Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine最新文献

Melanoma is an aggressive malignancy that requires novel treatment strategies. Herein, we developed a multi-walled carbon nanotube-based nanoplatform (MWCNTs/HSA-DOX) co-loaded with human serum albumin and doxorubicin for combinatorial therapy. The nanocomplexes served as highly effective photothermal agents, elevating the temperature to 52.8 °C upon NIR irradiation, and also displayed pH-sensitive drug release. In vitro studies against B16F10 melanoma cells demonstrated potent synergistic effects: the system achieved significant cell killing (viability <50% at 50 μg/mL) and promoted marked apoptosis, as evidenced by the profound upregulation of key pro-apoptotic proteins (caspase-3: 1.85-fold; Bax: 2.26-fold) and downregulation of Bcl-2 (0.44-fold). Our work highlights MWCNTs/HSA-DOX as a promising nanomedicine that successfully integrates photothermal ablation with controlled chemotherapy to trigger enhanced apoptotic death in melanoma cells.

Biomaterials based on carbohydrate polymers, particularly modified polysaccharides, are gaining attention for cancer treatment due to their diverse properties and performance in clinical applications. While research on polysaccharides like chitosan and alginate is abundant, studies on chemically functionalized derivatives are limited. These derivatives, such as fucoidan, sulfated polysaccharides from brown seaweeds, offer minimal side effects and suitable drug release profiles. Fucoidan exhibits various biological activities, including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects, making it a promising candidate for cancer diagnosis and therapy. This review is the first to comprehensively explore the applications of fucoidan in combating cancer, focusing on its ability to inhibit tumor growth, induce cell death, and modify the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, the review discusses nanostructured chemically modified fucoidan-based biomaterials, which show potential for hydrogel engineering and enhanced drug delivery systems. These advancements highlight the significance of chemical modifications and mechanistic insights into targeted drug delivery and controlled release rates. Incorporating fucoidan into nanocarriers improves its biodegradability, biocompatibility, and structural stability, facilitating surface modifications that enhance targeting efficiency and therapeutic efficacy. This integrated approach of combining fucoidan’s natural properties with nanotechnology presents innovative therapeutic opportunities for cancer treatment, aiming to improve patient outcomes while minimizing side effects.

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Chronic osteomyelitis remains a major challenge in orthopedic therapy. Developing a biodegradable, non-toxic material capable of providing sustained antibiotic release has emerged as a promising approach for localized antibiotic delivery in managing this condition. In this study, copper-tannic acid (CuTA) nanosheets were synthesized and employed as a coating material for vancomycin, resulting in the formation of vancomycin@CuTA (Van@CuTA) nanocomposites. The morphological and structural characterization of CuTA and Van@CuTA was performed using various techniques. The sustained release behavior of vancomycin, and in vitro effects of Van@CuTA on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) growth, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) viability, osteogenesis, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) angiogenesis were systematically investigated. A rabbit model of chronic osteomyelitis was established to assess the therapeutic effect of Van@CuTA, in combination with fibrin gel, in controlling infection, preventing bone destruction, and inhibiting the progression of chronic osteomyelitis. The characterization results confirmed the formation of Van@CuTA nanocomposites. In vitro experiments revealed that Van@CuTA enabled gradual vancomycin release, effectively suppressed MRSA growth, and demonstrated no toxicity to BMSCs. Furthermore, Van@CuTA significantly promoted osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs and improved angiogenesis in HUVEC. The in vivo studies demonstrated that Van@CuTA coated with fibrin gel ameliorated the appearance of local infection, reduced bone structural damage, and diminished inflammatory infiltration within the bone marrow in the rabbit model of chronic osteomyelitis. Current findings indicated that CuTA nanosheets served as a promising in-situ antibiotic carrier for sustained release in chronic osteomyelitis treatment. Van@CuTA demonstrated improved antibacterial properties, enabled sustained vancomycin release, and promoted both osteogenesis and angiogenesis, leading to its preliminary therapeutic efficacy in rabbit models of chronic osteomyelitis and strong potential for clinical application in osteomyelitis treatment.

The aim of this study was to systematically compare standard detergents for the generation of Decellularization Vascular Grafts (DVG) in terms of their influence on vascular key characteristics. The most common enzymatic and chemical detergents for decellularization were identified from literature, standardized and included: i) Trypsin, ii) Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS)- and iii) Triton X-100. All protocols were applied to porcine vessels and the manufactured DVG were analyzed for histological, ultrastructural morphology and biomechanical characteristics. Further, DVG were seeded with Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC) and cultured in a bioreactor to investigate biocompatibility after decellularization. Anti-Coagulation properties were assessed by the Chandler Loop model and a platelet-activation–assay. The Trypsin and SDS treatment were the most effective protocols in terms of tissue clearance but both impaired the ultrastructural integrity of the vessel wall in contrast to the Triton X-100 treatment. Moreover, biomechanical characteristics in the test stand did not differ significantly across the applied protocols but treatment of DVG with Trypsin was associated with a reduced Young’s modulus and injuries in the vessel wall in a pulsatil flow model after 30 d. Moreover, coagulation was decreased in the Trypsin-treated group and was slightly increased in the SDS group but no significant difference towards the control group was noted. DVG after Triton X-100 treatment were the only ones capable for successful cell seeding. The here presented experimental data emphasized the main advantages and disadvantages of the most common enzymatic and chemical detergents for the manufacturing of DVG.

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Resveratrol (3,5,4′-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene), a natural polyphenol, has garnered significant attention in oncology for its multifaceted antitumor mechanisms, including apoptosis induction, angiogenesis suppression, and immunomodulation. Despite its therapeutic potential, clinical translation remains constrained by pharmacokinetic limitations such as rapid metabolism, poor aqueous solubility, and low bioavailability. Recent advancements in biomaterial-based co-delivery systems have emerged as a transformative strategy to circumvent these challenges while amplifying tumor-specific cytotoxicity. By integrating resveratrol with chemotherapeutics, photothermal agents, metal complexes, or covalent organic frameworks (COFs), these systems synergistically enhance therapeutic efficacy through improved drug stability, targeted delivery, and stimuli-responsive release. Furthermore, multifunctional platforms combining photothermal ablation, ROS modulation, and immunotherapy exhibit promise in overcoming multidrug resistance and reprogramming immunosuppressive microenvironments. However, critical gaps persist in understanding structure-activity relationships, long-term biosafety profiles, and clinical scalability. This review comprehensively summarizes the current progress in resveratrol co-delivery systems, emphasizing their mechanisms, preclinical outcomes, and technological innovations. Future directions should prioritize interdisciplinary approaches, including AI-driven nanomaterial design, pharmacogenomic stratification, and biomarker-driven clinical trials, to bridge the gap between preclinical promise and therapeutic reality. By harmonizing resveratrol’s phytochemical efficacy with advanced biomaterial engineering, these co-delivery systems hold transformative potential for precision oncology.

The development of durable and biocompatible implant materials remains a critical challenge in the field of biomedical engineering, particularly for dental and orthopedic applications. In this study, yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) coatings with varying molar percentages were deposited on Ti-6Al-4V alloy substrates using the plasma spraying technique. Structural analysis via X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the presence of both transformable and non-transformable phases, with the latter offering enhanced phase stability advantageous for biomedical use. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the cross-sectional morphology revealed that the 5 M% YSZ coating exhibited uniform thickness, low porosity, and absence of cracks, indicating good coating integrity. In vitro hemocompatibility tests with human blood demonstrated a hemolytic ratio below 5%, meeting the threshold for non-hemolytic biomaterials. Antibacterial assays showed notable inhibition against Escherichia coli, with moderate activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Cytocompatibility was evaluated using MG-63 osteoblast-like cells, where the 5 M% YSZ composite exhibited non-toxic behavior up to 250 µg/mL after 24 h of exposure. Mechanical testing further confirmed the coating’s properties under simulated physiological conditions. These findings suggest that 5 M% YSZ plasma-sprayed coatings present a promising candidate for long-term dental and orthopedic implant applications, owing to their favorable mechanical strength, biocompatibility, and antibacterial properties.

Osteoporosis, osteomyelitis disease, bone tumors, bacterial infections, and accidents are posing a great challenge in the orthopedic field. For decades, autograft and allograft transplant techniques have been considered gold-standard treatments for bone problems. Given these limitations and increased medical demand for bone substitute material, the orthopedic field has sparked rapid interest in building safe and biocompatible materials. In search of alternatives, biomaterials such as bioactive glasses, hydroxyapatite (HAp), calcium silicate, β-tricalcium phosphate, etc., offer new insights for bone regeneration. In particular, HAp [Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂] has drawn considerable attention because the bone has HAp as a major inorganic component. In addition, HAp has bioactivity, biocompatibility, and osteointegration properties. Further, to enhance the biological properties of the HAp, it has been modified to a nanoscale level and named nanohydroxyapatite (nHAp). The nHAp has a larger surface area, which helps to facilitate drug loading, gene delivery, and fast recovery of injured bone. Thus, the present review spotlights a brief introduction to HAp and nHAp, their history, basic properties, synthesis methods, and composites with metals, polymers, ceramics, growth factors, etc., for bone tissue engineering applications.

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Nanohydroxyapatite and its composites for bone tissue engineering application.

Biodegradable zinc-based alloys are promising candidates as a new generation implant materials due to their favorable degradation rates compared to magnesium and iron. However, their relatively low mechanical strength hinders their clinical usage. In this experimental study, Zn–3Mg/xSnS (x = 0.5–6 wt%) composites were manufactured via powder metallurgy. The performance of the obtained samples was systematically investigated via microstructural analysis (SEM), mechanical properties (compressive yield strength, elastic modulus, and hardness), in vitro degradation, and cytocompatibility with L929 fibroblast cells. According to the obtained results, SnS reinforcement significantly improved mechanical performance. Microstructural investigation revealed homogeneous SnS distribution and refinement of intermetallic phases. Among all the sample groups, Zn–3Mg–2SnS resulted in a compressive yield strength of 402 MPa, elastic modulus of 49 GPa, and hardness of 151 HV. Degradation tests were performed for 28 days, and the samples exhibited a moderate corrosion rate ( ~ 0.2 mm/year). Cytotoxicity assays confirmed >70% cell viability at 50% extract concentrations. These results show that Zn–3Mg alloys can be efficiently reinforced with bio-derived SnS particles, improving their strength and biocompatibility without decreasing their degradation performance.

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This study introduces a novel hybrid additive manufacturing (AM) approach that integrates a surface coating process directly into the AM workflow. By incorporating a vacuum arc plasma source into a Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) system, we combine the design freedom and scalability of 3D printing with the ability to biofunctionalize the printed polymer part in a single fabrication step. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is widely used in biomedical engineering due to its excellent mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and radiolucency. However, its bioinert nature poses challenges for infection prevention and bone integration. This study aims to evaluate the coatings produced by this integrated process on a PEEK substrate specifically in a biomedical context, focusing on their antimicrobial performance and cytocompatibility. The results show that zinc (Zn) is the most effective antimicrobial agent among the tested coatings (Ag₂O, Cu, and Zn), achieving a reduction in bacterial adhesion of over 4 log. Moreover, TiO₂/Zn composite coatings exhibit strong antimicrobial activity while maintaining good cytocompatibility with fibroblastic cells in vitro. Qualitative imaging also indicates improved osteoblast attachment on surfaces coated with TiO₂ and TiO₂/Zn. This hybrid manufacturing platform enables the production of implants with tailored structural and biological properties in a single step, representing a significant advancement in the development of next-generation medical implants.

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Metal oxide nanomaterials play a central role in biomedical applications due to their unique physicochemical properties. In particular, various treatment methods such as drug delivery, hyperthermia therapy, radiation, and chemotherapy are used for the treatment of carcinoma. Current studies prefer to investigate the anticancer activity of nickel oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using a green synthesis approach. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was used to investigate the cubic crystalline structure and crystallite size varies from 11.08 nm to 12.88 nm due to increased calcination temperature. The crystallite size has a significant impact on the cytotoxicity and toxicity of nanoparticles; smaller crystal sizes frequently result in higher toxicity, because of their larger surface area to volume ratio. The MTT (Tetrazolium salts) assay was performed to test the cytotoxicity of NiO nanoparticles (NPs) against HepG2 cell line. After that, machine learning was applied to connect the biomedical field with artificial intelligence. It can be seen from the results that the NiO NPs that were calcinated at 600 °C gave the average cell viability <40%. At last, the machine learning approach was used to calculate the cytotoxicity of NiO NPs and decision tree was generated by using Google Colab. A correlation matrix was generated using a machine learning approach, providing insights into the interdependence among all parameters.

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