentinal tubules while changing the colour of the remaining structure. Consequently, when VPT modalities are considered for the treatment of compromised pulp, their pitfalls should be thoroughly elaborated, especially when the aesthetic zone is involved. Therefore, a thorough understanding of potential factors causing tooth discolouration and possible preventive measures in VPT is mandatory to prevent tooth colour changes, particularly in the anterior teeth or sites where aesthetics is of utmost importance.

Nanocarrier systems have gained significant attention in recent decades as an alternative to conventional drug delivery methods, which often suffer from various limitations. In this study, Fe₃O₄/chitosan/TiO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized as a novel nanocarrier for targeted drug delivery. The loading efficiency and controlled release behavior of vancomycin from the nanocarrier were evaluated under in vitro conditions using HeLa cancer cells. The in vitro study of the drug release behavior showed that the implementation of a titania coating significantly diminishes the drug release rate. Specifically, approximately 90 ± 0.2% of the drug is released over a period of 16 h for samples without the titania coating, while samples with the coating exhibit a release time of 25 h. The MTT assay indicates that the application of TiO₂ nanoparticles on the nanocarrier resulted in a decrease in cell viability from 90 ± 3% to 50 ± 2% at concentrations of 100 μg/mL and 500 μg/mL, respectively. These findings highlight the potential of the Fe₃O₄/chitosan/TiO₂ nanocarrier as an efficient system for controlled and targeted drug delivery applications.

Context: Several biomaterials have been developed in the field of tissue regeneration, in addition to creating a "foreign body reaction," they lack the cellular components that are necessary for the regeneration process and, therefore, do not fulfill their purpose satisfactorily. In this regard, the use of platelet concentrates has gained popularity. However, sufficient scientific evidence is still lacking for the use of platelet concentrates, especially platelet-rich liquid fibrin preparations in combination with xenografts. The results of the present study would give an indication of the advantages of using the combination of xenogenic bone graft in combination with liquid formulations of platelet concentrates in regenerative periodontal therapy. Aims: This in vitro study was performed to compare and evaluate the differential release profile and osteogenic potential of liquid formulations of platelet concentrates, namely, concentrated platelet-rich fibrin (C-PRF) and injectable platelet-rich fibrin (I-PRF). Methods and Materials: The differential release profile of platelet-derived growth factor-AA (PDGF-AA) and osteogenic potential of liquid formulations of platelet concentrates was evaluated using samples collected from four periodontally healthy female volunteers by ELISA and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assay with the help of human osteosarcoma cell lines (Saos-2). Statistical Analysis: Statistical analysis of growth factor release profile and estimation of ALP activity was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test to compare the mean difference between the following groups: C-PRF and I-PRF with and without bone graft. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 21 software. Results and Conclusions: This study clearly shows the advantage of using liquid platelet concentrates in combination with bone grafts compared with bone grafts alone. The study further suggested that the use of C-PRF could be beneficial in regenerative periodontal therapy.

The present work conducts a detailed technoeconomic analysis of an environmentally friendly zero-waste biorefinery process to valorize marine Ulva fasciata macroalgae into different sustainable value-added products. The proposed sequential fully integrated process yielded 34.89% mineral-rich water extract (MRWE), 2.61 ± 0.5% chlorophyll, 0.41 ± 0.05% carotenoids, 12.55 ± 1.6% starch, 3.27 ± 0.7% lipids, 22.24 ± 1.8% ulvan, 13.37 ± 1.5% proteins, and 10.66 ± 0.9% cellulose. The Aspen Plus software, utilizing the nonrandom two-liquid (NRTL) model, was applied for process design, simulation, and technoeconomic analysis. Key findings include a positive net present value (NPV) of $49,755,544.90, a high return on investment (ROI) of 485%, and an internal rate of return (IRR) of 17%. The anticipated payback period is 7 years, indicating a quick recovery of the initial investment. These findings confirm that Ulva fasciata is a promising resource in the biorefinery industry, providing a viable and eco-friendly alternative for the production of bio-based products and a new market for seaweed-based products.

In recent years, green synthesis methods for producing nanomaterials have gained significant interest due to their environmentally friendly nature and wide-ranging applications. The present study addresses a novel green synthesis of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) using leaves of Withania somnifera. The size, morphology, and stability of the green-synthesized GQDs were characterized using TEM, UV-Visible spectroscopy, Fluorescence spectrophotometer, XRD, and DLS. The bio-functional properties of the GQDs were investigated, with a focus on their antidiabetic and antioxidant capabilities. Their antidiabetic activity was assessed by examining their ability to inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes, which play a crucial role in glucose metabolism. Additionally, their antioxidant properties were evaluated using DPPH● scavenging assays, highlighting their effectiveness in neutralizing free radicals. The findings revealed that the synthesized GQDs outperformed the original leaf extract in both antioxidant activity and enzyme inhibition. The study revealed that the leaf extract exhibited higher IC₅₀ values for inhibiting DPPH (78.508 ± 5.71), α-amylase (161.909 ± 6.188), and α-glucosidase (133.345 ± 7.328) compared to synthesized GQDs, which showed lower IC₅₀ values of 72.74 ± 5.9, 137.966 ± 6.95, and 122.084 ± 5.478, respectively. The findings indicate that Withania somnifera derived GQDs hold significant potential for medical applications, warranting further investigation into their therapeutic efficacy. This study offers a comprehensive analysis of the fundamental biological properties of GQDs, addressing the dual challenges of antidiabetic and antioxidant activity.

The physical and tensile analysis of NaOH-treated Borassus fibers is carried out to expand and open up further possibilities for their use as reinforcement in composites. This study will describe the NaOH treatment procedure on fibers utilizing the batch reactor approach, as the soaking method is typically used in this case. The physical analysis shows that the wettability behavior effect of NaOH was led by using 5%, 10%, and 15% of NaOH solutions. The result of each treatment using NaOH was then characterized by using SEM-EDX to show the morphology and mechanical properties of the material before and after alkali treatment. Otherwise, FTIR was used to identify the functional group before and after alkali treatment. The tensile properties of the Borassus fibers (raw and treated) were also discussed. The wettability test was carried out by using the contact angle measurement technique. All samples (natural and treated fibers) showed a contact angle of less than 90°, which is associated with the hydrophilic surface properties. This result indicated that this treated fiber has polar properties. The increase of NaOH percentage in the treated samples caused a decrease in the contact angle. This phenomenon was related to the SEM image of natural and treated fibers. SEM result shows the cleaning effect of nonpolar components from the fiber surface and the roughening of the surface during the NaOH treatment. The result of FTIR indicates that several functional group components, such as impurities, lignin, and hemicellulose, were leaching out from row fibers after alkali treatment. The mechanical test results indicate improved tensile properties due to the NaOH treatment. Moreover, the samples from the fiber treated with 10% NaOH indicated the highest tensile strength.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of different manipulation methods and storage environments on the microstructural, chemical, and mechanical properties of calcium-enriched mixture (CEM) cement. Four sample groups were examined, including nondried (ND-I) and dried (D-I) groups placed directly in an incubator, dried samples stored in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (D-P), and dried samples stored in distilled water (D-W). Various analyses, including Vickers microhardness, compressive strength, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were conducted after incubating the samples for 7 days. The data were analyzed by Shapiro-Wilk, Levene, independent t, one-way ANOVA, and Tukey HSD tests. Key findings include the ND-I group exhibited a significantly longer setting time but the lowest microhardness and compressive strength. D-P showed the highest microhardness, while D-W displayed the highest compressive strength. FTIR analysis revealed vibration modes related to (PO4)^3- ions and Si compounds in all groups, with dried groups showing more vibrations of (PO4)^3- ions and OH groups, and D-P and D-W groups displayed vibration modes of (CO3)^2- ions. XRD analysis indicated increased tri/dicalcium silicate reflections in CEM groups exposed to PBS or distilled water. D-I and D-W groups presented hexagonal or rectangular cubic and needle-like crystals, while D-P showed a homogeneous globular structure covered with fine crystals. The order of the weight percentage of major elemental constituents of D-P group was oxygen, calcium, phosphorus, zirconium, barium, carbon, silicon, and sulfur. Incremental placement, drying each increment, and exposing CEM to PBS/tissue fluids result in a faster set and more tolerant cement with a more uniform microstructure. The formation of hydroxyapatite can occur on the surface of the set cement.