Article
Hematology
Natalie J. J. Jooss, Yvonne M. C. Henskens, Steve P. P. Watson, Richard W. W. Farndale, Meinrad P. P. Gawaz, Martine Jandrot-Perrus, Natalie S. S. Poulter, Johan W. M. Heemskerk
Summary: In this study, four inhibitors of platelet-collagen interactions were compared for their antithrombotic potential. The results showed that Revacept and 9O12-Fab had strong inhibitory effects on highly GPVI-activating surfaces, while 9O12-Fab had varying inhibitory effects on all surfaces. The effects of GPVI-directed interventions were surpassed by Syk inhibition, and 6F1 mAb had the strongest intervention effect on collagen substrates compared to Revacept and 9O12-Fab. These findings reveal the unique pharmacological profiles of these drugs and provide insights into additive antithrombotic mechanisms.
THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yoshiaki Soejima, Nahoko Iwata, Yasuhiro Nakano, Koichiro Yamamoto, Atsuhito Suyama, Takahiro Nada, Fumio Otsuka
Summary: The study examined the roles of Clock genes and BMP system in regulating gonadotropin secretion by GnRH using mouse L beta T2 cells. The results showed that LH beta mRNA expression in L beta T2 cells changed over time and was influenced by Bmal1 and Clock. ERK and BMPs were found to be involved in the regulation of LH beta mRNA expression at different stages after GnRH stimulation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jonathan Picker, Ziyang Lan, Srishtee Arora, Mykel Green, Mariah Hahn, Elizabeth Cosgriff-Hernandez, Magnus Hook
Summary: Collagens, as the major structural component in animal extracellular matrices, play crucial roles in cell-matrix interactions. The unique triple helical structure of collagens is enabled by Gly-X-Y repeats. Prokaryotic collagen-like proteins, which were discovered in the early 2000s, have similar structures to mammalian collagens and can be easily expressed in E. coli and genetically modified. This review article discusses the properties of mammalian collagen, compares mammalian collagen with prokaryotic collagen-like proteins, and reviews the applications of prokaryotic collagen-like proteins in studying collagen biology and developing new biomaterial platforms. Furthermore, it describes the application of the streptococcal collagen-like protein Scl2 in thromboresistant coating, scaffolds for bone regeneration, chronic wound dressing, and matrices for cartilage regeneration.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Malgorzata Galdyszynska, Paulina Radwanska, Jacek Szymanski, Jacek Drobnik
Summary: The study found that the stiffness of cardiac human fibroblast substrates affects collagen metabolism through integrin alpha 2 beta 1 and its downstream signaling pathways. Cells cultured on soft substrates showed increased collagen content, while cells cultured on stiff substrates exhibited elevated levels of FAK and Src kinases.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Sihan Lin, Shi Yin, Junfeng Shi, Guangzheng Yang, Xutao Wen, Wenjie Zhang, Mingliang Zhou, Xinquan Jiang
Summary: In this study, the dose of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) was reduced and its safety and efficacy were improved through the regulation of magnesium ion (Mg2+). Magnesium ion enhanced cellular bioenergetic levels and the osteoinductivity of BMP-2. A co-delivery system, fabricated using microfluidic and 3D printing technologies, was able to rapidly and robustly induce bone regeneration.
BIOACTIVE MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Liwei Zhu, Yuzhe Liu, Ao Wang, Zhengqing Zhu, Youbin Li, Chenyi Zhu, Zhenjia Che, Tengyue Liu, He Liu, Lanfeng Huang
Summary: Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) plays an important role in promoting bone healing, but its mechanism needs further exploration. By modifying implants to carry BMP and achieve slow and sustained release, effective bone healing can be stimulated.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Theresa Kircher, Tatu Pantsar, Andreas Oder, Jens Peter von Kries, Michael Juchum, Bent Pfaffenrot, Philip Kloevekorn, Wolfgang Albrecht, Roland Selig, Stefan Laufer
Summary: MKK4 plays a key role in liver regeneration, making new small molecules inhibiting MKK4 potential candidates for treating acute and chronic liver diseases. Optimization of compound design led to the selection of fluorescent compounds with high binding affinities, with compound 45 identified as a suitable tool for studying new small-molecule inhibitors of MKK4.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Integrative & Complementary Medicine
Bo-Ra Jeon, Muhammad Irfan, Seung Eun Lee, Jeong Hoon Lee, Man Hee Rhee
Summary: The study found that Rumex acetosella extract has inhibitory effects on platelet activity and can exert its effects by modulating signaling pathways. This suggests that Rumex acetosella may have a protective role in the development of cardiovascular diseases.
CHINESE JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Sunil Kumar Singh, Ruchi Roy, Sandeep Kumar, Piush Srivastava, Saket Jha, Basabi Rana, Ajay Rana
Summary: MAP4K4, a member of the MAPK signaling pathway, plays a crucial role in various non-malignant and malignant diseases. It has been implicated in metabolic and inflammatory diseases as well as glioblastoma, colon, prostate, and pancreatic cancers. Since MAP4K4 plays a significant role in inflammatory and malignant diseases, it can be targeted for therapeutic intervention.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Woonghee Lee, Gwonhwa Song, Hyocheol Bae
Summary: Recent studies have identified obesity as one of the world's most serious chronic disorders. The regulation of adipogenesis through inhibiting adipogenic differentiation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production has been selected as a strategy to treat obesity. Fraxetin, a major component extracted from the stem barks of Fraxinus rhynchophylla, has many bioactivities. The effects of fraxetin on adipogenesis and ROS production involve mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elena Tortosa, Arundhati Sengupta Ghosh, Qingling Li, Weng Ruh Wong, Trent Hinkle, Wendy Sandoval, Christopher M. Rose, Casper C. Hoogenraad
Summary: The phosphorylation and membrane localization of DLK, a component of MAPK, is crucial for its activation during neuronal stress responses. The recruitment of DLK to specific vesicles upon stress induces kinase activation, which is essential for neuronal survival and degeneration.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qianqian Xu, Peiyu Zhang, Xiaoyan Han, Huwei Ren, Weiyue Yu, Wei Hao, Bowen Luo, Muhammad Imran Khan, Ni Chen
Summary: This study investigates the pivotal role of Nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) in the activation of DNA damage repair in lung cancer cells after x-rays exposure. The study shows that NRF2 knockdown disrupts damaged DNA repair and homologous recombination, and NRF2 activation mediates DNA damage response via the MAPK pathway. These findings suggest that NRF2 plays a critical role in the development of radioresistance, which is of great significance for the development of radiotherapies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Wei Tang, Anna Y. Tang
Summary: Transcription factors, such as ZAT6, were introduced into rice, cotton, and slash pine cells to enhance resistance against pathogenic bacteria, resulting in increased cell viability and growth rate. The study showed that ZAT6 enhances plant cell resistance toPseudomonas syringae by modulating the transcription of CPK and MAPK genes as well as oxidase activity.
JOURNAL OF FORESTRY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Lulu Zhang, Chunmei Yang, Yanran Huang, Huakun Huang, Xiaohui Yuan, Ping Zhang, Caihong Ye, Mengqi Wei, Yuping Wang, Xiaoji Luo, Jinyong Luo
Summary: The study demonstrates that Cardamonin inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion of osteosarcoma cells, inducing cell cycle arrest. It has minimal effects on normal cells and represses tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model. Mechanistically, Cardamonin activates the P38 and JNK MAPK signaling pathway to promote apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Shiho Okitsu-Sakurayama, Sayomi Higa-Nakamine, Hidetsugu Torihara, Shigeki Higashiyama, Hideyuki Yamamoto
Summary: The study found that EGFR activation was significantly less after GnRH treatment, Pyk2 only bound to Grb2 after GnRH treatment, and the Grb2/Ras/Raf/MEK pathway was the main pathway for ERK1/2 activation after short-term treatment of GT1-7 cells with GnRH.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Ellen T. Newsom, Ameneh Sadeghpoura, Ali Entezari, Joan Lace U. Vinzonsa, Ralph E. Stanfordc, Mohammad Mirkhalafb, Daniel Chone, Colin R. Dunstanb, Hala Zreiqat
Summary: We have developed a bioceramic material, Sr-HT-Gahnite, which has the potential to be a fusion device material that mimics the biological and mechanical performance of natural bone. In a study conducted on sheep, it has been shown that this material is safe for systemic use over a period of 26 weeks, indicating the systemic safety of the Sr-HT-Gahnite fusion device.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Vijay Kumar Sagar, Soumyodeep Dey, Shubhayan Bhattacharya, Pooria Lesani, Yogambha Ramaswamy, Gurvinder Singh, Hala Zreiqat, Prem Ballabh Bisht
Summary: In this study, long wavelength emitting nitrogen and sulfur co-doped graphene quantum dots were synthesized via hydrothermal route, exhibiting high quantum yield and excitation-wavelength independent photoluminescence. The interaction of these quantum dots with a dye rhodamine B showed evidence of Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), along with the capability of two-photon absorption at near infrared wavelength for deep-tissue imaging up to 175 µm.
JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY A-CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Christina Marie Viray, Benjamin van Magill, Hala Zreiqat, Yogambha Ramaswamy
Summary: Bioprinting is a promising fabrication technique for developing biologically functional tissue constructs. This study developed a novel bioresin compatible with visible-light photoinitiator system, enabling high-resolution bioprinting. The experiments demonstrated the potential of this material system for developing physiologically relevant in vitro hydrogel scaffolds with feature resolutions comparable to individual human cells.
ACS BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Mohammad Mirkhalaf, Yinghui Men, Rui Wang, Young No, Hala Zreiqat
Summary: 3D printed bone scaffolds have the potential to replace autografts and allografts due to their ability to customize the scaffolds' properties and the unlimited supply. Progress has been made in 3D printing bone grafts, but challenges remain in replicating the mechanical and biological functions of native bones. This review outlines the recent progress and challenges in engineering synthetic bone scaffolds and provides suggestions for overcoming these challenges.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Iman Roohani, Young Jung No, Betty Zuo, Sue D. Xiang, Zufu Lu, Hongwei Liu, Magdalena Plebanski, Hala Zreiqat
Summary: This study introduces a method to synthesize hollow submicron particles of beta-Tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) at low temperatures and evaluates their cytocompatibility with human osteoblasts, adipose-derived stem cells, and antigen-presenting cells. The results demonstrate that h β-TCP significantly enhances osteogenic differentiation of stem cells, providing opportunities for developing new β-TCP-based biomaterials.
ACS BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
ZuFu Lu, Gurvinder Singh, Pooria Lesani, Hala Zreiqat
Summary: This article discusses the impact of cellular senescence on tissue regeneration capacity and explores the potential of nanotechnology in restoring and enhancing tissue regeneration ability in the aging population.
ACS BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
ZuFu Lu, Liting Jiang, Pooria Lesani, WenJie Zhang, Ning Li, Danyang Luo, Yusi Li, Yulin Ye, Ji Bian, Guocheng Wang, Colin R. Dunstan, XinQuan Jiang, Hala Zreiqat
Summary: This study shows that nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) could partially reverse the negative effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) on osteoblasts, including inducing senescence, reducing differentiation ability, and affecting mitochondrial function. In addition, NMN can protect cells from aging damage by increasing mitophagy activity.
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES A-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND MEDICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Editorial Material
Engineering, Biomedical
Khoon S. Lim, Hala Zreiqat, Debby Gawlitta
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kai Peter Sommer, Adrian Krolinski, Mohammad Mirkhalaf, Hala Zreiqat, Oliver Friedrich, Martin Vielreicher
Summary: The goal of bone tissue engineering is to build artificial bone tissue that closely resembles human bone and supports its integration into the body. This study used two types of 3D-printed scaffolds to seed and differentiate osteoblastic cells, and tested different assays and imaging methods to monitor these processes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Natalie P. Holmes, Iman Roohani, Ali Entezari, Paul Guagliardo, Mohammad Mirkhalaf, Zufu Lu, Yi-Sheng Chen, Limei Yang, Colin R. Dunstan, Hala Zreiqat, Julie M. Cairney
Summary: This study reports the atomic-scale composition of in vivo bone formed in a bioceramic scaffold after 12-month implantation in a large bone defect in sheep tibia. The composition of the newly formed bone tissue differs from that of mature cortical bone tissue, and elements from the degrading bioceramic implant, particularly aluminium, are present in both the newly formed bone and the original mature cortical bone tissue. Atom probe tomography and nanoSIMS mapping were used to confirm the release and distribution of these trace elements. The findings provide important insights for the design and performance of biomedical implants.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2023)
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Iman Roohani, Ellen Newsom, Hala Zreiqat
Summary: Bioceramics are highly sought after for their biocompatibility and bone regenerative properties, making them a multibillion-dollar industry in orthopaedic and dental implants. However, traditional manufacturing methods have limitations in creating complex geometries customized for specific bone defects. Vat-photopolymerization 3D printing has emerged as a precise and high-resolution technique for fabricating complex bioceramic parts with strong, ultralight, energy-absorbing, and tough materials. Despite their potential, regulatory and reimbursement obstacles hinder the clinical translation of 3D-printed bioceramic implants. This review analyzes recent advances in vat-photopolymerization printing of bioceramics, highlighting technical challenges and the potential of nanoscale printing to enhance implant mechanical and biological functions. The review also provides recommendations for regulatory frameworks, envisioning a future with successful clinical translation of advanced 3D architectures.
INTERNATIONAL MATERIALS REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Peter L. H. Newman, Queenie Yip, Pierre Osteil, Tim A. Anderson, Jane Q. J. Sun, Daryan Kempe, Mate Biro, Jae-Won Shin, Patrick P. L. Tam, Hala Zreiqat
Summary: Multicellular patterning in stem-cell-derived tissue models is often achieved through self-organizing activities triggered by external morphogenetic stimuli. However, these tissue models exhibit stochastic behavior, leading to limited reproducibility and non-physiological structures. To improve multicellular patterning, researchers have developed a method for creating complex tissue microenvironments with programmable mechano-chemical cues. These cues, including peptides, proteins, morphogens, and defined stiffness, spatially guide tissue patterning processes, such as mechanosensing and cell differentiation. By designing niches, the authors successfully engineered bone-fat assembly and germ layer tissues. Microstructured cell niches enable the spatial programming of tissue patterning processes, enhancing the organization and composition of engineered tissues.
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Zhengjiang Xu, Yuan Zhang, Danping Lu, Guofang Zhang, Yang Li, Zufu Lu, Fei Wang, Guocheng Wang
Summary: Accumulation of senescent cells in the elderly has a negative impact on bone homeostasis, and it is important to mitigate cell senescence and reduce oxidative stress for improved bone fracture healing in elderly patients. This study developed a nanoformulation of resveratrol (RSV) using a biocompatible zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) nanoparticle, which effectively addressed the issues of oxidation and bioavailability. The ZIF-8/RSV nanoformulation showed promising results in alleviating cellular senescence and enhancing cell functions, suggesting its potential for bone fracture treatment in the elderly.
ACS BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Charenpreet Virdi, Zufu Lu, Hala Zreiqat, Young Jung No
Summary: This study demonstrates that high-water content polyvinyl alcohol hydrogels can achieve a tensile strength exceeding 1.0 MPa through a combination of physical crosslinking, mechanical drawing, freeze drying, and hierarchical design.
JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL BIOMATERIALS
(2023)