Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition最新文献

Bacterial infections and the emergence of drug-resistant after the misuse of antibiotics are threats to human health worldwide. Photothermal nanomaterials incorporating metallic antibacterial agents offer a promising solution. Herein, an antibacterial nanocomposite (Ag@SF@PDA) comprising silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with silk fibroin/polydopamine nanospheres (SF@PDA) was designed for efficient antibacterial application. Specifically, AgNPs were reduced in situ by polydopamine and encapsulated in the polydopamine outer layer. The Ag@SF@PDA, with a diameter of about 144.7 nm, had a spherical shape and a rough surface. Under 808 nm, 1.5 W/cm² NIR near-infrared (NIR) irradiation, Ag@SF@PDA demonstrated excellent photothermal performance and stability, reaching a maximum temperature of 56.8 °C after 12 min. Their photothermal performance was improved as the concentration increased. The viability results of L929 fibroblasts in vitro demonstrated that Ag@SF@PDA had good biocompatibility. Even when the concentration was increased to 0.5 mg/mL, the cells still maintained their viability. Of note, Ag@SF@PDA exhibited remarkably high antibacterial efficacies against both Staphylococcus aureaus and Escherichia coli after NIR irradiation. Their antibacterial efficacies were above 99.9% under NIR irradiation and comparable to those of ampicillin. These photothermal nanospheres have a great potential in efficient antibacterial application.

In orthopaedic clinical applications, creating biocomposite bone substitutes to take the place of autologous bone transplants is still difficult. Studies have demonstrated for decades that poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) [PLGA], a common polymer, has many benefits that make it a strong contender for bone replacement. These include biodegradability, good mechanical qualities, and the ability to induce new bone production. Although calcium-based materials are frequently used as bone fillers in bone implantation, the efficiency of ceramic materials containing calcium may be hampered by a number of issues, including low microporosity and quick rates of degradation. In order to overcome these obstacles, scientists are investigating ways to improve implant performance by combining PLGA with other materials, especially in terms of encouraging improved connections with nearby bone cells. An overview of the chemical properties of different PLGA-based scaffold composites, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of PLGA-Calcium implants in tissue engineering applications, are the goals of this review. It also highlights the possible advantages and consequences of using PLGA in 3D printing technology to improve bone tissue engineering clinical outcomes.

Loss of alveolar bone due to periodontitis is prevalent among a wide range of population and is a major concern for oral health. Treatment of alveolar bone loss is aimed based on the repair of the periodontium as well as type of defect that has been formed. Nanocomposite based hydrogel and scaffolds for alveolar bone regeneration has gained significant attention due to their favourable properties such as stability, biocompatibility and enhanced regeneration. Chitin has been used for decades in biomedical applications owing to its good biological activity, biocompatibility and biodegradability. The addition of synthetic polymer such as polydiaxanone into chitin alters the degradation properties and also enhances the biological properties such as osteogenesis. The addition of bioceramic, whitlockite nanoparticles induces mineralization and osteogenesis. Thus, we developed a composite scaffold (Ch-PDO-nWH) using chitin, polydioxanone and whitlockite nanoparticles, a magnesium based bioceramic. The prepared Ch-PDO-nWH composite scaffold is porous in nature, with swelling property and controlled degradation. The scaffold was tested for its biocompatibility using dental follicle stem cells (DFSCs) which showed improved biocompatibility, biomineralization and also stimulated the expression of osteogenic markers such as RUNX2 and OPN thus ultimately aiding in bone regeneration.

Over the last decades, three-dimensional (3D) printing has emerged as one of the most promising alternative tissue and organ regeneration technologies. Recent advances in 3D printing technology, particularly in hydrogel-derived bioink formulations, offer promising solutions for fabricating intricate, biomimetic scaffolds that promote vascularization. In this review, we presented numerous studies that have been conducted to fabricate 3D-printed hydrogel vascularized constructs with significant advancements in printing integumentary systems, cardiovascular systems, vascularized bone tissues, skeletal muscles, livers, and kidneys. Furthermore, this work also discusses the engineering considerations, current challenges, proposed solutions, and future outlooks of 3D bioprinting.

The development of gastroretentive drug delivery systems is one such instance, which was developed to improve the oral bioavailability and effectiveness of drugs, which has a poor absorption window in the upper GIT and/or triggers local activity such as duodenal and stomach activity. In this work, the objective of sintering gastroretentive dosage forms was to sustain the release of levofloxacin in the gastric region for an extended period of time. Selective laser sintering (SLS)-mediated powder bed fusion 3D printing technology was utilized to design and fabricate a modified-release gastroretentive floating-hollow capsular device (GRF-HCD) in three distinct capsule sizes namely, 000, 00, and 0 with the aid of pharmaceutical grade polymers (combinations of Kolliphor P188 and Kollidon SR in 1:1 ratio). Sintered GRF-HCD was further subjected to morphological analysis, weight variation, and swelling index. In addition, in vitro and in vivo buoyancy studies were performed in an animal model using X-ray imaging. Finally, the in vitro drug release from GRF-HCD was performed in simulated gastric pH condition (pH-1.2) upto 12 h. Levofloxacin concentration was then quantified using validated RP-HPLC method. The in vitro floating behaviour was mimicked with the in vivo floating, where the GRF-HCD was retained in the rabbit stomach for an extended period which will help to sustain the drug release for a longer period and maintained the maximum concentration of levofloxacin in the gastric region.

Nanoscale drug delivery systems that are both multifunctional and targeted have been developed using proteins as a basis, thanks to their attractive biomacromolecule properties. A novel nanocarrier, aptamer (AS1411)-conjugated β-lactoglobulin/poly-l-lysine (BLG/Ap/PL) nanoparticles, was developed in this study. To this unique formulation, the as-prepared nanocarrier blends the distinctive features of an aptamer as a chemotherapeutic targeting agent with those of protein nanocarriers. By loading cabazitaxel (CTX) onto the nanocarriers, the therapeutic potential of BLG/Ap/PL could be demonstrated. The CTX-loaded BLG/Ap/PL (CTX@BLG/Ap/PL) showed a regulated drug release profile in an acidic milieu, which could improve therapeutic efficacy in cancer cells and have a high drug encapsulation efficacy of up to 93%. However, compared to free CTX, CTX@BLG/Ap/PL killed colorectal HCT116 cancer cells with a higher efficacy at 24 and 48 h. Further investigation confirms the apoptosis by acridine orange and ethidium bromide (AO/EB), and DAPI staining confirms the morphological changes, chromatin condensation, and membrane blebbing in the treated cell through flow cytometry displayed the release of higher percentages of apoptosis. Cell cycle analysis revealed that CTX@BLG/Ap/PL induced sub-G1 and G2/M phase (apoptosis) at 24 and 48 h. Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) flow cytometry analysis confirmed that CTX@BLG/Ap/PL induces apoptosis in HCT116 cells. Overall, this study proved that CTX@BLG/Ap/PL had several advantages over free chemotherapeutic drugs and showed promise as a solution to the clinical problems associated with targeted antitumor drug delivery systems.

Graphene oxide (GO) is widely used in bone tissue engineering due to its good biocompatibility and proliferation, and is often used in combination with other hydrogels, which not only reduces the cytotoxicity of GO but also improves the mechanical properties of the hydrogels. We developed injectable carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC)/hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC)/β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP)/GO hydrogel via hydrogen bonding cross-linked between (CMC) and (HEC), also, calcium cross-linked by β-TCP was also involved to further improvement of mechanical properties of the hydrogel, and incorporate different concentration of GO in these hydrogel systems. The characterization of the novel hydrogel was tested by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The swelling ratio and mechanical properties were investigated, the results showed that the addition of GO was able to reduce the swelling rate of hydrogels and improve their mechanical properties, with the best effect in the case of 1 mg/mL content. In vivo experimental studies showed that the hydrogel significantly promoted the osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs), with the best effect at a concentration of 2 mg/mL. The results of the cellular experiments were similar. Therefore, the novel environment-friendly and non-toxic injectable CMC/HEC/β-TCP/GO hydrogel system may have potential applications in bone tissue engineering.

Graphene, a two-dimensional carbon nanomaterial, has garnered widespread attention across various fields due to its outstanding properties. In dental implantology, researchers are exploring the use of graphene-functionalized polymer surfaces to enhance both the osseointegration process and the long-term success of dental implants. This review consolidates evidence from in-vivo and in-vitro studies, highlighting graphene's capacity to improve bone-to-implant contact, exhibit antibacterial properties, and enhance mechanical strength. This research investigates the effects of incorporating graphene derivatives into polymer materials on tissue response and compatibility. Among 123 search results, 14 articles meeting the predefined criteria were analyzed. The study primarily focuses on assessing the impact of GO and rGO on cellular function and stability in implants. Results indicate promising improvements in cellular function and stability with the use of GO-coated or composited implants. However, it is noted that interactions between Graphene derivatives and polymers may alter the inherent properties of the materials. Therefore, further rigorous research is deemed imperative to fully elucidate their potential in human applications. Such comprehensive understanding is essential for unlocking the extensive benefits associated with the utilization of Graphene derivatives in biomedical contexts.

Localized oral drug delivery offers several advantages for treating various disease conditions. However, drug retention at the disease site within the oral cavity is indeed a significant challenge due to the dynamic oral environment. The present study aimed to develop a mucoadhesive inner layer for a three-layer mucoadhesive bandage suitable for localized oral drug delivery. using gellan gum (GG) biopolymer. Gellan gum (GG) was modified using L-cysteine moieties via carbodiimide chemistry. Subsequently, gellan gum solution at different extents of thiolation was ionically cross-linked using aluminum ammonium sulfate. Thiolated gellan gum films of uniform thickness were prepared using a solvent casting method. The thickness of bare gellan gum film was 0.035 ± 0.0043 mm, whereas the thiolated gellan gum films, GG 1S and GG 2S showed a thickness of 0.0191 ± 0.0011 mm and 0.0188 ± 0.0004 mm respectively. A high work of adhesion was noted for thiolated gellan gum (GG 2S) with a value of 10 N.mm while using porcine buccal mucosa. An average tensile strength of 48.2 ± 2.46 MPa was measured for thiolated gellan gum films irrespective of the extent of thiolation. The high work of adhesion, favorable cytocompatibility, desirable mechanical properties, and free swell capacity in saline confirmed the suitability of ionically cross-linked thiolated gellan gum films as an inner mucoadhesive layer for the mucoadhesive bandage.

The majority of treatments are performed with polysulfone (PSf) membranes. The main issue of the PSf membrane is its lack of endothelial function, leading to various processes like platelet adhesion, protein adsorption, and thrombus formation when comes in contact with blood. The crucial aspect in the development of hemodialysis (HD) membrane materials is a biocompatibility factor. This study aims to improve the performance and biocompatibility of PSf membranes by utilizing polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a pore-forming agent and polyacrylamide (PAA) as a multifunctional modifying additive owing to its non-toxic, and biocompatible nature. The formulated HD membranes were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Water Contact Angle (WCA) measurements. The biocompatibility results showed that PSf-PAA membranes reduced the adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein, hemolysis process, thrombus formation, and platelets adhesion with improved in vitro cytotoxicity results as well as anticoagulation performance. The protein separation results showed that PSf-PAA membranes were able to reject 90.1% and 92.8% of BSA protein. The membranes also showed better uremic waste clearance for urea (76.56% and 78.24%) and creatinine (73.71% and 79.13%) solutes, respectively. It is conceivable that these modern-age membranes may surpass conventional HD membranes regarding both efficiency and effectiveness.