Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Mujahid Iqbal, Aqeela Yasin, Ambreen Akram, Jing-An Li, Kun Zhang
Summary: Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a versatile material that can be modified to enhance its stability. Sulfated hyaluronic acid (S-HA) can be synthesized and has slower degradation by hyaluronidase compared with HA. S-HA has numerous applications in medical and cosmetic fields as biomaterials and coatings.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Daniela Harrer, Eva Sanchez Armengol, Julian D. Friedl, Aamir Jalil, Max Jelkmann, Christina Leichner, Flavia Laffleur
Summary: Hyaluronic acid, as an important excipient for pharmaceutical products, has beneficial properties such as solubility, biocompatibility, and biodegradation. Chemical modifications can improve its properties and offer opportunities for novel drug delivery systems. It is widely researched for various administrations in fields like rheumatology, ophthalmology, and cancer treatment, showing promising prospects for future pharmaceutical administration.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Sabrina Sciabica, Giovanni Tafuro, Alessandra Semenzato, Daniela Traini, Dina M. Silva, Larissa Gomes Dos Reis, Luisa Canilli, Massimo Terno, Elisa Durini, Silvia Vertuani, Anna Baldisserotto, Stefano Manfredini
Summary: By modifying native HA through cross-linking reactions with Ornithine, the half-life and performance of the new product (HA-Orn) were improved. The gel-like profile of HA-Orn showed improved resistance against enzymatic digestion, and in vitro cytotoxicity studies demonstrated no cytotoxicity on lung cell lines.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Lorna S. Relleve, Alvin Kier R. Gallardo, Mariel G. Tecson, John Andrew A. Luna
Summary: Radiation-crosslinked CMHA hydrogels with DS of 0.34-0.74 were prepared in this study, showing increased gel content and swelling properties with higher concentrations. CMHA hydrogels prepared at 60 and 120 kGy exhibited good biocompatibility.
RADIATION PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Fuxin Xue, Hui Zhang, Junli Hu, Yichun Liu
Summary: The water resistance of electrospun hyaluronic acid (HA) nanofibers was improved by crosslinking with the periodate oxidation - adipic acid dihydrazide (ADH) strategy, allowing for potential applications in biomedical fields such as wound healing, adhesion prevention, and tissue engineering.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Monika Michalczyk, Ewelina Humeniuk, Grzegorz Adamczuk, Agnieszka Korga-Plewko
Summary: Hyaluronic acid (HA) is an important component of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and is involved in various biological functions, including embryonic development, healing, inflammation, and cancerogenesis. This review highlights the metabolism and interactions of HA with its binding proteins, such as CD44 and RHAMM, and their implications in cancer development. The presence of HA on tumor cells is associated with a poor prognosis, and studying HA in cancer-free naked mole rats provides insights into its role in malignancy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ciara Buckley, Therese R. Montgomery, Tomasz Szank, Brian A. Murray, Cormac Quigley, Ian Major
Summary: This research presents a method for modifying hyaluronic acid to generate a new photo-crosslinkable polymer with improved physicochemical properties and biocompatibility. The addition of thiol to HA increases the crosslinking and biocompatibility, and enhances the degradability of methacrylated HA. The novel hydrogel system could have numerous bioengineering applications due to its enhanced properties.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cheng Chen, Dehong Yu, Wandong Wang, Yuqi Huang, Yu Ying, Weiwei Sheng, Xiunan Wu, Yun Wang, Fenglei Gao, Guan Jiang
Summary: To enhance sonodynamic therapy (SDT), a BTO-Pd-MnO2-HA nanocomplex with targeted tumor cells and degradable oxygen-producing shells was designed as a piezoelectric sonosensitizer. Palladium particles (Pd NPs) were deposited to form Schottky junctions, increasing the efficiency of toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. The degradation of MnO2 in the tumor microenvironment (TME) triggered the production of hydroxyl radicals (center dot OH) through a Fenton-like reaction. By continuously consuming glutathione (GSH) and generating O2, BTO-Pd-MnO2-HA improved the efficiency of SDT and chemodynamic therapy (CDT).
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Applied
Xiaodan Zhang, Danyi Wei, Yang Xu, Qiang Zhu
Summary: Hyaluronic acid, a naturally-occurring polysaccharide in ophthalmic tissues, has a wide range of applications in the treatment of ocular diseases. Recent advances in HA-based drug delivery systems have shown the importance of rational selection of molecular weight and amount of HA for diverse delivery systems.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bhubanananda Sahu, Isha Chug, Hemant Khanna
Summary: The eye is a crucial area for the development of gene therapies, with the FDA approval of the first gene-therapy drug for a form of congenital blindness sparking numerous studies to develop gene therapies for other eye diseases. Research has revealed new insights into the benefits and limitations of drug-delivery routes to different parts of the eye.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Seng Manivong, Araceli Garcia Ac, Shunmoogum A. Patten, Julio C. Fernandes, Mohamed Benderdour, Xavier Banquy, Florina Moldovan, Valerie Gaelle Roullin
Summary: In this study, chitosan-based nanogels were developed as drug-delivery platforms for osteocartilaginous applications. The nanogels showed good biocompatibility with human osteocartilaginous cells and did not induce significant acute embryotoxicity in zebrafish embryos at appropriate doses. These findings hold promise for the intra-articular delivery of drugs or diagnostic agents for joint pathologies.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tianbao Wang, Jiahui Yang, Hongmei Kang, Liangke Zhang, Huan Chen
Summary: This study successfully prepared a novel type of nanoparticle by embedding hyaluronic acid, which exhibited good biosafety and efficient conversion of near-infrared laser energy to thermal energy. The active targeting capability mediated by hyaluronic acid significantly increased the uptake of nanoparticles by tumor cells, resulting in strong growth inhibitory effect on tumor cells.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Antonio Fabozzi, Marco Barretta, Teodoro Valente, Assunta Borzacchiello
Summary: Polymer-based nanoparticles have been studied extensively in cancer therapy due to their ability to deliver hydrophobic drugs effectively. Nanoparticles surface functionalized with hyaluronic acid have shown great potential in active tumor-targeting. Microfluidics offers a promising approach to overcome the limitations of traditional bulk methods and enhance the quality of nanoparticle formulation for cancer therapy.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Nisar Ul Khaliq, Juyeon Lee, Joohyeon Kim, Yejin Kim, Sohyeon Yu, Jisu Kim, Sangwoo Kim, Daekyung Sung, Hyungjun Kim
Summary: Cancer remains a major global health challenge, and traditional chemotherapy often leads to side effects and drug resistance, necessitating the development of alternative treatments like gene therapy. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) offer numerous advantages as gene delivery carriers, including high loading capacity, controlled drug release, and easy surface functionalization. They are biodegradable and biocompatible, making them promising candidates for drug delivery applications. Recent studies have reviewed the use of MSNs for delivering therapeutic nucleic acids to cancer cells and discussed their potential as a tool for cancer therapy. The major challenges and future interventions of MSNs as gene delivery carriers for cancer therapy are also discussed.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Bing Yang, Wenxu Liu, Meiying Li, Jingxin Mo
Summary: In this study, hyaluronic acid-decorated metal-organic frameworks (HA@MOF@GSK-J1) were designed and prepared for the targeted delivery of GSK-J1 in the treatment of carboplatin-resistant ovarian cancer. The results showed that HA@MOF@GSK-J1 exhibited outstanding effectiveness in inhibiting ovarian cancer cells in vitro and induced apoptosis and reduced cell motility by attenuating HER2 activity through H3K27 methylation. In vivo experiments confirmed the better treatment efficacy of HA@MOF@GSK-J1 for carboplatin-resistant ovarian tumor xenografts. These findings highlight the potential of HA@MOF@GSK-J1 as an effective strategy to improve the treatment of carboplatin-resistant ovarian cancer.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Diogo B. Bitoque, Joana Morais, Ana V. Oliveira, Raquel L. Sequeira, Sofia M. Calado, Tiago M. Fortunato, Sonia Simao, Ana M. Rosa da Costa, Gabriela A. Silva
Summary: This study found that co-complexation or covalent ligation of IGFBP-3 derived NLS peptide with chitosan polyplexes can enhance the efficiency of non-viral vectors, showing a 2-fold increase in transfection efficiency.
BIOSCIENCE REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Rute S. Araujo, Diogo B. Bitoque, Gabriela A. Silva
Summary: The study demonstrates that non-viral systems can effectively increase the PEDF: PlGF ratio in mouse retina and decrease the impact in pathological conditions. This innovative approach could open avenues for the development of new therapeutic strategies.
Review
Cell Biology
Adriana Marcelo, Rebekah Koppenol, Luis Pereira de Almeida, Carlos A. Matos, Clevio Nobrega
Summary: Stress granules (SGs) are membraneless cell compartments formed in response to stress, important for cell survival through regulation of translation and mRNA storage. The dynamic assembly of SGs contrasts with pathological protein aggregation in neurodegenerative diseases, with potential implications for the pathogenesis of PolyQ disorders.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Adriana Marcelo, Ines T. Afonso, Ricardo Afonso-Reis, David V. C. Brito, Rafael G. Costa, Ana Rosa, Joao Alves-Cruzeiro, Benedita Ferreira, Carina Henriques, Rui J. Nobre, Carlos A. Matos, Luis Pereira de Almeida, Clevio Nobrega
Summary: Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) is an incurable genetic neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive degeneration of brain regions. Mutations in the ATXN2 gene lead to toxic polyglutamine segment in ataxin-2 protein. This study suggests autophagy plays a crucial role in SCA2 pathology and targeting this pathway could be a potential treatment strategy.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Denise Schrama, Audia Raposo de Magalhaes, Marco Cerqueira, Raquel Carrilho, Ana Paula Farinha, Ana M. Rosa da Costa, Amparo Goncalves, Annette Kuehn, Dominique Revets, Sebastien Planchon, Sofia Engrola, Pedro M. Rodrigues
Summary: The study aimed to modulate beta-parvalbumin expression and allergenicity in farmed European seabass by supplementing fish diets with creatine and EDTA. While results showed no decrease in allergenicity with creatine or EDTA supplementation, alterations in muscle and liver metabolic profiles were observed.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY D-GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Alexandra M. L. Oliveira, Monica Machado, Gabriela A. Silva, Diogo B. Bitoque, Joana Tavares Ferreira, Luis Abegao Pinto, Quirina Ferreira
Summary: Graphene oxide, with its unique properties, has been widely used in nanomedicine as a component of drug delivery systems. Research studies have demonstrated its effectiveness in controlling drug dosage and timely delivery when incorporated into multilayer films. This review provides an overview of the latest research developments in biomedical applications using graphene oxide for drug delivery systems, including film production and characterization, in vitro and in vivo experiments, main applications of graphene oxide in biomedical devices, and its biocompatibility properties.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Monica Machado, Alexandra M. L. Oliveira, Gabriela A. Silva, Diogo B. Bitoque, Joana Tavares Ferreira, Luis Abegao Pinto, Quirina Ferreira
Summary: Graphene has been chosen as the material to study molecules and monolayers due to its stability and electrical properties. The invention of scanning tunneling microscopy has deepened our understanding of molecular systems and opened up new possibilities at the atomic scale. Research on biomolecules has gained interest, as they can mimic biological systems and have applications in nanomedicine. By synthesizing molecular systems with control at the atomic/molecular level, breakthroughs have been made in the application of self-assembled monolayers of biomolecules on graphite surfaces, especially the porphyrin systems that can anchor other biomolecules.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Rebekah Koppenol, Andre Conceicao, Ines T. Afonso, Ricardo Afonso-Reis, Rafael G. Costa, Sandra Tome, Diogo Teixeira, Joana Pinto da Silva, Jose Miguel Codesso, David V. C. Brito, Liliana Mendonca, Adriana Marcelo, Luis Pereira de Almeida, Carlos A. Matos, Clevio Nobrega
Summary: Koppenol et al. demonstrate that overexpression of G3BP1 reduces aggregation of ataxin-2 and ataxin-3 in cell models of SCA2 and SCA3. Lentiviral delivery of G3BP1 leads to improved motor function and neuropathology in preclinical models, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target for polyQ disorders.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Alexandre R. Lima, Nathana L. Cristofoli, Ana M. Rosa da Costa, Jorge A. Saraiva, Margarida C. Vieira
Summary: The suitability of isolation processes for producing cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) from Salicornia ramosissima waste was investigated. Both alkaline treatment and bleaching treatment were used to separate cellulose fibrils and obtain CNFs, which were further hydrolyzed by acid treatment or enzyme treatment. The results showed that both treatments effectively removed amorphous components, increased crystallinity, and exposed fibers. However, CNF(ET) exhibited higher zeta potential values and mechanical resistance compared to CNF(AT). Overall, the enzyme treatment showed potential for isolating CNFs with higher-value applications due to its environmentally friendly nature and production of thinner nanofibers.
FOOD AND BIOPRODUCTS PROCESSING
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Nathana L. Cristofoli, Alexandre R. Lima, Ana M. Rosa da Costa, Dmitry Evtyugin, Carlos Silva, Joao Varela, Margarida C. Vieira
Summary: The study aimed to recover extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) from the exhausted culture medium (ECM) of Porphyridium cruentum using different extracting and purifying methods for future biotechnological applications. The purification methods, including precipitation with cold absolute ethanol, ultrasound, dialysis, and trichloroacetic acid (TCA), resulted in lower yield but higher carbohydrate content. TCA purification provided twice as much total carbohydrates as the non-purified samples, mainly composed of xylose, galactose, and glucose. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images revealed the smooth structure of P. cruentum EPS, with TCA post-treatment and dialysis yielding larger and purest particles suitable for film making. Microalgal polymeric by-products are a sustainable source of valuable compounds, and purification treatment is an important step in valorizing this material.
FOOD AND BIOPRODUCTS PROCESSING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
B. Medronho, A. Pereira, H. Duarte, L. Gentile, A. M. Rosa da Costa, A. Romano, U. Olsson
Summary: The molecular self-diffusion coefficients of microcrystalline cellulose in different solvent systems were measured using pulsed field gradient stimulated echo NMR. The results showed that TBA+ ions can bind to cellulose within a certain range and the binding of DMSO, TBAH, and water to cellulose increases with cellulose concentration. This interaction between TBAH and cellulose leads to steric hindrance between cellulose chains.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Sara El Kharraf, Abdellah Farah, Soukaina El-Guendouz, Joao P. Lourenco, Ana M. Rosa Costa, El Mestafa El Hadrami, Alexandra M. Machado, Claudia S. Tavares, A. Cristina Figueiredo, M. Graca Miguel
Summary: A combined volatile oil from Rosmarinus officinalis, Lavandula angustifolia and Citrus aurantium was encapsulated in beta-cyclodextrin using co-precipitation method. Response surface methodology was applied to optimize microencapsulation conditions and investigate the variables affecting the encapsulation process. The release of volatile oil from the inclusion complexes was studied using different solutions. The Higuchi model provided the best fit for the release profile, indicating Fickian diffusion as the predominant mechanism of release.
JOURNAL OF ESSENTIAL OIL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Noelia Florez-Fernandez, Jorge F. Pontes, Filipa Guerreiro, Ines T. Afonso, Giovanna Lollo, Maria Dolores Torres, Herminia Dominguez, Ana M. Rosa da Costa, Ana Grenha
Summary: The composition of seaweeds is complex, including vitamins, phenolic compounds, minerals, and polysaccharides. Fucoidan, the main polysaccharide in brown seaweeds, has various biological activities. Chitosan, another marine biopolymer, is popular in the biomedical field. This study evaluated the ability of fucoidan to produce nanoparticles with chitosan as a counterion. The nanoparticles obtained were negatively charged and had a size of 200-300 nm. The IC50 of fucoidan increased when tested in nanoparticle form, indicating their potential for biomedical applications.
Meeting Abstract
Medicine, General & Internal
Adriana Marcelo, Ana Rosa, Marta Santos, Benedita Ferreira, Rebekah Koppenol, Carlos A. Matos, Clevio Nobrega
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Mohammadreza Kasravi, Alireza Yaghoobi, Tahereh Tayebi, Mahsa Hojabri, Abdolkarim Talebi Taheri, Fatemeh Shirzad, Bahram Jambar Nooshin, Radman Mazloomnejad, Armin Ahmadi, Fatemeh A. Tehrani, Ghasem Yazdanpanah, Mohammad Hadi Farjoo, Hassan Niknejad
Summary: As a promising approach in translational medicine, the decellularization of discarded livers to produce bioscaffolds that support recellularization has potential in overcoming the limitations of conventional liver transplantation. In this study, the researchers investigated the use of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibition to preserve the extracellular matrix (ECM) during liver decellularization. The results demonstrated that the application of an MMP inhibitor significantly improved the preservation of ECM components and mechanical properties of the bioscaffolds, which supported cell viability and function in vitro. The study also confirmed that the MMP inhibition led to the inhibition of MMP2 and MMP9, providing a novel method to enhance ECM preservation during liver decellularization.
BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES
(2024)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Mohammadsadegh Nadimifar, Weiguang Jin, Clara Coll-Satue, Gizem Bor, Paul Joseph Kempen, Ali Akbar Moosavi-Movahedi, Leticia Hosta-Rigau
Summary: This study presents a metal-phenolic self-assembly approach that can prepare nanoparticles fully made of hemoglobin. The nanoparticles exhibit good oxygen binding and releasing capabilities.
BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES
(2024)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Jyoti Kumari, Roel Hammink, Jochem Baaij, Frank A. D. T. G. Wagener, Paul H. J. Kouwer
Summary: Fibrosis is the formation of fibrous connective tissue in response to injury, leading to organ dysfunction. A novel hybrid hydrogel combining synthetic polyisocyanide with hyaluronic acid has been developed, showing strong antifibrotic properties.
BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES
(2024)
Letter
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Melissa Machado Rodrigues, Cristian Padilha Fontoura, Charlene Silvestrin Celi Garcia, Sandro Tomaz Martins, Joao Antonio Pegas Henriques, Carlos Alejandro Figueroa, Mariana Roesch Ely, Cesar Aguzzoli
BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES
(2024)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Jessica Polak, David Sachs, Nino Scherrer, Adrian Suess, Huan Liu, Mitchell Levesque, Sabine Werner, Edoardo Mazza, Gaetana Restivo, Mirko Meboldt, Costanza Giampietro
Summary: Human skin equivalents (HSEs) play a crucial role in tissue engineering. This study introduces a 3D-printed culture insert to apply a static radial constraint on HSEs and examines its effects on tissue characteristics. The results show that the diameter of the culture insert significantly influences tissue contraction, fibroblast and matrix organization, keratinocyte differentiation, epidermal stratification, and basement membrane formation. This study provides important insights for the design of skin tissue engineering.
BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES
(2024)
Review
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Shiliang Chen, Tianming Du, Hanbing Zhang, Jing Qi, Yanping Zhang, Yongliang Mu, Aike Qiao
Summary: This paper reviewed the primary methods for improving the overall properties of biodegradable zinc stents. It discussed the mechanical properties, degradation behavior, and biocompatibility of various improvement strategies. Alloying was found to be the most common, simple, and effective method for improving mechanical properties. Deformation processing and surface modification further improved the mechanical properties and biological activity of zinc alloys. Meanwhile, structural design could endow stents with special properties. Manufacturing zinc alloys with excellent properties and exploring their interaction mechanism with the human body are areas for future research.
BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES
(2024)
