Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine最新文献

High efficiency of anti-inflammatories for anti-inflammatory drugs has enormous room for improvement, aiming to reduce side effects. Herein, molecular-modified biomimetic mesoporous silica xerogel was applied to establish a superior carrier for delivering nimesulide (NMS). Small molecules of chiral threonine and chiral malic acid, as well as a polymer of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose K250 (HPMC), were used to respectively obtain LT-MSX, DT-MSX, LM-MSX, DM-MSX, BMSX, L-BMSX, M-BMSX, and H-BMSX. Morphology and porous structure of the obtained carriers were analyzed, and properties of NMS-loaded carriers were studied by focusing on drug crystal form and molecule interactions. In vitro carrier degradation and drug release, as well as in vivo anti-inflammatory effects of drug-loaded carriers, were evaluated. The results demonstrated that the addition of molecules significantly impacted the porous properties of carriers. In addition, all these carriers improved drug release by converting the drug crystal form to an amorphous state. The swelling inhibition rate of NMS-loaded LT-MSX and NMS-loaded DT-MSX was the best, owing to their fast drug release and silica degradation, which can be of great value for the application of anti-inflammatory drugs.

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The study aims to develop a composite coating for magnesium aluminum alloy (MA) to improve its corrosion/infection resistance. MA was coated with carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) and nano-hydroxyapatite (HA) through electrophoretic deposition, followed by the deposition of vancomycin-loaded polymer nanoparticles to obtain the ternary composite coating alloy (VAN@PLGA/HA/CMCS-MA). In simulated body fluid (SBF), the average corrosion rate of the coating alloy was 0.27 ± 0.03 mg/cm⁻¹/day⁻¹, while maintaining a pH level of approximately 7.2, indicating that the composite coatings effectively mitigated erosion in SBF and ensured a stable physiological pH. In vitro antibacterial experiments showed that VAN@PLGA/HA/CMCS-MA exhibited enhanced antibacterial activity against staphylococcus aureus and enterococcus faecalis compared to single MA owing to sustained antibiotic release. Furthermore, the composite coating promoted alkaline phosphatase activity and induced extracellular Ca²⁺ mineralization, suggesting good bone-promoting ability of the alloy. Finally, the biocompatibility studies confirmed that the composite coating could reduce mild toxicity of the alloy following corrosion, resulting in enhanced cell viability and reduced hemolysis rate. Overall, the ternary composite alloy coating delayed MA degradation and provided long-term effective corrosion/infection resistance.

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Mechanical compatibility is a major challenge in designing orbital bone scaffolds, which involving material selection, structural design and fabrication processes. In this study, a novel impact model database containing essential components involved in tissue engineering repair of orbital fracture was established for finite element analysis (FEA). The mechanical compatibility between various pattern-designed scaffold and the orbital bone defect site was tested to raise the optimized square pattern filled scaffold for the subsequent study. Based on the optimized structure, 3D printed bone scaffolds with different β-TCP contents were fabricated. It was confirmed that the composite scaffold containing 30% β-TCP and 70% polycaprolactone (PCL@30TCP) demonstrated significantly enhanced hydrophilicity, mechanical strength, water absorption, and accelerated degradation relative to other groups (p < 0.05). In vitro evaluations confirmed the significant advantages in cytocompatibility and osteogenic activity of PCL@30TCP scaffold (p < 0.05). Furthermore, rabbit orbital defect repair experiments demonstrated that the 3D-printed PCL@30TCP scaffold markedly promoted osteogenesis at the defect site through three synergistic mechanisms: enhancing neo-bone formation and maturation, guiding tissue growth into the interior structure of scaffold, and obviously upregulating bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) and osteocalcin (OCN) expression (p < 0.05). Importantly, comprehensive biosafety assessments validated the clinical applicability of the PCL@30TCP scaffold. These findings indicate that the square-patterned PCL@30TCP 3D-printed scaffold exhibits exceptional osteogenic performance both in vitro and in vivo, demonstrating clinical potential for orbital bone defect repair.

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The use of targeted drug delivery systems to accumulate medications in cancer cells, along with the simultaneous application of multiple drugs, can facilitate the administration of optimal doses, leading to more efficient treatment as well as reduced side effects. We fabricated zirconium-based UiO-66-NH₂ metal-organic framework (MOF) nanoparticles (NPs) with folic acid (FA) conjugated onto their surface for targeted delivery of doxorubicin (DOX), and smart drug release within tumor cells. Following the physicochemical characterization of the prepared NPs, the drug release profile was investigated in simulated media with pH 5.4 and 7.4. Subsequently, the internalization and anticancer effects of the NPs were evaluated in HT-29 and HEK-293 cells to assess their selectivity. Simultaneous treatment of HT-29 cells with FA-decorated NPs and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), an autophagy inhibitor, was performed to sensitize cancer cells. The synergistic effects of combined treatment were assessed through MTT assay and autophagy flux detection. UiO-66-NH₂-FA@DOX NPs with a surface area of 323 m²/g and a high loading capacity of 36.25% showed a pH-dependent release with a substantial increase in acidic condition. Higher uptake of targeted NPs in HT-29 cells led to higher cytotoxicity and apoptosis. The combination of HCQ and targeted NPs increased cytotoxic effects against HT-29 cells compared to treatment with targeted NPs alone. Acridine orange staining revealed different patterns of autophagy flux in the co-administered drug groups. This study suggests that our DOX-loaded targeted nanocarrier enhances the therapeutic efficacy through localized drug delivery and reduced potential side effects compared to conventional DOX treatment. Its combination with HCQ may offer a promising strategy for safer and more effective colorectal cancer therapy by enabling dose reduction of both agents. However, further in vivo studies are necessary to validate these findings.

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This study aimed to develop a versatile aptamer-conjugated, photothermal responsive camptothecin (CPT)-loaded chitosan-bimetallic (Pd/Au) nanoparticles (Ap-CH-CPT-Pd/Au NPs) to enhance cytotoxicity in lung cancerous NCI-H446 and H1299 cells. The CH-CPT-Pd/Au NPs exhibited polydispersity with a diameter of 33.87 ± 2.23 nm. FTIR investigation revealed the presence of chitosan and camptothecin in chitosan-camptothecin-palladium/gold nanoparticles. The 2θ of CH-CPT-Pd/Au corresponded to chitosan and palladium/gold. The Ap-CH-CPT-Pd/Au NPs (180 μg/mL) subjected to near-infrared (NIR) treatment elevated the temperature to over 50 °C. The optimum CPT concentration was 0.075% in CH-CPT-Pd/Au, demonstrating a hydrodynamic diameter of 113.12 ± 16.78 nm, a drug loading efficiency (DLE) of 10.89 ± 0.53%, and a drug encapsulation efficiency (DEE) of 63.97 ± 4.21%. A CPT release rate of 7.23 ± 3.25% was recorded at pH = 5.4 after 74 h. In addition, NIR+Ap-CH-CPT-Pd/Au NPs exhibited negligible toxicity to red blood cells (RBCs). However, enhanced cytotoxicity in NCI-H446 and H1299 lung carcinoma cells is achieved through the induction of oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan and is essential in biomedical research due to its distinct properties, compatibility with biological tissues, and functions in preserving tissue hydration, lubrication, and the integrity of the extracellular matrix, a significance recognized since 1934. Its capability to develop hydrogels and react to environmental factors has provided it a strong factor for drug delivery, tissue engineering, and wound healing uses. This review emphasizes the various biomedical uses of HA-based materials, focusing on their functions in cancer treatment, wound healing, inflammation control, antibacterial properties, and antioxidant functions. In cancer treatment, HA-functionalized nanoparticles improve the targeted drug delivery by using the additional presence of CD44 receptors in cancer cells. HA-based hydrogels have demonstrated significant potential in advancing wound healing by regulating inflammatory responses, enhancing angiogenesis, and participating in the extracellular matrix remodeling. Moreover, HA’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant characteristics have been utilized in the treatment of chronic inflammatory conditions including osteoarthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. The recent developments in HA-based materials have also demonstrated their promise in antibacterial applications, diabetes control, and in treating cardiovascular and neurological conditions. The advancement of HA-based intelligent drug delivery systems and bioactive scaffolds is ongoing, presenting new treatment options for tissue repair and disease management. This review emphasizes the diverse functions of HA in both health and disease, showcasing its capacity to tackle various medical issues through cutting-edge biomedical applications.

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In recent years, magnesium alloys and their composites, a new generation of biodegradable metals, have become biomedical materials for orthopedic bone implants because of their adequate strength and high biocompatibility. Good biocompatible material should lead to low cytotoxicity, hemolysis, bleeding, and inflammation and must not be at risk for carcinogenic reactions. The medical equipment was tested for cell growth, reproduction, and morphology using in vitro tissue cells in the cytotoxicity test. This research examines the cytotoxicity of a Mg-1%Sn-2%HA composite, produced using powder metallurgy methods, utilizing an in vitro mammalian cell culture system in accordance with ISO 10993-5 criteria. Extracts were generated utilizing the elution technique in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS) and evaluated on L-929 mouse fibroblast cells. The cells were cultured at 37 °C with 5% CO₂ for 7 days, after incubation, the monolayers were evaluated microscopically for aberrant cell morphology and degeneration, followed by quantitative cell toxicity using the MTT method. The results indicated a high cell viability of 71.51% with the undiluted extract preparation, confirming the non-cytotoxic properties of the Mg-1%Sn-2%HA composite. Furthermore, cell viability improved with dilution, attaining 84.93%, 93.20%, and 96.52% at concentration of 50%, 25%, and 12.5%, respectively. No notable morphological alterations or indications of cellular deterioration were seen. The results support the viability of the Mg-1%Sn-2%HA composite as a biodegradable material for orthopedic applications. The research offers essential insights into the formulation and assessment of magnesium-based biomaterials for enhanced safety and efficacy in medical implants. The novelty of this study lies in combining a critical review of cytotoxicity evaluation methods with an experimental investigation of Mg-1%Sn-2%HA composite. This work is the first to systematically evaluate the cytotoxicity of Mg-1%Sn-2%HA composite, thereby filling a key research gap. Unlike earlier reports that focused solely on Mg-Sn alloys or Mg-HA composites, this work integrates both alloying and reinforcement strategies, thereby offering new insights into their collective role in biocompatibility assessment.

The study presents a novel high focus laser scanning (HFLS) system, which integrates the advantages of conventional equipment, and demonstrates its superiority. The biological functions of biomaterial surfaces modified using HFLS were investigated. The advantages of HFLS, including ease of use, processing speed, and precision, were validated via morphological analyses such as microscopy, and surface characterization techniques such as contact angle measurements. The material surfaces were modified into the ‘Line’ and the ‘Grid’ shapes to facilitate further investigations on cellular response and drug delivery. Cell adhesion, migration, and proliferation were examined to investigate cellular responses to HFLS-modified material surfaces. To evaluate the functionality of HFLS-modified materials as drug carriers, prednisolone (PDS) holding capacity, drug release, platelet adhesion, and western blot analysis for inflammatory cytokines were performed. Compared with conventional methods, HFLS processing proved to be faster and more precise, enabling easy modification of materials into hydrophilic (the Line) or hydrophobic (the Grid) surfaces. The highest contact angle (158.63° ± 1.26) was observed for surfaces processed with a 50 µm wave size. Cell culture medium spread across nearly the entire surface on the Line compared to the control, whereas minimal spread was observed on the Grid. These results align with those of cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, and platelet adhesion assays. Moreover, HFLS-modified materials demonstrated increased PDS retention, with PDS release occurring in a controlled manner rather than disappearance due to rapidly drug eluted. The released PDS maintained an anti-inflammatory effect, reducing the expression of cytokines associated with M1 macrophages. The laser system presented in this study proposes a promising approach for enhancing tissue engineering applications, including surface morphology modification, cytocompatibility improvement, and efficient drug delivery. Additionally, it holds potential for clinical accessibility as an equipment owing to its versatility.

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Wound-healing remains a significant challenge in regenerative medicine, necessitating the development of advanced biomaterials with enhanced bioactivity and therapeutic potential. In this study, we synthesized a biocompatible zinc oxide nanoflower (ZnO NF)-infused chitosan/alginate/polyvinyl alcohol (Cs/Alg/PVA) nanocomposite for accelerated skin regeneration. ZnO NFs were synthesized via a green approach using gallic acid and ascorbic acid, yielding nanostructures with high stability and bioactive properties. The physicochemical characterization confirmed the successful formation of ZnO NFs, exhibiting a flower-like morphology. The synthesized ZnO NF-loaded Cs/Alg/PVA nanocomposite demonstrated superior swelling capacity, controlled ZnO NF release, and enhanced mechanical stability. In vitro biocompatibility studies using HDF and L929 cell lines revealed non-cytotoxic behavior and significant proliferation enhancement. Hemocompatibility assessments confirmed very minimal hemolytic activity, indicating excellent blood compatibility. In vivo, wound healing studies in a murine model demonstrated accelerated wound closure, enhanced angiogenesis, reduced inflammation, and improved collagen deposition in ZnO NF-treated groups compared to controls. Histopathological analyses further validated the superior regenerative potential of the nanocomposite. These findings highlight the promising applications of ZnO NFs-based biopolymers in advanced wound dressings, offering a multifunctional platform for tissue engineering and skin regeneration.