Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition最新文献

The main focus of this study was to create a stable and efficient nanoemulsion (NE) using Callistemon citrinus essential oil (EO). Various factors affecting the NE's stability were optimized including oil %, Tween 80%, time of sonication, and its accelerated stability was examined. The research also considered the antibacterial, antifungal, and larvicidal effects of the optimized NE (B10). The optimum NE stood out for its stability, featuring a particle size of 33.15 ± 0.32 nm. Analysis via IR spectroscopy confirmed successful EO encapsulation in B10. The formulation remained stable for six months, with B10 showing significantly higher antibacterial and antifungal potency compared to the pure oil. When samples were subjected to tests against Fusarium oxysporum, B10 exhibited a MIC value of 62.5 mg/mL, whereas the pure oil showed a MIC value of 250 mg/mL. This indicates that the B10 formulation was 50 times more effective than the EO. In terms of antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, the MIC value was 0.256 mg/mL for B10 and 4 mg/mL for the EO. Also, pure oil and B10 displayed larvicidal effects against Chilo suppressalis (Walker) larvae, with B10 eliminating 95.2% of larvae in 48 h. Overall, stable and optimum C. citrinus NE with its strong antimicrobial qualities, shows promise as an effective fungicide and insecticide.

The objective of this study is to collect the significant advancements of 3D printed medical devices in the biomedical area in recent years. Especially related to a range of diseases and the polymers employed in drug administration. To address the existing limitations and constraints associated with the method used for producing 3D printed medical devices, in order to optimize their suitability for degradation. The compilation and use of research papers, reports, and patents that are relevant to the key keywords are employed to improve comprehension. According to this thorough investigation, it can be inferred that the 3D Printing method, specifically Fuse Deposition Modeling (FDM), is the most suitable and convenient approach for preparing medical devices. This study provides an analysis and summary of the development trend of 3D printed implantable medical devices, focusing on the production process, materials specially the polymers, and typical items associated with 3D printing technology. This study offers a comprehensive examination of nanocarrier research and its corresponding discoveries. The FDM method, which is already facing significant challenges in terms of achieving optimal performance and cost reduction, will experience remarkable advantages from this highly valuable technology. The objective of this analysis is to showcase the efficacy and limitations of 3D-printing applications in medical devices through thorough research, highlighting the significant technological advancements it offers. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the most recent research and discoveries on 3D-printed medical devices, offering significant insights into their study.

The objective of this study is to create a nanoemulgel formulation of Ribociclib (RIBO), a highly selective inhibitor of CDK4/6 through the utilization of spontaneous emulsification method. An experimental investigation was conducted to construct pseudo-ternary phase diagram for the most favourable formulation utilizing rice bran oil, which is known for its diverse anticancer properties. The formulation consisted of varying combination of the surfactant and as the co-surfactant (Tween 80 and Transcutol, respectively) referred to as Smix and the trials were optimized to get the desired outcome. The nanoemulsion (NE) formulations that were developed exhibited a droplet size of 179.39 nm, accompanied with a PDI of 0.211. According to the data released by Opt-RIBO-NE, it can be inferred that the Higuchi model had the most favourable fit among many kinetics models considered. The results indicate that the use of nanogel preparations for the topical delivery of RIBO in breast cancer therapy, specifically RIBO-NE-G, is viable. This is supported by the extended release of the RIBO, and the appropriate level of drug permeation observed in Opt-RIBO-NE-G. Due to RIBO and Rice Bran oil, RIBO-NE-G had greater antioxidant activity, indicating its effectiveness as antioxidants. The stability of the RIBO-NE-G was observed over a period of three months, indicating a favourable shelf life. Therefore, this study proposes the utilization of an optimized formulation of RIBO-NE-G may enhance the efficacy of anticancer treatment and mitigate the occurrence of systemic side effects in breast cancer patients, as compared to the use of suspension preparation of RIBO.

Alopecia areata (AA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by bald patches in certain areas of the body, especially the scalp. Minoxidil (MNX), as a first-line treatment of AA, effectively induces hair growth. However, oral and topical administration pose problems, including low bioavailability, risk of uncontrolled hair growth, and local side effects such as burning hair loss, and scalp irritation. In the latest research, MNX was delivered to the skin via microneedle (MN) transdermally. The MNX concentration was distributed throughout the needle so that drug penetration was reduced and had the potential to irritate. In this study, we formulated MNX into three-layer dissolving microneedles (TDMN) to increase drug penetration and avoid irritation. Physicochemical evaluation, parafilm, was used to evaluate the mechanical strength of TDMN and showed that TDMN could penetrate the stratum corneum. The ex-vivo permeation test showed that the highest average permeation result was obtained for TDMN2, namely 165.28 ± 31.87 ug/cm², while for Minoxidil cream it was 46.03 ± 8.5 ug/cm². The results of ex vivo and in vivo dermatokinetic tests showed that the amount of drug concentration remaining in the skin from the TDMN2 formula was higher compared to the cream preparation. The formula developed has no potential for irritation and toxicity based on the HET-CAM test and hemolysis test. TDMN is a promising alternative to administering MNX to overcome MNX problems and increase the effectiveness of AA therapy.

Biopolymers have the utmost significance in biomedical applications and blending synthetic polymers has shown favorable characteristics versus individual counterparts. The utilization of the blends can be restricted through the use of toxic chemical agents such as initiators or crosslinkers. In this regard, a chemical agent-free ionizing irradiation is a beneficial alternative for preparing the hydrogels for biomedical applications. In this study, carboxymethyl chitosan (CM-CS), guar gum (GG), and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) based ternary blends (TB) were crosslinked using various doses of ionizing irradiation to fabricate hydrogels. The prepared hydrogels were characterized for physicochemical properties, swelling analysis, biological assays, and drug delivery applications. Swelling analysis in distilled water revealed that the hydrogels exhibit excellent swelling characteristics. An in vitro cytocompatibility assay showed that the hydrogels have greater than 90% cell viability for the human epithelial cell line and a decreasing cell viability trend for the human alveolar adenocarcinoma cell line. In addition, the prepared hydrogels possessed excellent antibacterial characteristics against gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli). Finally, the release studies of anti-inflammatory Quercus acutissima (QA) loaded hydrogels exhibited more than 80% release in phosphate-buffered saline (pH = 7.4). These findings suggest that TB hydrogels can be used as suitable carrier media for different release systems and biomedical applications.

The main objective of this work is to synthesize multifunctional nanodendritic structural molecules that can effectively encapsulate hydrophilic as well as hydrophobic therapeutic agents. Four different types of fourth-generation lysine-citric acid based dendrimer have been synthesized in this work: PE-MC-Lys-CA-PEG, TMP-MC-Lys-CA-PEG, PE-MS-Lys-CA-PEG, and TMP-MS-Lys-CA-PEG. The antibacterial drug cefotaxime (CFTX) was further conjugated to these dendrimers. The dendrimer and drug-dendrimer conjugate structures were characterized with the help of FTIR,¹H-NMR, and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. Zeta sizer, AFM, and HR-TEM techniques were used to investigate the particle size, surface topography, and structural characteristics of drug-dendrimer conjugates. In vitro drug release was then investigated using dialysis method. Various kinetic drug release models were examined to evaluate the type of kinetic drug release mechanism of the formulations. Cytotoxicity study revealed that the dendrimers encapsulated with CFTX exhibited 2-3% toxicity against healthy epithelial cells, indicating their safe use. Plain dendrimers show 10-15% hemolytic toxicity against red blood cells (RBC), and the toxicity was reduced to 2-3% when CFTX was conjugated to the same dendrimers. The 3^rd and 4^th generation synthesized drug-dendrimer conjugates exhibit a significantly effective zone of inhibition (ZOI) against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. For Gram-positive bacteria, the lower concentration of 0.1 mg/mL showed more than 98% inhibition of drug-dendrimer conjugate samples against B. subtilis and more than 50% inhibition against S. aureus using 0.2 mg/mL, respectively. Moreover, samples with concentrations of 0.5 and 1.0 mg/mL exhibited more than 50% inhibition against S. typhimurium and E. coli, respectively.

Curcuma longa L. and Plumbago zeylanica L. are renowned for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties, primarily attributed to their polyphenolic compounds. However, the limited water solubility of these compounds poses challenges to their effective utilization. Encapsulation within phytosomes offers a solution by enhancing bioavailability and permeability. This study aimed to formulate a phytosome-based polyherbal gel incorporating methanolic extracts of P. zeylanica and C. longa to explore its potential in wound healing. Methanolic extracts of P. zeylanica roots and C. longa rhizomes were encapsulated in phytosomes using the lipid film hydration technique. Various phytosome formulations were developed and characterized for encapsulation efficiency, particle size, polydispersity index and zeta potential. The optimized phytosomal dispersion (F7) was integrated into a carbopol-based hydrogel matrix. In vitro release studies demonstrated prolonged release compared to conventional forms. Stability testing confirmed the robustness of the phytosomal gel at 4 °C/60 ± 5% RH. Wound healing activity was assessed using an excision wound model. The phytosomal gel exhibited enhanced wound contraction and reduced epithelization time compared to conventional gel and control groups, signifying its potent wound-healing effect. In conclusion, the polyherbal phytosomal gel, incorporating P. zeylanica and C. longa, holds promise in promoting wound healing, presenting a novel and effective approach in the realm of topical formulations for wound care.

This investigation examined the potential antibacterial and antidiabetic effects of wound dressings created using electrospun nanofibers containing Ziziphus jujuba fruit extract (ZJ). These nanofibers were composed of a combination of Polycaprolactone (PCL), Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA), and Polyhexamethylene Biguanide (PHMB). The process of creating these nanofibers involved electrospinning. The nanofiber products, which included PCL, PCL/PVA, PCL/PVA/ZJ, PCL/PVA/PHMB, and PCL/PVA/PHMB/ZJ, underwent a morphology, physicochemical, and biological assessment. Incorporating PHMB into the nanofibers enhanced the antibacterial properties, effectively preventing bacterial infections in wounds. Furthermore, including ZJ fruit extract in the nanofibers provided antidiabetic properties, making these dressings suitable for diabetic patients. The PCL/PVA/PHMB/ZJ combination exhibited exceptional healing capabilities and superior antibacterial efficiency in MRSA-infected wounds. The histological assay confirmed complete wound healing by day 14, accompanied by reduced inflammation. Based on these findings, using PCL/PVA/PHMB/ZJ as innovative wound dressings is recommended, as they can expedite wound healing while offering significant antidiabetic and antibacterial features. Ultimately, these electrospun nanofibers possess the potential to serve as advanced wound dressings with enhanced antibacterial and anti-diabetes properties.

In this study, a novel drug delivery system (MSN-PEG-Hypericin) was successfully fabricated using tetraethyl orthosilicate and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane as raw materials, and the PEGylation of the prepared aminated mesoporous silica and grafting of hypericin onto the carrier were further conducted to obtain MSN-PEG-Hypericin. The successful preparation of MSN-PEG-Hypericin was characterized by several physical-chemical techniques. Furthermore, the MSN-PEG-Hypericin system increased the ability of hypericin to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vitro. The cytotoxicity assay and hemolysis analysis showed that MSN-PEG-Hypericin had good biocompatibility. For antibacterial studies, the irradiation time and incubation time of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for S. aureus and E. coli were respectively 8 min and 8 h, and the concentrations of hypericin were 2.5 and 5 μg/mL. The result of triphenyl tetrazolium chloride assay indicated that MSN-PEG-Hypericin had stronger photodynamic antibacterial activity than free hypericin, and S. aureus was more sensitive to PDT than E. coli, which was related to their cell structural differences. The antibacterial mechanism study indicated that the generated ROS could destroy the bacterial structures and cause bacterial death due to the leakage of the contents. The MSN-PEG-Hypericin system prepared in this study had potential application prospects in the antibacterial field.

Baicalin (BAN) has shown promise in alleviating myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, yet its limited solubility and biocompatibility have hindered its application. Developing drug delivery systems is a promising strategy to enhance the therapeutic potential of BAN in the context of I/R injury. This study aims to prepare a BAN-loaded nanodrug system using polydopamine (PDA)-modified Zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) as a carrier, with the goal of improving BAN's mitigating effects on I/R injury. We prepared the BAN nanoparticles (NPs) system, PZB NPs, using ZIF-8 as the carrier. The system was characterized in terms of morphology, particle size, zeta potential, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). We assessed the cytotoxicity of PZB NPs in H9c2 cells, investigated its effects and mechanisms in H/R-induced H9c2 cells, and evaluated its ability to alleviate myocardial I/R injury in rats. PZB NPs exhibited good dispersion, with a BAN loading efficiency of 26.43 ± 1.55%, a hydrated particle size of 102.21 ± 1.19 nm, and a zeta potential of -24.84 ± 0.07 mV. It displayed slow and sustained drug release in an acidic environment (pH 5.5). In vitro studies revealed that PZB NPs was non-cytotoxic and significantly enhanced the recovery of H/R injury H9c2 cell viability. PZB NPs suppressed cell apoptosis, activated the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, and cleared ROS. In vivo study demonstrated that PZB NPs significantly reduced infarct size, ameliorated fibrosis and improved heart function. The PZB NPs markedly enhances BAN's ability to alleviate I/R injury, both in vitro and in vivo, offering a promising drug delivery system for clinical applications.