Article
Engineering, Environmental
Junlang Li, Yongbo Lv, Dashuai Zhu, Xuan Mei, Ke Huang, Xianyun Wang, Zhenhua Li, Sichen Zhang, Shiqi Hu, Kristen D. Popowski, Ke Cheng, Juan Wang
Summary: A comparison between intramyocardial (IM) injection and intrapericardial cavity (IPC) injection of adult stem cells in hydrogel showed that IPC injection led to better retention and therapeutic benefits, resulting in significant improvement in cardiac function. Furthermore, IPC delivery demonstrated better cellular proliferation, less apoptosis, and improved vascular regeneration in the myocardium. Additionally, IPC injections led to higher rates of MSC-exosome absorption by heart cells, indicating more extensive paracrine activity and showing promise as a solution for the low retention issue of MSCs in the infarcted heart.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Yong Wu, Tianqi Chang, Weiqian Chen, Xiaoyu Wang, Jingjing Li, Yueqiu Chen, You Yu, Zhenya Shen, Qian Yu, Yanxia Zhang
Summary: Myocardial infarction is a serious cardiovascular disease with complex pathophysiology. Treatment with injectable composite hydrogel for dual-release of VEGF and BMP9 shows a collaborative effect in promoting angiogenesis and inhibiting myocardial fibrosis, demonstrating significant potential for cardiac clinical application.
BIOACTIVE MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wei Liu, Nana Zhao, Qi Yin, Xiaoyi Zhao, Kangli Guo, Yifan Xian, Siwei Li, Chunlan Wang, Miaomiao Zhu, Yurong Du, Fu-Jian Xu, Changyong Wang, Jin Zhou
Summary: Significant progress has been made in the development of injectable functional biomaterials for cardiac regenerative therapy. The combination of natural alginate hydrogel and Au@Pt nanoparticles (Au@Pt/Alg hydrogel) as an injectable stem cell vector shows great potential. The Au@Pt/Alg hydrogel enhances the antioxidant and paracrine capabilities of stem cells and exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and heart electrical integration effects in a rat myocardial infarction (MI) model. Moreover, it can effectively maintain the paracrine efficiency and pro-angiogenesis effects of stem cells in the infarcted area.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shu-yi He, Lin-yu Long, Zhi-cun Wang, Wen-qi Liu, Wen Zhang, Cheng Hu, Xiao-feng Wu, Ruiqi Dong, Hong-song Fan, Qing Jiang, Ying-ying Tong, Guang-hua Yang, Li Yang, Yun-bing Wang
Summary: In this study, an injectable self-doping conductive hydrogel was developed for delivering human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell secretome to protect cardiac function after myocardial infarction. The conductive hydrogel showed good biocompatibility and conductivity consistent with the natural myocardium, and the secretome was able to promote cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis. In a rat MI model, hydrogel injection improved ejection fraction and fraction shortening, and decreased susceptibility to arrhythmia.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yang Liu, Rui Guo, Tengling Wu, Yuanning Lyu, Meng Xiao, Binbin He, Guanwei Fan, Jianhai Yang, Wenguang Liu
Summary: A cell-free and therapeutic drug-free injectable zwitterionic hydrogel with antioxidant ability and intrinsic conductive properties was fabricated, showing positive effects such as promoting cardiovascular growth and reducing cardiac fibrosis after injection into the infarcted region of rats.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mingyu Lee, Junggeon Park, Goeun Choe, Sanghun Lee, Bo Gyeong Kang, Ju Hee Jun, Yoonmin Shin, Min Chul Kim, Yong Sook Kim, Youngkeun Ahn, Jae Young Lee
Summary: Myocardial infarction (MI) is a major cause of death worldwide. We developed a hydrogel cardiac patch that provides mechanical support, electrical conduction, and tissue adhesiveness to aid in the recovery of an infarcted heart function. The MXene-based conductive and adhesive hydrogel (CAH) showed promising results in in vitro and in vivo studies, improving cardiac function and alleviating pathological remodeling of an infarcted heart.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Cagla Eren Cimenci, Nick J. R. Blackburn, Veronika Sedlakova, Justina Pupkaite, Marcelo Munoz, Benjamin H. Rotstein, David A. Spiegel, Emilio I. Alarcon, Erik J. Suuronen
Summary: The study demonstrates that fisetin-collagen hydrogel therapy can reduce the negative effects of MG post-MI by increasing glyoxalase-1 levels, decreasing MG-AGE accumulation, and reducing oxidative stress, leading to improved cardiac function. Additionally, the therapy promotes neovascularization, increases pro-healing macrophages, and decreases pro-inflammatory macrophages in the infarct area.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Optics
Cheng Guo, Feilong Zhang, Yong Geng, Xingchi Kan, Jiubin Tan, Shutian Liu, Zhengjun Liu
Summary: A noise-robust multi-wavelength phase retrieval method was proposed to enhance the stability of MWLM, with an optimization procedure to iteratively minimize data fidelity and suppress noise. Experimental results showed better noise tolerance without loss of imaging resolution, making it a powerful tool for resource-limited scenarios.
OPTICS AND LASERS IN ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Linghong Zhang, Tao Li, Yan Yu, Kun Shi, Zhongwu Bei, Yongjun Qian, Zhiyong Qian
Summary: Researchers have developed a self-healing conductive hydrogel by grafting polypyrrole onto gelatin, which shows good biocompatibility and electrical conductivity. Injection of this hydrogel after myocardial infarction improves cardiac function, reduces the occurrence of arrhythmias, and decreases inflammation in the infarcted area.
BIOACTIVE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Zheng Wu, Wenzheng Li, Shujuan Cheng, Jinghua Liu, Shaoping Wang
Summary: Researchers investigated the co-culture of modified mesenchymal stem cells with Au@Ch-SF macro-hydrogel and H9C2 cells for tissue regeneration and cardiac function recovery. The results showed that Au@Ch-SF macro-hydrogel promoted cardiomyocyte fiber restoration without toxicity. Co-culture of mesenchymal stem cells may be effective in treating myocardial injury.
NANOMEDICINE-NANOTECHNOLOGY BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiaofang Hu, Peng Zhang, Jianing Liu, Haien Guan, Ruihong Xie, Liu Cai, Jiasong Guo, Leyu Wang, Ye Tian, Xiaozhong Qiu
Summary: A self-association crosslinked conductive zwitterionic hydrogel was developed, and it showed excellent ionic conductivity and suitable plasticity, promoting the functionalization of cardiomyocytes and the restoration of cardiac function.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jingrui Chen, Xiaoxu Han, Jie Deng, Jing Zhang, Lan Li, Jingyu Ni, Yuting Huang, Xianhua Xie, Si Chen, Linnan Ke, Xiumei Gao, Wei Wang, Guanwei Fan
Summary: The study found that the injectable conductive hydrogel loaded with AST NPs effectively inhibited left ventricular remodeling and myocardial dysfunction after MI, as well as promoting angiogenesis and reducing cell apoptosis.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Paula Gil-Cabrerizo, Laura Saludas, Felipe Prosper, Gloria Abizanda, Miguel Echanove-Gonzalez de Anleo, Adrian Ruiz-Villalba, Elisa Garbayo, Maria J. Blanco-Prieto
Summary: In this study, a novel injectable hydrogel (HG) based on alginate and collagen was developed as a delivery vehicle for extracellular vesicles (EVs) in cardiac repair. The HG exhibited good injectability, internal gel structure, and low viscosity, allowing for long-term retention in the heart and sustained release of EVs.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yang Liu, Xiaoping Zhang, Tengling Wu, Bo Liu, Jianhai Yang, Wenguang Liu
Summary: The study developed an injectable hydrogel containing rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells for treating myocardial infarction. By modulating the microenvironment to enhance cell survival and therapeutic outcomes, significant improvements in cardiac function and structure were achieved.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiaoping Zhang, Yuanning Lyu, Yang Liu, Rong Yang, Bo Liu, Jia Li, Ziyang Xu, Qian Zhang, Jianhai Yang, Wenguang Liu
Summary: A novel therapeutic strategy for treating myocardial infarction has been proposed in this study, which involves the controlled release of artificial apoptotic cells and vascular endothelial growth factor to regulate inflammation immune response and enhance angiogenesis, leading to improved cardiac function and alleviation of myocardial remodeling.
Article
Neurosciences
Joanah Madzime, Martha Holmes, Mark F. Cotton, Barbara Laughton, Andre J. W. van der Kouwe, Ernesta M. Meintjes, Marcin Jankiewicz
Summary: Children with perinatally acquired human immunodeficiency virus (CPHIV) show differences in white matter integrity compared to children who are HIV-unexposed and uninfected (CHUU). Additionally, perinatally HIV-exposed, but uninfected (CHEU) children have higher white matter integrity in certain networks compared to CHUU children.
BRAIN CONNECTIVITY
(2022)
Article
Substance Abuse
Stevie C. Biffen, Neil C. Dodge, Christopher M. R. Warton, Christopher D. Molteno, Joseph L. Jacobson, Ernesta M. Meintjes, Sandra W. Jacobson
Summary: The study found that adolescents with FAS showed more transfer-related errors when one finger was stimulated, while those with PFAS or heavily exposed nonsyndromal individuals appeared to be spared. FLT performance partially mediated the effects of FAS on perceptual reasoning and executive function. PAE during childhood was associated with smaller CC volumes and more transfer-related errors in adolescence.
ALCOHOL-CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Xi Yu, Jade Dunstan, Sandra W. W. Jacobson, Christopher D. D. Molteno, Nadine M. M. Lindinger, Ted K. K. Turesky, Ernesta M. M. Meintjes, Joseph L. L. Jacobson, Nadine Gaab
Summary: Prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with reading deficits in adolescents, affecting both brain function and structure. Adolescents with facial dysmorphology show distinctive neural correlates of reading disabilities compared to those without facial dysmorphology.
Article
Substance Abuse
Michael Shmueli, Mattan S. Ben-Shachar, Joseph L. Jacobson, Ernesta M. Meintjes, Christopher D. Molteno, Sandra W. Jacobson, Andrea Berger
Summary: In this study, event-related potentials were examined in alcohol-exposed adolescents during numerical comparison tasks and physical tasks. The results showed that alcohol-exposed individuals performed poorer in numerical comparison and had longer reaction times when numbers were close in value. At the neurophysiological level, higher levels of prenatal alcohol exposure were associated with smaller P2p amplitude, and only the typically developing and nonsyndromal HE groups exhibited smaller P300 amplitude in the incongruent condition in the physical task.
ALCOHOL-CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Substance Abuse
Nadine M. Lindinger, Joseph L. Jacobson, Neil C. Dodge, Susan Malcolm-Smith, Christopher D. Molteno, Ernesta M. Meintjes, Sandra W. Jacobson
Summary: This study found that individuals with full fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) have greater difficulty in interpreting facial emotions compared to those with non-syndromal heavily exposed (HE) and healthy controls, both in childhood and adolescence. In contrast, individuals with partial FAS (PFAS) showed improvement in their ability to interpret facial emotions during adolescence, indicating a developmental delay.
ALCOHOL-CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Elizabeth Kruse, Tamer Abdalrahman, Philippe Selhorst, Thomas Franz
Summary: This study aimed to develop a mathematical model to explore the interactions between HIV particles and host cells, and investigate the effects of mechanical and morphological parameters on the engulfment process. The results showed that low invagination force and high ligand-receptor energy are associated with high virion entry ability. Changes during virion maturation and localized membrane features of immune cells also influence the engulfment energy. The developed mathematical model offers potential for improving the prevention and treatment of viral infections.
BIOMECHANICS AND MODELING IN MECHANOBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biophysics
Riham K. Ahmed, Tamer Abdalrahman, Neil H. Davies, Fred Vermolen, Thomas Franz
Summary: Cells mechanically interact with their environment to sense various mechanical cues and this has profound effects on cellular behavior, including motility. This study aims to develop a mathematical model to predict the motility of individual cells in a colony on planar elastic substrates. The model takes into account cell-substrate interaction, substrate deformation from neighboring cells, and other factors such as friction, randomness, and cell death and division. The model can accurately simulate collective cell motility on planar elastic substrates and has the potential to be extended to other cell and substrate shapes and the inclusion of chemotactic cues.
BIOMECHANICS AND MODELING IN MECHANOBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Y. D. Motchon, Kevin L. Sack, M. S. Sirry, M. Kruger, E. Pauwels, D. Van Loo, A. De Muynck, L. Van Hoorebeke, Neil H. Davies, Thomas Franz
Summary: This study developed a three-dimensional finite element model of a rat heart with left ventricular infarction and microstructurally dispersed biomaterial. The effect of injectate stiffness on cardiac mechanics was investigated through parametric simulations. The study found that increasing injectate stiffness led to a decrease in myocardial strain and injectate principal strains. The developed model has potential for further research on cellular injectates and mechanotransduction in the infarcted heart.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Chimwemwe Msosa, Tamer Abdalrahman, Thomas Franz
Summary: This study developed a mathematical model to describe the mechanical factors involved in the invasion of a merozoite into an erythrocyte. The study found that the force exerted by the merozoite and the damage to the erythrocyte membrane affect the efficiency of invasion.
JOURNAL OF THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Alexia C. Edwards, Sandra W. Jacobson, Marjanne Senekal, Neil C. Dodge, Christopher D. Molteno, Ernesta M. Meintjes, Joseph L. Jacobson, R. Colin Carter
Summary: Prenatal alcohol exposure causes growth restriction that worsens in the first year of life. The impact of postnatal nutrition and alcohol exposure via breastmilk on growth remains unknown. This study aims to compare infant feeding practices between heavy drinkers and abstainers/light drinkers to determine their roles in fetal alcohol growth restriction and the impact of postnatal alcohol exposure on growth.
Article
Neurosciences
Abdulmumin Ibrahim, Fleur L. L. Warton, Samantha Fry, Mark F. F. Cotton, Sandra W. W. Jacobson, Joseph L. L. Jacobson, Christopher D. D. Molteno, Francesca Little, Andre J. W. van der Kouwe, Barbara Laughton, Ernesta M. M. Meintjes, Martha J. J. Holmes
Summary: Successful prevention programmes have reduced the risk of infant HIV infection in South Africa. However, the effects of HIV and ART exposure on the developing brain are not well understood.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Ghodeejah Higgins, Faatiemah Higgins, Jade Peres, Dirk M. Lang, Tamer Abdalrahman, Muhammad H. Zaman, Sharon Prince, Thomas Franz
Summary: Cell stiffness and TBX3 expression are biomarkers of melanoma metastasis in 2D environments. Soft extracellular environments are more favorable for tumor growth. TBX3 mediates collective cell migration and tumor growth in the early VGP disease stage but plays a lesser role in the later metastatic stage of melanoma.
EXPERIMENTAL CELL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Ellen Ngarande, Emma Doubell, Ousman Tamgue, Manuel Mano, Paul Human, Mauro Giacca, Neil Hamer Davies
Summary: This study investigates the use of a modified fibrin hydrogel combined with Invivofectamine((R)) 3.0 as a delivery system for small interfering RNA (siRNA). PEGylation of the fibrin hydrogel allows for controlled release of siRNA-lipopolyplexes and improves the stability of fibrin. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that the combination of the lipid nonviral transfection vector and fibrin enhances siRNA transfection efficacy and muscle growth in mice.
REGENERATIVE BIOMATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Martin Kiwanuka, Ghodeejah Higgins, Silindile Ngcobo, Juliet Nagawa, Dirk M. Lang, Muhammad H. Zaman, Neil H. Davies, Thomas Franz
Summary: This study investigated the effect of paclitaxel on the intracellular stiffness of human oesophageal cancer cells in vitro. It was found that paclitaxel-treated cells exhibited higher stiffness in the 2D environment and increased stiffness in the 3D environment at 24 hours. However, no significant differences in stiffness were observed at 48 hours. The treated cells also showed larger size and more circular shape in the 2D environment. There were no significant morphological differences between treated and untreated cells in the 3D environment.
INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY
(2022)
