Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition最新文献

Natural fibers such as kenaf, sisal, ramie, jute, hemp, flax, coir, banana and bamboo have been employed in the production of biocomposites. A great strength-to-weight ratio, renewability and sustainability are some important properties of natural fibers. Biocomposites produced from natural fibers are employed in biomedical fields such as delivery of drug, orthopaedic applications, tissue engineering and wound dressing owing to their acceptability by the human body, moderate mechanical performance and environmental benefits. This study presents recent advances in the field of polymers and natural fiber-based polymer composites for potential biomedical applications. For this purpose, the properties of natural fibers are given and detailed examples from literature works for polymers and their composites used in biomedical applications are discussed.

Photothermal therapy (PTT) has recently garnered significant attention as a prominent noninvasive treatment modality for a broad spectrum of diseases. Despite the increasing volume of scholarly output over the last 20 years, a holistic synthesis that delineates worldwide research trajectories remains elusive. We undertook a bibliometric analysis of the literature from 2004 to 2023, aiming to delineate the prevailing focal points and illuminate prospective research avenues. Research articles on PTT were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Using tools such as CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix, we comprehensively analyzed and visualized 11,184 published academic PTT papers. China has the highest number of publications. Journals related to PTT are primarily comprised of interdisciplinary and comprehensive journals. Research associated with PTT has focused primarily on its antitumor properties. Current focal areas in this domain include the synergistic combination of PTT with photodynamic therapy, immunological mechanisms of PTT to enhance its therapeutic efficacy, integrated use of PTT with nanoenzyme catalysis, and the role of PTT in antimicrobial applications. This bibliometric analysis provides an initial comprehensive examination of the medical applications of PTT, offering insights into the global research landscape, key areas of interest, and emerging trends, thereby serving as a valuable reference for future studies in this field.

The susceptibility of insulin against gastric acid degradation presents a major challenge for oral insulin delivery. The potential of biopolymer-based nanocarriers was investigated in order to address this issue. Inulin, a biopolymer produced by the halophilic bacterium Salinivibrio sp. GM01, has been evaluated for its effectiveness as an insulin nanocarrier. Using central composite design (CCD) method, the optimum condition of inulin-encapsulated insulin (I-In) was achieved at 53 mg of inulin stirred at 17,800 rpm for 10 min, resulting in spherical I-In nanoparticles (I-In NPs) with an average diameter of 416 ± 32 nm and encapsulation efficiency of 87.04 ± 3.01%. The insulin release profile of I-In NPs in simulated gastric fluid follows a burst pattern. Biophysical analysis revealed that insulin in I-In NPs had higher conformational stability than the free state (FS) insulin, as evidenced by an increase in denaturation half-life up to 60 min and the transition enthalpy by 0.29 and 1.53 kcal/mol for secondary and tertiary structures, respectively. Furthermore, preliminary in vivo studies showed that I-In NPs showed significant effect compared to FS insulin for up to 15% in blood glucose level reduction. This study demonstrates the potential of I-In NPs as a promising candidate for antidiabetic therapy and an effective oral delivery system.

The study investigates the molecular interactions and biological effects of carvacrol zinc oxide quantum dots (CVC-ZnO QDs) on breast cancer in vitro MCF-7 cell lines and in vivo mammary cancer models. Molecular docking using AutoDock Vina revealed binding energies of CVC with key proteins in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, including PI3K, AKT, PTEN, and mTOR. The results showed significant interaction with specific amino acids, indicating a strong binding affinity. In vitro studies demonstrated a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect of CVC-ZnO QDs on MCF-7 cells, with an IC₅₀ of 20.02 µg/mL, while enhancing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), indicative of apoptosis induction. Antioxidant activity, lipid peroxidation, and nuclear morphological changes were assessed, revealing decreased antioxidant status and increased lipid peroxidation in treated cells. In vivo, CVC-ZnO QDs modulated the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in DMBA-induced mammary cancer in rats, decreasing p-PI3K, p-AKT, and p-mTOR expression while upregulating PTEN. Immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, and Western blot analyses confirmed these molecular alterations. The study concludes that CVC-ZnO QDs exert cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic effects on breast cancer cells by modulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and promoting oxidative stress, presenting a potential therapeutic strategy for breast cancer management.

Ionically conductive hydrogels (ICHs) are considered promising flexible electronic devices and various wearable sensors due to the integration of the conductive performance and soft nature of human tissue-like materials with mechanical and sensory traits. Recently, substantial progress has been made in the research of ICHs, including high conductivity, solution processability, strong adhesion, high stretchability, high self-healing ability, and good biocompatibility. These advanced researches also promote their excellent application prospects in medical monitoring, sports health, smart wear, and other fields. This article reviewed ICHs' current classification and design strategies in biomedical applications and the structure-activity relationship of the interface between biological systems and electronics. Furthermore, the typical cases of frontiers of skin interface applications of ICHs were elaborated in transdermal drug delivery, wound healing, disease diagnosis and treatment, and human-computer interaction. This article aims to inspire related research on ionically conductive hydrogels in the biomedical field and promote the innovation and application of flexible wearable electronic device technology.

Cartilage tissue engineering (CTE) is a field of regenerative medicine focused on constructing ideal substitutes for injured cartilage by effectively combining cells, scaffolds, and stimulatory factors. In vitro CTE employing chondrocytes and biopolymer-based hydrogels has the potential to repair damaged cartilage. In this research, primary chondrocytes were extracted from the rib cartilage of rats and seeded on a hydrogel construct named HACF, which is made from hydroxyapatite, alginate, chitosan, and fucoidan. We then evaluated in vitro chondrogenesis on HACF cartilage construct. The results revealed that the primary chondrocytes were successfully isolated from rat rib cartilage by collagenase D digestion and HACF cartilage construct was effectively synthesized. Chondrocyte viability and its differentiation inside the scaffold HACF were determined by MTT assay, NRU assay, live/dead assay, DAPI nuclear staining, flow cytometry analysis (FCA), mRNA expression studies, and quantification of extracellular matrix components in the HACF scaffold. The findings indicated excellent chondrocyte viability within the HACF scaffold, with no noticeable changes in morphology. Apoptosis was not detected in the chondrocytes cultured on these hydrogels, as confirmed by DAPI staining, live/dead assay, and FCA. This demonstrates that the cells were capable of proliferating, dividing, multiplying, and maintaining their integrity on HACF scaffold. The results also showed more collagen deposition and glycosaminoglycan synthesis showing the good health of chondrocytes on the HACF construct. It indicates that HACF is an ideal scaffold supporting stable cartilage matrix production, highlighting its suitability for cartilage tissue engineering.

Chitosan based films endowed with antibacterial features have witnessed remarkable progress as potential wound dressings. The current study aimed at appraising the effects of the molar mass of chitosan (MM) and the film casting acids on the properties of unplasticized chitosan films and plasticized MSO-embedded chitosan films in order to provide best suited film formulation as a potential candidate for wound dressing application. The prepared films were functionally characterized in terms of their qualitative assessment, thickness, density, swelling behavior, water vapor barrier, mechanical and antibacterial properties. Overall, all chitosan films displayed thickness lower than the human dermis even though thicker and denser films were produced with lactic acid. Assessment of the swelling behavior revealed that only high molar mass (HMM) chitosan films may be regarded as absorbent dressings. Moreover, unplasticized HMM lactate (HMM-LA) films furnished lower stiffness and higher percent strain break as compared to acetate films, due to the plasticizing effect of the remaining lactic acid as alluded by the FTIR analysis. Meanwhile, they provided suitable level of moisture and indicated substantial antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli, the most commonly opportunistic bacteria found in infected skin wound. Plasticized chitosan films doped with MSO were significantly thicker and more permeable to water compared to unplasticized films. Furthermore, MSO significantly potentiate the antibacterial effect of chitosan-based films. Therefore, plasticized HMM-LA/MSO chitosan film flashing good swelling behavior, adequate WVTR and WVP, suitable mechanical properties and antibacterial performances substantiated to be a promising antibacterial dressing material for moderately exuding wounds.

Primaquine (PQ) is a widely used antimalarial drug, but its high dosage requirements can lead to significant tissue damage and adverse gastrointestinal and hematological effects. Recent studies have shown that nanoformulations can enhance the bioavailability of pharmaceuticals, thereby increasing efficacy, reducing dosing frequency, and minimizing toxicity. In this study, PQ-loaded PLGA nanoparticles (PQ-NPs) were prepared using a modified double emulsion solvent evaporation technique (w/o/w). The PQ-NPs exhibited a mean particle size of 228 ± 2.6 nm, a zeta potential of +27.4 mV, and an encapsulation efficiency of 81.3 ± 3.5%. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed their spherical morphology, and the in vitro release profile demonstrated continuous drug release over 72 h. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermograms indicated that the drug was present in the nanoparticles, with improved physical stability. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis showed no interactions between the various substances in the NPs. In vivo studies in Swiss albino mice infected with Plasmodium berghei revealed that the nanoformulated PQ was 20% more effective than the standard oral dose. Biodistribution studies indicated that 80% of the NPs accumulated in the liver, highlighting their potential for targeted drug delivery. This research demonstrates the successful development of a nanomedicine delivery system for antimalarial drugs, offering a promising strategy to enhance treatment efficacy while reducing adverse effects.

Conventional wound dressings used in trauma treatment have a single function and insufficient adaptability to the wound environment, making it difficult to meet the complex demands of the healing process. Stimuli-responsive hydrogels can respond specifically to the particular environment of the wound area and realize on-demand responsive release by loading active substances, which can effectively promote wound healing. In this paper, BC/PAA-pH responsive hydrogels (BPPRHs) were prepared by graft copolymerization of acrylic acid (AA) to the end of the molecular chain of bacterial cellulose (BC) network structure. Antibacterial pH-responsive 'smart' dressings were prepared by loading curcumin (Cur) onto the hydrogels. Surface morphology, chemical groups, crystallinity, rheological, and mechanical properties of BPPRHs were analyzed by different characterization methods. The drug release behavior under different physiological conditions and bacteriostatic properties of BPPRH-Cur dressings were also investigated. The results of structural characterization and performance studies show that the hydrogel has a three-dimensional mesh structure and can respond to wound pH in a 'smart' drug release capacity. The drug release behavior of the BPPRH-Cur dressings under different environmental conditions conformed to the logistic and Weibull kinetic models. BPPRH-Cur displayed good antimicrobial activity against common pathogens of wound infections such as E. coli, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa by destroying the cell membrane and lysing the bacterial cells. This study lays the foundation for the development of new pharmaceutical dressings with positive health, economic and social benefits.