Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine最新文献

Orthodontic therapy utilizing fixed equipment frequently results in heightened plaque accumulation, which can cause enamel demineralization and periodontal issues. Recent breakthroughs in surface coating technology have brought various antimicrobial techniques designed to diminish bacterial adherence and biofilm formation on orthodontic components. This study thoroughly examines many types of antibacterial coatings, including metallic nanoparticles (such as silver, zinc, and titanium), polymeric layers, carbon-based materials, and bioactive chemicals, emphasizing their modes of action, microbial targets, and therapeutic significance. Silver-based coatings are among the most thoroughly researched due to their continuous ion release and broad-spectrum antibacterial effectiveness. Photocatalytic titanium dioxide and synergistic composite coatings demonstrate promising outcomes under particular activation conditions. The review examines biocompatibility concerns, long-term durability, and the limitations of existing methodologies, while suggesting future research avenues to connect laboratory innovations with clinical applications. The surface modification of orthodontic equipment offers a practical approach to reducing oral health hazards associated with therapy and improving patient outcomes.

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Background

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) poses a significant clinical challenge, often resulting in incomplete functional recovery. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a multifunctional neural guidance conduit combining electrospun PCL/collagen scaffolds with a collagen hydrogel incorporating vinpocetine-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (VINCNPs) and menstrual blood-derived stem cells (MenSCs).

Methods

Electrospun PCL/collagen scaffolds loaded with bioactive collagen hydrogel containing VINCNPs and MenSCs (HYDVINMEN) were prepared. The scaffold-hydrogel constructs were evaluated for physicochemical, mechanical and biological properties in vitro, including cell viability and hemocompatibility. In vivo recovery of motor and sensory function, preservation of muscle, axonal regeneration, and inflammatory and neurotrophic responses were assessed in a rat sciatic nerve transection model.

Results

Nanocarriers achieved a cumulative drug release of 63.37 ± 5.05% at 168 h. Tensile strength analysis showed that PCL/collagen scaffolds had around 3.387 ± 0.434 MPa of ultimate tensile strength. HYDVINMEN group showed better cell viability, swelling and degradation control, and low hemolytic activity. In vivo study of this group showed better sciatic nerve regeneration, functional recovery, reduced muscle atrophy, more myelination, and overall a good modulation in inflammatory cytokines and neurotrophic factors as compared to other experimental groups.

Conclusion

The combinatorial application of VINCNPs and MenSCs in a PCL/collagen scaffold was able to support peripheral nerve regeneration and functional recovery. The bioengineered construct presented an alternative therapeutic strategy to autografts in the treatment of PNI that merits further study for clinical translation.

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We review the utilization of chitosan-based nanogels as advanced vehicles for dermal drug delivery. Dermal delivery allows local treatment with a simple application for the patient, while also providing an alternative route that avoids gastrointestinal degradation and first-pass metabolism to help reduce doses and systemic side effects. Nanogels are nanoscale hydrogel networks that preserve the drug-loading capacity and tunable release characteristics of hydrogels, while retaining the colloidal stability of nanoparticles. The addition of chitosan into nanogels provides bioadhesive and permeability-enhancing characteristics; for example, chitosan’s positive charge promotes adhesion to negatively charged skin and can transiently open tight junctions to improve uptake of drugs. Chitosan nanogels exhibit higher drug encapsulation efficiency and more controlled release than conventional topical or bulk gels, and improved penetration into biological membranes due to their small size and surface charge. Chitosan nanogels can be prepared by various methods, including via ionic gelation (electrostatic crosslinking), emulsification (with emulsion polymerization), self-assembly, and radical (covalent) polymerization. These systems have been investigated in dermatology, skin care, cosmetics, and dermal cancer therapy. Overall, chitosan nanogels represent a unique and versatile platform in which mucoadhesion, biocompatibility, and permeation enhancement can collectively improve the efficacy and safety of topical and transdermal therapies.

Orthopedic osteosarcomas and metastatic lesions can be difficult to treat with systemically delivered chemotherapy agents alone. Following removal of the primary tumor, implantation of cement to fill the lesion is often done to stabilize weight-bearing bones. One of the commonly used treatments to address osteosarcoma is systemic delivery of doxorubicin. Therefore, research on the incorporation and release of efficacious doxorubicin for local delivery from cement is important. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-based bone cements are the gold standard in orthopedics but have inherent disadvantages. Efforts to overcome some of these deficiencies led to the development of a novel silorane-based biomaterial (SBB). This work evaluated the ability of both PMMA and SBB to incorporate and release efficacious doxorubicin. PMMA-released doxorubicin showed reduced chemotherapeutic efficacy in vitro. The mechanical properties of PMMA were reduced from controls upon doxorubicin incorporation, likely stemming from doxorubicin inhibition of PMMA radical polymerization. SBB properties were not affected by doxorubicin incorporation and SBB eluted doxorubicin was fully efficacious in vitro compared to doxorubicin controls. These results indicate a likely inhibitory interaction between PMMA and doxorubicin, which affects both the strength of PMMA and the efficacy of doxorubicin. Further, this work illustrates SBB as a potential biomaterial alternative for traditional acrylics for medical biomaterial applications where load-bearing strength alongside drug delivery are key factors.

Virus-like particle (VLP) holds great promise for applications in vaccines and tumor immunotherapy. However, their clinical translation has been limited by a lack of comprehensive in vivo studies on immune responses and antigenic toxicity. In this study, we systematically evaluated the efficacy and safety of VLP as immunological agents. We administered Simian Virus 40 (SV40) VLP through subcutaneous injection and analyzed their effects on immune cell populations in key organs. In vivo imaging of mice demonstrated the migration of SV40 VLP between lymph nodes. Flow cytometry revealed that SV40 VLP significantly increased the numbers of CD4⁺ T cells and NK cells in the spleen, along with elevated levels of CD4⁺ T cells in mesenteric lymph nodes. Moreover, SV40 VLP did not significantly affect immune cell populations in the lungs, liver, or kidneys, nor did they alter blood biochemistry or coagulation parameters. Although SV40 VLP alone did not exhibit tumor-treating effects, in vitro imaging suggest that SV40 VLP can target tumor tissues and and quantitative analysis showed SV40 VLP significantly increased TNF-α expression in spleen. These findings suggest that SV40 VLP represent a promising tumor immunotherapy vector with potential for further modification.

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This study focuses on the design, production and testing of a micropatterned PDMS surface, featuring micropillars and microchannels to study the regeneration of individual axons of PC12 nerve cells after injury. Micropillar organization on the surface was designed to restrict the PC12 cell bodies while axons were guided into microchannels, allowing observation of individual axons. Surfaces were coated with poly(L-lysine) to improve cell attachment and proliferation. Netrin-1, a chemoattractant molecule and axonal elongation enhancer, was introduced in a gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogel carrier at the opposite end of the channels. Schwann cells (SC) were co-cultured with PC12 cells to enhance axon extension. MTT and Live-Dead assays showed 90% viability of the PC12 and Schwann cells on surfaces. The average PC12 axon length in the channels was 51 ± 19 μm; which increased to 75 ± 16 μm and 177 ± 31 μm upon co-culture with Schwann cells and Netrin-1 incorporation along with co-culturing, respectively, showing their synergistic effect on axon elongation. To study axon damage and regeneration processes, PC12 axons extended into the microchannels were cut using a microtome blade. An increase in the expression of injury markers ATF3, GFAP and S100β was observed after the injury with confocal microscopy, and their decrease from days 14 to 21 indicated the initiation of axon regeneration. The platform consisting of patterned PDMS surface, Schwann cells and Netrin-1 holds potential as a valuable tool for nerve damage and repair studies, and for in vitro testing of novel nerve tissue engineering strategies.

Rib cage reconstruction is critical for maintaining chest rigidity, protecting intrathoracic organs, and preserving vital physiological functions. Although titanium has traditionally been used for reconstruction due to its mechanical strength and biocompatibility, its limitations have prompted the search for alternative materials. The finite element method (FEM) is widely used to assess implant performance through stress analysis, while advances in artificial intelligence (AI) now allow the integration of FEM with predictive modeling to efficiently estimate mechanical responses. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using PEEK and PEEK composites as alternatives to metallic implants for rib reconstruction and to develop AI models capable of predicting stresses, strains, and deformations. Customized 3D models of a defective chest were reconstructed with implants made from PEEK, carbon fiber-reinforced PEEK (CFP), glass fiber-reinforced PEEK (GFP), and hydroxyapatite PEEK (HAP) as alternatives to titanium. FEM simulations were performed under lateral impact and sternal forces to extract mechanical responses, generating a comprehensive dataset used to train machine learning and deep learning regression models, including Linear Regression, Ridge Regression, Support Vector Regression, Decision Trees, Neural Networks, and LightGBM. Model performance was evaluated using R², MAE, MSE, RMSE, and computational efficiency. Results indicated that CFP 60% implants produced the lowest stress and strain levels on ribs and lungs, whereas pure PEEK and HAP 30% implants exhibited higher levels. GFP 30% and HAP 60% implants distributed tensile and compressive stresses similarly, though HAP 60% implants were prone to fracture due to excessive tensile stresses. AI models trained on FEM data achieved over 99.9% accuracy, demonstrating both predictive reliability and computational efficiency. These findings suggest that CFP (30% & 60%) and GFP (30% & 60%) composites are promising alternatives to titanium for rib reconstruction, and that integrating FEM with AI-based regression models can significantly optimize implant evaluation and design.

Transdermal drug delivery presents an appealing alternative to traditional administration methods like oral and injection routes, as it circumvents first-pass metabolism, minimizes pain and infection risks, and enhances patient compliance. Nonetheless, the skin barrier remains a significant obstacle to delivering most medications through the skin. Microneedles (MNs) represent an innovative technology that can address this issue by forming tiny pores in the skin, facilitating the transport of drugs or biomolecules. MNs are manufactured from various materials and come in different designs and classifications. They can also be activated by external stimuli, such as near-infrared (NIR) light, which excels over other light types for this application due to its deeper tissue penetration, allowing for on-demand and precise temporal drug delivery. This review primarily concentrates on NIR light-controlled MNs, which respond to NIR light exposure to release drugs. Here, the fundamental concepts and mechanisms behind NIR light-controlled MNs are introduced, which utilize NIR light-sensitive materials or devices that alter their properties or functions in response to NIR light exposure. Benefits and difficulties associated with NIR light-controlled MNs, such as their extensive penetration capability, low toxicity, and accurate control, are examined. The potential for integrating NIR light-controlled MNs with other therapeutic strategies to boost their efficacy will be investigated. Recent advancements and applications of NIR light-controlled MNs in diverse areas, including diabetes management, cancer therapy, and wound healing, are reviewed. Finally, the future directions for their application will be addressed.

Chronic venous disease (CVD) is a prevalent condition affecting the venous system of the lower limbs, characterized by venous hypertension and regurgitation resulting from congenital or acquired venous valve insufficiency. The global morbidity of CVD is as high as 69.94%. Prosthetic venous valve replacement provides a new therapeutic option. However, to mimic natural venous valves, the leaflets of prosthetic venous valves need to be as thin as ~200 μm, and better resistance to thrombosis is required due to the physiological characteristics of the venous system. Identifying suitable materials for the venous system is critical for the creation of prosthetic venous valves. Fish swim bladders have proper mechanical strength, durability and biocompatibility, making them one of the possible biomaterials for application in CVD. For the blood contact safety in the application of chronic venous disease, in vitro and in vivo studies were used to evaluate the blood compatibility, as specified in ISO 10993-4. The results showed that the swim bladder was comparable to the commercially available ePTFE material in the venous system and has the potential to be a raw material source for the development of medical devices for CVD.

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