Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition最新文献

The phytochemicals offer enormous therapeutic promise for treating a variety of illnesses, without serious side effects. Every country is resorting to self-medication in the form of herbal medicines in an effort to obtain healthcare beyond the conventional bounds of modern medicine. Bioavailability and site-specific targeting are the only factors that determine its effectiveness. Poor absorption rate of phytoconstituents is due to low lipid solubility, large molecular weight, and presence of multi-ring polyphenols in their structures. A combination of solid and liquid lipids in an appropriate ratio becomes nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) that overcomes the limitations of poor absorption. In this review, NLC containing various phytoconstituents are overviewed with special emphasis on methods of preparation, various examples of solid and liquid lipids and outcomes which improved absorptions, bioavailability, minimum particle size, appropriate polydispersibility index and entrapment efficiencies. So, to encourage their continued usage in the future, this study will give a synopsis of the present status of NLCs containing phytoconstituents, including their formulations, modern processes, and uses in oral drug administration.

In this study, we fabricated composite scaffolds containing micro-fibrillated cellulose (MFC), chitosan (CS), and hydroxyapatite (HAp) were fabricated using the freeze-drying technique. N-Boc-L-cysteine methyl ester (NBLCME) was synthesized and incorporated into the composite scaffold (CS/MFC/HAp) at different concentrations (20-100µg/ml). The composite scaffolds were characterized by SEM and FTIR results. Interconnected porous structure showed that the scaffolds had 80-90% porosity with a pore diameter range of 100-450µm and fiber lengths of 6.1 -11.87 µm. FTIR analysis confirmed the interaction between CS/MFC/HAp and NBLCME. The treated scaffolds exhibited sustained drug delivery following Fickian diffusion behavior (n ≤ 0.45). The biological study of treated scaffolds on human osteosarcoma cells (MG63 cell line) was evaluated by examining cell viability, ALP, ARS activities, and cell adhesion. The cytotoxicity of the treated scaffolds showed no cytotoxic effects on the MG63 cell line. ALP and ARS activities showed significantly enhanced phosphate and calcium deposition on the scaffold. Taken together, the result suggested that the fabricated composite scaffold (CS/MFC/HAp) incorporated with NBLCME showed excellent properties and its potential for bone-related applications.

Breast cancer has high mortality rate among women. Though paclitaxel is one of the important drugs used, but frequent use will lead to drug resistance. Nuclear factor kappa B (NFƘB) a transcription factor will be up regulated with frequent use of paclitaxel, and this increases drug resistance in cancer cells. Usage of curcumin will down regulate the NFƘB and using both the drugs in combination with different mechanisms of action has shown synergistic effects and reduces NFƘB expression in cancer cells. To reduce the systemic toxicity, low intracellular uptake and low bioavailability, nano-based therapeutics were used. To improve the targeting ability of the drug to the cancer cells, Hyaluronic acid (HA) is used as a targeting moiety on the surface of the nanoparticles (NP). The study focuses on formulating a Hyaluronic acid (HA) surface functionalized Poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) encapsulated with Paclitaxel (PTX) or Curcumin (CUR) to target CD44v expressed on breast cancer cells. HA surface functionalized NPs encapsulated with only PTX or in combination with CUR were treated against MCF-7 breast cancer cells. We found that HA surface functionalized NPs with combination of PTX and CUR has substantially increased cytotoxicity compared to non-surface functionalized NPs and free drugs and 2.5-fold increased cellular uptake of NPs compared to free drugs. We also found that NFKB activity reduces significantly with the use of CUR with PTX. From the results, we can conclude that combination of drugs in HA surface functionalized NPs will be useful for breast cancer therapy.

Tumor cells usually highly expressed reducing glutathione that can break out disulfide bond. In this article, a novel cyclodextrin-containing thermo/redox dual-responsive polymer, PNIPAM-SS-β-CD, was synthesized by copolymerization between monomers of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and mono-methacrylated β-cyclodextrin mediated by disulfide bond (MA-SS-β-CD). The dual- responsive polymer has a weight-average molecular weight (M_w) of 53.75 kDa with 45.5 wt% β-CD content, and the polymerization degree ratio of the two structural units form NIPAM and MA-SS-β-CD in the polymer is about 9.26. The polymer can dissolve in water to form hydrogel with a regulating phase transition temperature from 33 to 36 °C. Cytotoxicity assays and hemolysis tests respectively demonstrated over 95% cell viability and no significant hemolytic activity, indicating its superior biocompatibility. Curcumin was used as a model to evaluate drug loading and in vitro release behavior of the thermo/redox dual-responsive polymer. It was revealed that the copolymer (PNIPAM-SS-β-CD) shows a 5.5 folds higher loaded amount and a slower drug release over 24 h than that of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM). Notably, the polymer exhibited rapid drug release through disulfide bond cleavage in response to reduced glutathione (GSH, 3 mM), highlighting its potential for targeted cancer therapy.

Nanofibers have been investigated for the possible topical delivery of medicines, one of the nanostructure-based drug delivery strategies produced by nanotechnology. Filaments or thread-like structures in the nanometer size range are called nanofibers, and they are made from a variety of polymers, including synthetic and natural polymers, or a combination of both. The polymers, preparation methods, and design specifications all affect the nanofibers' diameter or size. When creating nanofibers, the four main processing methods phase separation, self-assembly, template synthesis, and electrospinning are most frequently employed. The morphology and characterization parameters of nanofibers require a multimethod approach due to their unique structure. Large-scale manufacturing of nanofibers with the required qualities is still problematic, though, because popular electrospinning techniques have drawbacks like low yield, high voltage requirements, and trouble accomplishing in situ nanofiber deposition on different substrates. This study focuses on the latest clinical trials, applications, production techniques, and patents of nanofibers for vitiligo. They are becoming more popular as drug delivery vehicles, and the skin's enormous surface area makes it a potentially effective method for topical medication solutions for a variety of skin conditions, including vitiligo, psoriasis, skin cancer, wounds, bacterial and fungal infections, etc.

ABSTARCTPeriosteum plays an important role in the growth and regeneration of bone tissue. The development of artificial periosteum has attracted researchers' interest. Based on the sensitivity of bone tissue to electrical stimulation (ES), the development of electroconductive artificial periosteum is particularly crucial. In this study, an electroconductive liquid metal (LM) based artificial periosteum scaffold was prepared. The effect of the electroconductive artificial periosteum combined with ES on the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) was explored. Furthermore, the electroconductive artificial periosteum was coated on the surface of decellularized bone matrix (DBM) to prepare the electroconductive bone repair scaffold. The effect of electroconductive bone repair scaffold combined with ES on the repair of large bone defects was explored in a rabbit radial defects model. The results indicated that the electroconductive artificial periosteum demonstrated favorable biocompatibility and, when combined with ES, could enhance the osteogenic differentiation of BM-MSCs. The electroconductive bone repair scaffold combined with ES could promote the bone integration and bone regeneration of large bone defects. This study is expected to provide meaningful reference for the application of LM based electroconductive periosteum in bone regenerations.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurological disorder and the predominant form of dementia among the elderly. Berberine (BBR) is an approved drug for Alzheimer's disease (AD) that has demonstrated a substantial improvement in cognitive function, proficient management of neurobehavioral symptoms, and enhancement of performance in vital everyday activities. Nonetheless, the adverse effects of the drug encompass vomiting and nausea, considerable variations in blood concentrations, and inadequate patient adherence. Consequently, the primary objectives are to optimize the administration method and enhance therapeutic efficiency. Hence, we suggest utilizing a hierarchical hydrogel (HGL)-incorporated mesoporous silica nanocarrier (MSN) to incorporate BBR, aiming to reduce adverse effects in the stomach. These hydrogels facilitate the gradual release of drugs at a rate of 62% over a prolonged duration, aiming to decrease dose frequency, optimize the efficacy of drug administrations, and improve patient adherence. Due to these characteristics, drug-encapsulating MSN-BBR hydrogels can facilitate optimal drug administration and have developed into superior options for Alzheimer's disease therapy, with innovation promising effective treatment.

Diabetes is still a global health crisis characterized by progressive dysfunction of the β-cells, insulin resistance and metabolic dysregulation. Classical pharmacotherapies have the benefit of symptomatic control without long-term metabolic reprogramming. The convergence of nanotechnology and gene modulation- here termed nanogenetics- a precise, durable way to reprogram glucose-homeostasis pathways. This critical review outlines the mechanistic foundations of nanogenetic interventions in the β-cells, hepatocytes, adipose tissue, and immune-metabolic interfaces. We offer an advanced taxonomy of nanoscale platforms (lipid, polymeric, inorganic, exosomal, and stimuli-responsive carriers) in combination with gene-editing modalities (RNA interference, CRISPR, epigenome editing, and synthetic gene circuits). The mapping of translational pipelines between In vitro organoids and humanized models to current clinical trials is done keeping in mind delivery issues, safety, manufacturing requirements and ethical aspects. Mechanistic insights are further improved with multi-omics profiling, high-end imaging, and computational digital twins. Through technological innovations and translational breakthroughs, a procession of nanogenetics-based long-term remission- and, eventually, curative interventions against diabetes is outlined.

Catheter-associated infections (CAIs) remain a significant healthcare challenge, driven by biofilm formation, antimicrobial resistance, and design limitations of conventional catheters. While coatings and sterilization methods have advanced, long-term infection prevention is often inadequate. This scoping review, conducted using PRISMA-ScR guidelines, analyzed 36 peer-reviewed studies selected from 545 records retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Eight innovation domains were identified: 3D printing technologies, antimicrobial coatings, surface engineering, biodegradable materials, AI-assisted design, sterilization compatibility, regulatory challenges, and economic feasibility. Findings indicate that 3D-printed catheters can integrate personalized geometries, targeted antimicrobial delivery, and improved biocompatibility. However, clinical adoption is hindered by methodological heterogeneity, limited long-term trials, and regulatory barriers. This review underscores the transformative potential of 3D printing in catheter design and infection control, while emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, standardized evaluation, and robust regulatory frameworks to translate laboratory innovations into real-world healthcare solutions.

As an interdisciplinary discipline bridging medicine and engineering, Biomaterials have garnered increasing research attention in recent years, with evolving research hotspots. This study analyzed 122,146 publications in Biomaterials from the Web of Science Core Collection database using VOSviewer software for bibliometric analysis over the past 20 years. Results revealed sustained rapid growth in publications, with China and the United States of America as leading contributors, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences consistently ranking as the top institution. Keyword analysis demonstrated a thematic evolution: the first phase focused on technological exploration topic like 'tissue engineering', 'hydrogels', 'nanoparticles', while the second phase emphasized application-oriented topics like 'antibacterial' and 'wound healing', highlighting the discipline's shift from fundamental research to practical medical applications. The findings can delineate developmental trajectories and emerging frontiers in Biomaterials, offering empirical insights for researchers to identify trends and guide future directions in the discipline.