Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Chen Liu, Yu Li, Yu Zhang, Hongguang Xu
Summary: The study synthesized DAFM/PECUU-blended fibrous scaffolds using a coaxial electrospinning method to culture AFSCs, and found that with increased elasticity of the scaffold material, collagen type I gene expression increased, while collagen type II and aggrecan gene expression showed the opposite trend.
JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH PART A
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Yi Zheng, Borui Xue, Bin Wei, Bing Xia, Shengyou Li, Xue Gao, Yiming Hao, Yitao Wei, Lingli Guo, Haining Wu, Yujie Yang, Xueli Gao, Beibei Yu, Yongfeng Zhang, Shijie Yang, Zhuojing Luo, Teng Ma, Jinghui Huang
Summary: The repair of annulus fibrosus (AF) defect after discectomy in the intervertebral disc (IVD) has been a challenge due to hostile microenvironments, particularly compression and hypoxia. This study developed a oxygen-releasing scaffold using perfluorotributylamine (PFTBA) core-shell fibers to promote endogenous repair in the AF. The oxygen released from the PFTBA fibers protected annulus fibrosus stem cells (AFSCs) from hypoxia-induced apoptosis and promoted proliferation, migration, and extracellular matrix (ECM) production in AFSCs. In vivo studies showed that the oxygen-supplying fibers improved disc degeneration after discectomy by enhancing disc height and morphological integrity.
MATERIALS TODAY BIO
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Dongxue Han, Reem Ghubayra, Rhett Dacy Carpenter-Thompson, Tifeng Jiao, Bingbing Li
Summary: The crystallization behavior of electrospun PCL/PLGA blend fibers was studied, and it was found that the choice of solvent and the PCL concentration significantly affected the crystallization mechanism and morphology. Thicker fibers showed microscopic phase separation while thinner fibers exhibited failure and fracture after solvent wash. Solvent vapor annealing experiments revealed the PCL lamellar network in thicker fibers and the PCL shish-kebab in thinner fibers.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Jung Hyun Ahn, Joung Sook Hong, Kyung Hyun Ahn
Summary: This study investigates the improvement of mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid)/thermoplastic polyurethane blend through the analysis of crystallization, morphology, and rheology of clays with different interlayer modifiers and localization. The addition of clay particles further enhances the mechanical properties of the blend. The type and localization of the clay particles at the interface have different effects on the mechanical properties.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Taksid Charasseangpaisarn, Chairat Wiwatwarrapan, Pasutha Thunyakitpisal, Viritpon Srimaneepong
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the optimal ratio of PMMA/PLA blends for potential dental applications. The results showed that increasing PMMA content in the blend increased the Tg, and the blend exhibited superior flexural properties compared to neat PMMA and neat PLA. The biocompatibility did not differ among different composition ratios.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Morteza Bazgir, Wei Zhang, Ximu Zhang, Jacobo Elies, Morvarid Saeinasab, Phil Coates, Mansour Youseffi, Farshid Sefat
Summary: The study evaluated the characteristics and degradation effects of PLGA- and PCL-based nanofibrous scaffolds, finding that longer electrospinning times resulted in stronger mechanical properties and maintained fiber structure. Both PCL and PLGA scaffolds demonstrated adequate degradation over time, with slight increase in fiber diameter and substantial decrease in pore size and porosity percentage. This experiment suggests promise for PCL and PLGA in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.
Article
Polymer Science
Yangzhe Hou, Han Jia, Yamin Pan, Chuntai Liu, Changyu Shen, Xianhu Liu
Summary: This study successfully prepared brand-new porous PLA films with enhanced flexibility and heat resistance using blade coating and thermally induced phase separation methods. The resulting blend films showed improved mechanical properties and high porosity, making them suitable for microfiltration, packaging, and modified applications.
Article
Biophysics
Maria I. Echeverria Molina, Kyriakos Komvopoulos
Summary: Polymer degradation and mechanical properties play a crucial role in tissue engineering. In this study, the degradation behavior of electrospun PLLA bilayer microfibrous scaffolds in a pH-neutral medium was investigated. The interplay between chain scission and orderly chain rearrangement during degradation was found to be critical. The bilayer PLLA scaffolds with adequate matrix stiffness showed potential for tissue engineering and drug delivery applications.
JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Pei Feng, Jiye Jia, Li Yu, Anjie Min, Sheng Yang, Cijun Shuai
Summary: The addition of L-LA into PLLA scaffold promoted its degradation rate by weakening intermolecular forces and introducing hydrophilic functional groups, leading to reduced crystallinity and increased weight loss. The scaffold also exhibited good cytocompatibility for cell adhesion and growth with enhanced cell numbers and adhesion area over time.
MATERIALS CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Siti Hajar Ahmad Shariff, Rusli Daik, Muhammad Salahuddin Haris, Mohamad Wafiuddin Ismail
Summary: Blending an amphiphilic polymer with hydrogel increases drug loading and entrapment efficiency. This study produced a hydrogel formulation with star-shaped PCL-b-PEG as the hydrophobic drug cargo. The synthesized polymers showed high drug loading and sustained drug release, and exhibited antibacterial activity. The hydrogel containing 4-arm PCL15k-PEG was selected as the best formulation.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mingchao Sun, Shaojuan Chen, Peixue Ling, Jianwei Ma, Shaohua Wu
Summary: This study successfully fabricated methacrylated gelatin/poly(L-lactic acid) hybrid nanofiber mats and demonstrated their excellent hydrophilic properties and high water absorption capacity. The UV crosslinking process significantly improved the structural stability and mechanical properties of the nanofiber mats. Crosslinked nanofiber mats with higher MeGel content showed enhanced attachment, growth, and proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Limei Wang, Jin Zhang, Xueyan Yun, Jian Hu, Hao Lu, Tungalag Dong
Summary: The effect of poly(L-lactic acid)/poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(L-lactic acid) block film on the preservation of Chinese winter jujube was investigated. The study found that the film increased the toughness of the blend films, decreased the glass transition temperature and cold crystallization temperature of the PLLA segment, and increased the permeability to oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor. It also maintained the firmness, color luminosity, total phenols, and ascorbic acid of the jujube during storage.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Yi-Pin Chen, Tsia-Shu Lo, Yu-Ting Lin, Yu-Han Chien, Chia-Jung Lu, Shih-Jung Liu
Summary: Degradable drug-eluting prolapse mats were developed using solution-extrusion 3D printing and coaxial electrospinning techniques. The mats, composed of PCL mesh and PLGA nanofibers with incorporated drugs, exhibited comparable mechanical properties to commercial non-degradable polypropylene knitted meshes for POP repair. In vitro release studies showed sustained release of drugs from the membranes, with no adverse effects observed in animal tests, indicating potential for POP applications.
Article
Polymer Science
Apisit Banpean, Shinichi Sakurai
Summary: The study found that under specific conditions, PEG can only crystallize in the preformed spherulites of PLLA and not in the amorphous phase of the mixed PLLA/PEG matrix.
Article
Biophysics
Zhigang Zhang, Long Zhu, Wanjun Hu, Jidong Dai, Pengfei Ren, Xiangyu Shao, Bo Xiong, Tianzhu Zhang, Zhenling Ji
Summary: This study developed a novel composite material combining polypropylene (PP) mesh and poly (L-lactic acid) (PLA) electrospun nanofibers for repairing abdominal wall defects. In vivo experiments showed that this composite material had good anti-adhesion and anti-inflammatory properties, and was able to integrate completely with the abdominal wall with sufficient mechanical strength.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Ophthalmology
Aruni K. Makuloluwa, Kevin J. Hamill, Saaeha Rauz, Lucy Bosworth, Atikah Haneef, Vito Romano, Rachel L. Williams, Darlene A. Dartt, Stephen B. Kaye
Summary: The conjunctiva can be damaged by various diseases, requiring conjunctival grafts for restoration of function. Research on ex vivo culture and improvement of substrates is important for tissue grafts. Understanding the composition and structure of conjunctival extracellular matrix (ECM) is crucial for developing better biological substrates.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Mattia Vitale, Cosimo Ligorio, Bethan McAvan, Nigel W. Hodson, Chris Allan, Stephen M. Richardson, Judith A. Hoyland, Jordi Bella
Summary: Hydrogels have great potential for tissue engineering applications, but their use in bone regeneration is often hindered by poor mineralization and mechanical properties. Osteoclasts (OCs), which play a pivotal role in bone homeostasis, are often overlooked. This study aims to develop customized, reinforced hydrogels as a platform for studying OC function and differentiation.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Rubens Araujo da Silva, Ruikang Xue, Susana Ines Cordoba de Torresi, Sarah Cartmell
Summary: Electroactive materials based on conductive polymers show promise for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. This study found that the intrinsic electrical conductivity of these materials is crucial for the effectiveness of the applied electric field and the promotion of differentiation in bone cells.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lynsey Steel, David M. Ansell, Enrique Amaya, Sarah H. Cartmell
Summary: This study found that PPIA and YWHAZ are stable reference genes in gene expression studies of mesenchymal stem cells under electrical stimulation, while GAPDH and ACTB showed reduced stability at lower seeding densities.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rebecca C. Jones, Kevin M. Lawrence, Scott M. Higgins, Stephen M. Richardson, Paul A. Townsend
Summary: Post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) is characterized by rapid chondrocyte cell death and a shift in cell phenotype towards a more catabolic state. This study shows that urocortin-1 (Ucn) can protect chondrocytes from death and prevent cartilage degradation in a PTOA model. The protective effect of Ucn is mediated through the CRF-R1 receptor and involves blocking of intracellular calcium accumulation through the Piezo1 channel. These findings suggest that Ucn could be a novel disease-modifying osteoarthritis drug (DMOAD) for preventing impact overload-induced PTOA.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Ian P. Smith, Marco Domingos, Stephen M. Richardson, Jordi Bella
Summary: Collagen is commonly used as a biomaterial in regenerative medicine and biomedical research, but its use is limited by sociological and ethical concerns. This study characterizes the properties of collagen derived from jellyfish and compares them with mammalian collagens, providing insights for using alternative collagen sources in biomedical research.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Marwan Algellay, Matthew Roberts, Lucy Bosworth, Satyajit D. Sarker, Amos A. Fatokun, Touraj Ehtezazi
Summary: This study explores the use of 3D printing to produce fast dissolving oral films (FDFs) and investigates the impact of adding chitosan micro-ribbons or cellulose microfibres on the mechanical properties of the films.
Article
Orthopedics
Shaghayegh Basatvat, Frances C. Bach, Marcos N. Barcellona, Abbie L. Binch, Conor T. Buckley, Brian Bueno, Nadeen O. Chahine, Ana Chee, Laura B. Creemers, Stefan Dudli, Bailey Fearing, Stephen J. Ferguson, Jennifer Gansau, Benjamin Gantenbein, Rahul Gawri, Juliane D. Glaeser, Sibylle Grad, Julien Guerrero, Lisbet Haglund, Paula A. Hernandez, Judith A. Hoyland, Charles Huang, James C. Iatridis, Svenja Illien-Junger, Liufang Jing, Petra Kraus, Lisanne T. Laagland, Gernot Lang, Victor Leung, Zhen Li, Thomas Lufkin, Josette C. van Maanen, Emily E. McDonnell, Chris J. Panebianco, Steven M. Presciutti, Sanjna Rao, Stephen M. Richardson, Sarah Romereim, Tara C. Schmitz, Jordy Schol, Lori Setton, Dmitriy Sheyn, Joseph W. Snuggs, Y. Sun, Xiaohong Tan, Marianna A. Tryfonidou, Nam Vo, Dong Wang, Brandon Williams, Rebecca Williams, S. Tim Yoon, Christine L. Le Maitre
Summary: This study aims to standardize the extraction and expansion techniques for nucleus pulposus (NP) cells, in order to reduce variability between laboratories and improve comparability of results. The most commonly used methods for NP cell extraction, expansion, and re-differentiation were identified through a global survey. Recommended protocols for NP cell culture in different species were provided to support harmonization and cross-lab comparisons.
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Alireza Karimi, Devon J. Crouch, Reza Razaghi, J. Crawford Downs, Ted S. Acott, Mary J. Kelley, Julia G. Behnsen, Lucy A. Bosworth, Carl M. Sheridan
Summary: This study used X-ray computed tomography and scanning electron microscopy to reconstruct 3D microstructural finite element models of the healthy and glaucoma outflow tissues. The results showed that the primary site of outflow resistance in glaucoma eyes is the trabecular meshwork, while in healthy eyes, it is the juxtacanalicular connective tissue and the inner wall of Schlemm's canal. The glaucoma eyes had thicker trabecular meshwork and juxtacanalicular connective tissue and smaller trabecular space compared to healthy eyes.
COMPUTER METHODS AND PROGRAMS IN BIOMEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jack Llewellyn, Venkatesh Mallikarjun, Ellen Appleton, Maria Osipova, Hamish T. J. Gilbert, Stephen M. Richardson, Simon J. Hubbard, Joe Swift
Summary: Cells respond to stress by producing chaperone proteins to maintain protein function, but aging leads to a disruption of protein balance and the formation of disease-related protein aggregates. Understanding the molecular causes of this proteostasis deterioration is important for disease interventions and cell health maintenance in regenerative medicine strategies.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Devon J. Crouch, Carl M. Sheridan, Julia G. Behnsen, Raechelle A. D'Sa, Lucy A. Bosworth
Summary: This study aimed to create a biomimetic structure of trabecular meshwork using electrospinning. Cryogenic electrospinning showed closer recapitulation of the trabecular meshwork in terms of pore size, porosity, and thickness. Cells were able to penetrate deep within the cryo-scaffolds, whereas they remained on the outer surface of conventional scaffolds.
JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL BIOMATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Textiles
Dana Wilson, Olga Tsigkou, Lucy Bosworth, Celina Jones
Summary: Leather, sourced from animal hides, has raised concerns about its environmental, ethical, and health impacts due to increasing production. Alternatives to leather have been developed but have not yet matched the properties of real leather. The emergence of cellular agriculture offers the potential to engineer leather-like materials from collagen, but further research and development are needed.
Meeting Abstract
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Sam R. Moxon, Marco Domingos, Julie Gough, Stephen M. Richardson
TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Stephen M. Richardson, Lizzy Ward, Richard D. Unwin, Anna L. Tierney, Andrew W. Doswey, Judith A. Hoyland
TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Zara Smith, Annalisa Tirella, Paul Townsend, Stephen M. Richardson
TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A
(2022)