Article
Chemistry, Physical
Lukasz Zych, Anna Maria Osyczka, Agnieszka Lacz, Agnieszka Rozycka, Wiktor Niemiec, Alicja Rapacz-Kmita, Ewa Dzierzkowska, Ewa Stodolak-Zych
Summary: The study investigated the effects of different types of silica nanoparticles on the properties of nanocomposites for guided bone regeneration. It found that silica nanoparticles with higher specific surface area exhibited greater chemical activity and the presence of hydroxyl groups, while those with lower specific surface area showed lower chemical activity and lacked hydroxyl groups on the surface.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jose R. Munoz-Torres, Sidney B. Martinez-Gonzalez, Alan D. Lozano-Lujan, Maria C. Martinez-Vazquez, Perla Velasco-Elizondo, Idalia Garza-Veloz, Margarita L. Martinez-Fierro
Summary: The amniotic membrane (AM) is a functional tissue with properties such as immunomodulation, anti-scarring, anti-microbial, pro or anti-angiogenic effects, and tissue growth promotion. It has been used therapeutically in various surgical specialties to enhance surgical outcomes. This review summarizes the use of AM and its mechanisms of action in different surgical areas, aiming to improve the understanding of its therapeutic targets and emphasize its surgical utility in regenerative medicine.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fernando Bento Cunha, Karina Torres Pomini, Ana Maria de Guzzi Plepis, Virginia da Conceicao Amaro Martins, Eduardo Gomes Machado, Renato de Moraes, Marcelo de Azevedo e Souza Munhoz, Michela Vanessa Ribeiro Machado, Marco Antonio Hungaro Duarte, Murilo Priori Alcalde, Daniela Vieira Buchaim, Rogerio Leone Buchaim, Victor Augusto Ramos Fernandes, Eliana de Souza Bastos Mazuqueli Pereira, Andre Antonio Pelegrine, Marcelo Rodrigues da Cunha
Summary: The study investigated the effects of elastin and collagen matrix on bone repair in critical size defects in rat calvaria. The results showed that using these matrices as scaffolds was feasible and increased the formation of new bone tissue in critical size defects.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Luca Salvatore, Nunzia Gallo, Maria Lucia Natali, Alberta Terzi, Alessandro Sannino, Marta Madaghiele
Summary: Collagen, a fibrous structural protein found in mammals, plays a dominant role in maintaining the integrity of various tissues and organs. Recent studies have focused on fine-tuning scaffold architecture at the microscale and nanoscale to mimic the hierarchical features of the extracellular matrix, with a particular focus on collagen patterning.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Katarina Kacvinska, Martina Travnickova, Lucy Vojtova, Petr Polacek, Jana Dorazilova, Martin Kohoutek, Kristyna Hlinakova, Julia Pajorova, Maria Tirpakova, Lucie Bacakova
Summary: This study compares the performance of two types of bioresorbable cellulose in composite scaffolds. The calcium-sodium salt of oxidized cellulose significantly improves the stiffness and elasticity of collagen fibrils, while the sodium salt of carboxymethylcellulose reduces these properties. The addition of oxidized cellulose improves cell-material interaction and enhances the adhesion, proliferation, and metabolic activity of human adipose-derived stem cells. In contrast, carboxymethylcellulose only provides limited mechanical support for cells and inhibits their attachment and proliferation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Benjamin S. Hanson, Lorna Dougan
Summary: This study computationally investigates the effect of intermediate nanoscale structure on the formation of protein hydrogels, showing how changes in the polymeric building block impact force transmission in the system and provide insights into dynamic network formation processes. The preassembled intermediate structure offers a novel structural coordinate for hierarchical modulation of macroscopic network properties, contributing to a deeper understanding of general dynamics of network formation.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Eleonora Tassara, Caterina Oliveri, Luigi Vezzulli, Carlo Cerrano, Lian Xiao, Marco Giovine, Marina Pozzolini
Summary: This study evaluated the in vitro application of 2D collagen membranes derived from a marine sponge as a possible tool for wound healing. The results showed that the collagen membranes had good performance in terms of preventing liquid and protein loss, inhibiting bacterial infiltration, and promoting fibronectin production. Further studies and development of this marine-derived biomaterial are therefore important.
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
F. Veronesi, B. Di Matteo, N. D. Vitale, G. Filardo, A. Visani, E. Kon, M. Fini
Summary: Research focused on developing and studying meniscal scaffolds, emphasizing the importance of preserving the meniscus to prevent osteoarthritis. While positive results were seen in preclinical studies, limitations in clinical research point to the need for further innovation.
BIOACTIVE MATERIALS
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sarah M. Hull, Lucia G. Brunel, Sarah C. Heilshorn
Summary: Using gel-phase materials as bioinks offers advantages in providing cell protection and biological signals. Challenges remain in terms of cell compatibility and biological functionality of bioink materials.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Dongho Kwak, Petter Angell Olsen, Anne Danielsen, Alexander Refsum Jensenius
Summary: This article provides a biological rhythm model and explores the core features of rhythmic processes in biology and cells. It highlights the importance of studying rhythmic mechanical stimulation.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Yuan Wang, Shuqiao Yang, Liang Zhang, Fang Yuan, Like Mao, Jinfang Liu, Yanxiang Gao
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effects of different processes on insoluble undenatured type II collagen (IUC-II). The results showed that wet media milling (WMM) process had the best performance in terms of particle size, wetting rate, and suspension stability. However, all mechanical processes caused disruption of the triple helix structure of IUC-II. Low-acyl gellan gum (LAGG) could protect the triple helix structure and enhance the powdery properties of IUC-II treated by WMM process.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Anna Sorushanova, Ioannis Skoufos, Athina Tzora, Anne Maria Mullen, Dimitrios I. Zeugolis
Summary: Collagen extracted from porcine and bovine, male and female, skin and tendon tissues showed differences in production yield, resistance to enzymatic degradation, swelling ratio, compression stress and modulus. Standardization of collagen preparations is essential for the development of reproducible collagen-based devices.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE-MATERIALS IN MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Yan Zhang, Lu Dong, Jinhui Zhang, Jiaqi Shi, Yaya Wang, Shuo Wang
Summary: Thermal processing in the food industry can have detrimental effects on the nutritional and functional properties of foods due to complex interactions among food components. Changes in protein structure and nutritional properties can significantly impact the biological effects of foods. This review explores the interactions among proteins, sugars, and lipids during thermal food processing, as well as strategies for mitigating the negative effects of modified proteins on human health.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, VOL 12, 2021
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Jongyun Kim, Arunkumar Shanmugasundaram, Cheong Bin Lee, Jae Rim Kim, Jeong Jae Park, Eung-Sam Kim, Bong-Kee Lee, Dong-Weon Lee
Summary: This study proposes a grooved polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane embedded with silver nanowires (AgNWs-E-PDMS) to enhance the maturation and contractile properties of cardiomyocytes and provide a more accurate evaluation of drug-induced cardiotoxicity.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Jongyun Kim, Arunkumar Shanmugasundaram, Cheong Bin Lee, Jae Rim Kim, Jeong Jae Park, Eung-Sam Kim, Bong-Kee Lee, Dong-Weon Lee
Summary: This study proposes a grooved polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane embedded with silver nanowires (AgNWs-E-PDMS) to enhance the maturation and contractile properties of cardiomyocytes. The proposed device provides a more accurate evaluation of drug-induced cardiotoxicity and demonstrates its feasibility as a drug screening platform.
Article
Polymer Science
Nunzia Gallo, Maria Lucia Natali, Alessandra Quarta, Antonio Gaballo, Alberta Terzi, Teresa Sibillano, Cinzia Giannini, Giuseppe Egidio De Benedetto, Paola Lunetti, Loredana Capobianco, Federica Stella Blasi, Alessandro Sicuro, Angelo Corallo, Alessandro Sannino, Luca Salvatore
Summary: Collagen is a widely used biomaterial in the health-related sectors. In recent years, there has been increasing interest in using marine organisms as a safe and abundant source for collagen extraction, particularly fish byproducts. This study focuses on the extraction and characterization of type I collagen from Tilapia skin raised in aquaponics systems, and the results confirm its potential as a biomaterial for healthcare applications.
Article
Crystallography
Alberta Terzi, Teresa Sibillano, Liberato De Caro, Davide Altamura, Nunzia Gallo, Maria Lucia Natali, Alessandro Sannino, Luca Salvatore, Federica Stella Blasi, Angelo Corallo, Cinzia Giannini
Summary: Type I collagen is widely used as a biomaterial and antiaging food supplementation. Fish collagen supplementation in the diet can increase collagen synthesis in the body. This study investigated the effect of collagen supplementation on the structure of tilapia skin and found that it had an impact at the nanoscale, but not at the submolecular scale.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nunzia Gallo, Alberta Terzi, Teresa Sibillano, Cinzia Giannini, Annalia Masi, Alessandro Sicuro, Federica Stella Blasi, Angelo Corallo, Antonio Pennetta, Giuseppe Egidio De Benedetto, Francesco Montagna, Alfonso Maffezzoli, Alessandro Sannino, Luca Salvatore
Summary: In the last two decades, fish industry by-products have been used to extract type I collagen due to issues with traditional mammalian tissue extraction. This study focused on fish by-products from aquaponic plants as a source of biopolymers, aiming to create eco-friendly and profitable materials. The research evaluated the impact of age on the properties of Tilapia skin for collagen extraction, identifying significant age-related differences in thickness, collagen fiber bundle diameter, organization, orientation, thermal properties, mechanical properties, and composition.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Polymer Science
Zahra Rajabimashhadi, Nunzia Gallo, Luca Salvatore, Francesca Lionetto
Summary: Fish collagen has gained attention in recent decades for its potential applications in various health-related industries. Its advantages over mammalian-based collagen, such as reduced zoonosis transmission risk and cost-effective manufacturing process, have led to the expansion of using collagen derived from fish wastes. This review summarizes the recent advances in extracting collagen from fish industry wastes for several applications and discusses the challenges in the fish-collagen market.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eleonora Giagnorio, Claudia Malacarne, Paola Cavalcante, Letizia Scandiffio, Marco Cattaneo, Viviana Pensato, Cinzia Gellera, Nilo Riva, Angelo Quattrini, Eleonora Dalla Bella, Giuseppe Lauria, Renato Mantegazza, Silvia Bonanno, Stefania Marcuzzo
Summary: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by the loss of upper and lower motor neurons (UMNs, LMNs) and miR-146a dysregulation may contribute to the pathogenesis of ALS. In this study, miR-146a levels were increased in ALS peripheral nerves and decreased in the serum of ALS patients, suggesting its potential as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for the disease.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Polymer Science
Luca Salvatore, Maria Lucia Natali, Chiara Brunetti, Alessandro Sannino, Nunzia Gallo
Summary: Soft tissues diseases have a significant impact on patients' quality of life, requiring targeted and often expensive interventions. In recent decades, there has been a growing demand for minimally invasive procedures for the treatment of complex diseases. Injectable collagen-based products have emerged as a promising approach in managing such diseases. Collagen, the most abundant protein in vertebrate connective tissues, has been widely used in healthcare and cosmetics. This review provides an update on the clinical outcomes of collagen-based injectables, highlighting their safety and effectiveness for treating various diseases.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Nunzia Gallo, Stefano Quarta, Marika Massaro, Maria Annunziata Carluccio, Amilcare Barca, Donato Cannoletta, Luisa Siculella, Luca Salvatore, Alessandro Sannino
Summary: Vascularization is a complex and precise process, but it can be slow and inadequate for tissue repair. Biomaterial-based strategies have been developed to enhance vasculogenesis. In this study, PLGA microparticles loaded with L-lysine were developed for controlled release. The optimized formulation showed biocompatibility and supported cell proliferation and angiogenesis. L-lysine encapsulated in PLGA microparticles has potential as a cost-effective system for angiogenesis enhancement and rapid healing.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Francesca Milano, Annalia Masi, Marta Madaghiele, Alessandro Sannino, Luca Salvatore, Nunzia Gallo
Summary: Gelatin, a versatile natural polymer, is extensively used in healthcare due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, low-cost, and chemical group availability. In the field of biomedicine, gelatin is utilized as a biomaterial for the development of drug delivery systems (DDSs) using various synthesis techniques. This review focuses on the techniques commonly used for gelatin-based micro- or nano-sized DDSs, highlighting the potential of gelatin as a carrier for bioactive compounds and its ability to control drug release kinetics. The various techniques, such as desolvation, nanoprecipitation, coacervation, emulsion, electrospray, and spray drying, are discussed along with their effects on DDSs' properties. Additionally, preclinical and clinical studies involving gelatin-based DDSs are thoroughly examined.
Article
Polymer Science
Carmela Tania Prontera, Nunzia Gallo, Roberto Giannuzzi, Marco Pugliese, Vitantonio Primiceri, Fabrizio Mariano, Antonio Maggiore, Giuseppe Gigli, Alessandro Sannino, Luca Salvatore, Vincenzo Maiorano
Summary: Bio-based polymers have gained significant attention for their potential applications as alternatives to conventional polymers. In the field of electrochemical devices, polymers are being explored as solid-state and gel-based electrolytes to enhance device performance. This study focuses on the fabrication and characterization of collagen membranes for their potential use as a polymeric matrix for gel electrolytes. The cross-linked collagen membranes showed good stability, water absorption capability, and resistance, making them suitable candidates for electrolytes in electrochromic devices.
Review
Microbiology
Marco Friuli, Rebecca Pellegrino, Leonardo Lamanna, Paola Nitti, Marta Madaghiele, Christian Demitri
Summary: Biopolymer-based formulations enhance the effectiveness of entomopathogenic fungi as bioinsecticides, offering target specificity, eco-friendliness, and sustainability. Challenges such as production costs, stability, and shelf life need to be addressed.
Article
Biology
Rebecca Pellegrino, Stefania Villani, Daniela Spagnolo, Irene Carofalo, Nico Carrino, Matteo Calcagnile, Pietro Alifano, Marta Madaghiele, Christian Demitri, Paola Nitti
Summary: In recent years, the increasing demand for clinical swabs has raised environmental concerns due to their single use and lack of biodegradability. This study focused on producing an innovative biodegradable PVA nanofiber swab tip using electrospinning, which showed comparable uptake and release capacity to commercial foam-type swabs for protein and bacterial samples. The obtained swab is low-cost, scalable, and efficient, making it suitable for the healthcare industry.
Article
Polymer Science
Elisabetta Rosa, Enrico Gallo, Teresa Sibillano, Cinzia Giannini, Serena Rizzuti, Eliana Gianolio, Pasqualina Liana Scognamiglio, Giancarlo Morelli, Antonella Accardo, Carlo Diaferia
Summary: Peptide-based hydrogels, generated through hierarchical and multiscale self-assembling phenomena, are versatile soft materials that are useful for various applications. The combination of short peptides and other chemical entities allows for the development of hybrid systems with tunable mechanical properties and unexpected biofunctionalities or morphologies.
Article
Humanities, Multidisciplinary
Liberato De Caro, Teresa Sibillano, Rocco Lassandro, Cinzia Giannini, Giulio Fanti
Summary: A new method using Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS) was applied to date ancient linen threads on the Turin Shroud. The results suggest that the shroud is much older than previously believed, aligning with the hypothesis that it is a 2000-year-old relic.
