Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Panneerselvam Jithendra, Jamal Moideen Muthu Mohamed, Dinesh Annamalai, Rasha Hamed Al-Serwi, Ateya Megahed Ibrahim, Mohamed El-Sherbiny, Abraham Merlin Rajam, Mamdouh Eldesoqui, Nimer Mansour
Summary: The chondrogenic efficacy of aloe vera blended collagen-chitosan (COL-CS-AV) porous scaffold was investigated using articular chondrocytes. The scaffold showed higher chondrogenic efficacy compared to COL-CS, making it a suitable candidate for cartilage tissue engineering. The study utilized various assays and staining techniques to analyze cytocompatibility, GAG content, RNA content, and expression of cartilage-specific genes and collagen type II.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Angela Semitela, Goncalo Ramalho, Ana Capitao, Catia Sousa, Alexandrina F. Mendes, Paula A. A. P. Marques, Antonio Completo
Summary: Electrospinning is widely used in fabricating fibrous scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering. However, small pores in the scaffold restrict cell infiltration. Bio-electrospraying provides a solution by incorporating chondrocytes into the fibers during electrospinning. Through experiments, it was found that chondrocytes survived and functioned well under certain electrospraying conditions. The combination of electrospraying and polymer electrospinning shows promising results for the delivery and development of cellularized cartilage tissue constructs.
JOURNAL OF TISSUE ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Elena De Angelis, Roberta Saleri, Paolo Martelli, Lisa Elviri, Annalisa Bianchera, Carlo Bergonzi, Marta Pirola, Roberta Romeo, Melania Andrani, Valeria Cavalli, Virna Conti, Ruggero Bettini, Benedetta Passeri, Francesca Ravanetti, Paolo Borghetti
Summary: The study demonstrates that 3D printed CH scaffolds have good porosity for colonization and synthetic activity of chondrocytes. Enrichment with hyaluronic acid provides a more stable chondrocyte phenotype. The use of 3D CH scaffolds with PL instead of FBS in the medium results in increased gene expression of relevant ECM components.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mohammad Hossein Mirmusavi, Mehdi Ahmadian, Saeed Karbasi
Summary: This study fabricated electrospun nanocomposite scaffolds based on polycaprolactone (PCL)-chitosan/carboxyl-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with different concentrations of MWCNTs. The scaffolds were characterized and it was found that the scaffold containing 0.5 wt% MWCNTs had the smallest fiber diameter and highest tensile strength, with a porosity suitable for tissue engineering. Increasing the MWCNTs content decreased the water contact angle and increased the scaffold's crystallinity, leading to enhanced bioactivity and stability for cartilage healing. Chondrocytes cultured on the scaffold with MWCNTs showed good viability.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Farshad Amiri, Melika Babaei, Nima Jamshidi, Maria Agheb, Mohammad Rafienia, Mohammad Kazemi
Summary: The study investigated the structural and biological properties of 3D-printed polyurethane scaffolds coated with gellan gum, hyaluronic acid, and glucosamine. The surface coating improved cell behavior, increased expression levels of collagen II and aggrecan genes, and enhanced the scaffold's mechanical and degradation properties, making it a promising candidate for meniscus tissue engineering.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Teerawat Sukpaita, Suwabun Chirachanchai, Atiphan Pimkhaokham, Ruchanee Salingcarnboriboon Ampornaramveth
Summary: This review provides an overview of chitosan-based biomaterials for bone tissue engineering and their applications in treating bone defects. The focus is on the characteristics of chitosan, scaffold fabrication processes, advantages and disadvantages, and future directions in the field.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Tomasz Machalowski, Joanna Idaszek, Adrian Chlanda, Marcin Heljak, Adam Piasecki, Wojciech Swieszkowski, Teofil Jesionowski
Summary: The study developed chitin-based biocomposites through biomimetic ex vivo deposition of calcium carbonate particles in the hemolymph from the cultivated mollusk Cornu aspersum and chitinous matrix from the marine demosponge Aplysina fistularis. The results showed that the biofunctionalized scaffold had about 4 times higher mechanical resistance and exhibited significant topographical changes, indicating its potential for modifying cell delivery systems in future biomedical applications.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Javad Esmaeili, Sorur Jadbabaee, Farnaz Mohebi Far, Mostafa Esmaeilpour Lukolayeh, Kevser Kubra Kirboga, Farnoush Sadat Rezaei, Aboulfazl Barati
Summary: Utilizing the stem of the Alstroemeria flower as a scaffold, this study fabricated a new scaffold material through decellularization and chitosan modification. The modified scaffold exhibited better porous structure, mechanical behavior, and biocompatibility compared to the unmodified scaffold. Modified tissue plants could be a promising candidate for tissue engineering of both soft and hard tissues.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Po-Chih Shen, Cheng-Chang Lu, Shih-Hsiang Chou, Zi-Miao Liu, Shu-Jem Su, Yin-Chun Tien
Summary: This study compared stratified chondrocyte sheets (S-CS) and heterogeneous chondrocyte sheets (H-CS) in terms of expression and therapeutic effects, revealing that the S-CS group exhibited higher cell viability, proliferation rate, expression of chondrogenic markers, secretion of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase, and GAG production level. The mini-pigs articular cartilage defect model showed that the S-CS group had a higher International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) macroscopic score and displayed a zonal structure closer to native cartilage.
Review
Polymer Science
Antony V. V. Samrot, Mahendran Sathiyasree, Sadiq Batcha Abdul Rahim, Robinson Emilin Renitta, Kasirajan Kasipandian, Sivasuriyan Krithika Shree, Deenadhayalan Rajalakshmi, Nagarajan Shobana, Shanmugaboopathi Dhiva, Sasi Abirami, Sridevi Visvanathan, Basanta Kumar Mohanty, Gokul Shankar Sabesan, Suresh V. Chinni
Summary: Biological macromolecules, such as polysaccharides, proteins, and glycoproteins, have been widely used in tissue engineering due to their ability to mimic the extracellular matrix and their biocompatibility. Scaffolds made from these macromolecules have properties like tensile strength, biodegradability, and flexibility. This review discusses the fabrication methods and applications of scaffolds using various biological macromolecules and emphasizes the importance of natural polymers over synthetic ones due to their unique properties.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Pinxue Li, Liwei Fu, Zhiyao Liao, Yu Peng, Chao Ning, Cangjian Gao, Daxu Zhang, Xiang Sui, Yunfeng Lin, Shuyun Liu, Chunxiang Hao, Quanyi Guo
Summary: This study developed a promising cartilage regenerative system using a chitosan/3D-printed PCL hybrid scaffold containing SMSCs and recruiting TFNA, which greatly improved cartilage defect repair through enhanced cell proliferation and chondrogenesis.
Article
Orthopedics
Yuxin Yan, Rao Fu, Chuanqi Liu, Jing Yang, Qingfeng Li, Ru-Lin Huang
Summary: A sequential chondrocyte isolation protocol was developed with higher cell-yield efficiency and better chondrocyte quality compared to the classic protocol. Cells harvested after sequential digestions demonstrated higher viability, proliferative activity, chondrocyte phenotype, and cartilage-specific matrix synthesis ability.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Oliver-Ferrandiz, Lara Milian, Maria Sancho-Tello, Jose Javier Martin de Llano, Fernando Gisbert Roca, Cristina Martinez-Ramos, Carmen Carda, Manuel Mata
Summary: A novel MACI scaffold composed of a mixed alginate-agarose hydrogel with human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) was proposed, showing superior biomechanical properties and uniform cell distribution. The hDPSCs cultured in the scaffold exhibited good chondrogenic differentiation potential.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sheng-Long Ding, Xi-Yuan Zhao, Wei Xiong, Lin-Feng Ji, Min-Xuan Jia, Yan-Yan Liu, Hai-Tao Guo, Feng Qu, Wenguo Cui, Qi Gu, Ming-Zhu Zhang
Summary: Cartilage equivalents from hydrogels containing chondrocytes show great potential in hyaline cartilage regeneration. However, current methods struggle to recreate the original architecture and culture non-differentiated chondrocytes in vitro. This study introduces specially designed microcarriers that use mechanotransductive conditions to form stable hyaluronic acid, contributing to the regeneration of hyaline cartilaginous microtissue and preventing chondrocyte dedifferentiation.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Xia Zhao, Daniel A. Hu, Di Wu, Fang He, Hao Wang, Linjuan Huang, Deyao Shi, Qing Liu, Na Ni, Mikhail Pakvasa, Yongtao Zhang, Kai Fu, Kevin H. Qin, Alexander J. Li, Ofir Hagag, Eric J. Wang, Maya Sabharwal, William Wagstaff, Russell R. Reid, Michael J. Lee, Jennifer Moriatis Wolf, Mostafa El Dafrawy, Kelly Hynes, Jason Strelzow, Sherwin H. Ho, Tong-Chuan He, Aravind Athiviraham
Summary: Cartilage, especially articular cartilage, is crucial for joint function and mobility, but has limited self-repair capacity. Cartilage tissue engineering (CTE) holds promise for repair, requiring effective chondrogenic factors, ample chondrogenic progenitors, and cell-friendly, biocompatible scaffold materials for success. Progress in these areas, along with advancements in 3D bio-printing, may improve clinical outcomes of cartilage repair.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Diana I. Meira, Ana I. Barbosa, Joel Borges, Rui L. Reis, Vitor M. Correlo, Filipe Vaz
Summary: Global population growth has a significant impact on the global food industry, posing a threat to food safety and quality. Mycotoxins, particularly Ochratoxin-A (OTA), are produced by fungus that contaminates various food species and products. OTA not only endangers food production but also poses potential toxicological risks to humans, leading to carcinogenic and neurological diseases. Therefore, the development of a selective, sensitive, and reliable OTA biodetection approach is crucial for ensuring food safety.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
(2023)
Review
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Prithwish Kola, Prasanth Kumar Bhusetty Nagesh, Pritam Kumar Roy, K. Deepak, Rui Luis Reis, Subhas C. Kundu, Mahitosh Mandal
Summary: The increasing number of breast cancer cases globally and the rising death rate indicate the inadequacy of traditional and current treatments. Nanoparticle-based therapies such as photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, chemodynamic therapy, and sonodynamic therapy show promise in combating breast cancer through accurate drug delivery and elimination of cancer stem cells. These innovative therapies have fewer side effects compared to standard chemotherapy and address the stability issues associated with cancer immunotherapy. This review discusses various nanotheranostic systems and smart nanoparticles, their mechanisms of action, and their relevance in the current era.
WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Ana M. Carvalho, Rui L. Reis, Iva Pashkuleva
Summary: The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a dynamic and complex environment shaped by heterogenous cancer and cancer-associated cells present at the tumor site. Hyaluronan (HA), a major component of TME, plays a role in promoting tumor growth and carcinogenesis. The interaction of different hyaladherins with HA triggers downstream signaling pathways, determining cell fate and contributing to TME progression towards a carcinogenic state.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
N. O. Monteiro, M. R. Casanova, J. F. Fangueiro, R. L. Reis, N. M. Neves
Summary: The interaction between cells and biomaterials plays a crucial role in the success of biomedical applications. The properties of biomaterials, such as their chemical composition and surface topography, can influence cell behavior. Surface topography, in particular, can affect cell motility, proliferation, migration, and differentiation. In this study, natural surface topographies were used to modulate cell functions in regenerative medicine. The replication of Rubus fruticosus leaf surface topography onto polycaprolactone (PCL) membranes showed promising results in promoting osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow stem cells (rBMSCs).
BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Biophysics
Sara Gimondi, Joana Vieira de Castro, Rui L. Reis, Helena Ferreira, Nuno M. Neves
Summary: In this study, the interaction between nanoparticles (NPs) and different types of cells was investigated. The results showed that the internalization of NPs by cells was size-dependent, with the highest uptake efficiency observed for 30 nm NPs. Different endocytic pathways were initiated in the presence of particular NP sizes, suggesting the importance of size in mediating the interaction between NPs and specific cell types.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Lingzhi Wang, Catarina Oliveira, Qiu Li, Andreia S. Ferreira, Claudia Nunes, Manuel A. Coimbra, Rui L. Reis, Albino Martins, Chunming Wang, Tiago H. Silva, Yanxian Feng
Summary: This study characterized a pharmaceutical-grade fucoidan extracted from Fucus vesiculosus and investigated its anti-inflammatory potential. The extract contained mainly fucose, followed by uronic acids, galactose, and xylose, with a molecular weight of 70 kDa and a sulfate content of around 10%. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated the ability of the fucoidan extract to modulate cytokine expression and reverse inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide.
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Catarina S. Silva, Banani Kundu, Joana M. Gomes, Emanuel M. Fernandes, Rui L. Reis, Subhas C. Kundu, Albino Martins, Nuno M. Neves
Summary: The thymus plays a crucial role in T cell development and selection. However, replicating the complex 3D environment of the thymus using bioengineering approaches has been challenging. In this study, bilayered porous silk fibroin scaffolds were developed and their effect on thymic epithelial cell (TEC) co-cultures was investigated.
BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lara L. Reys, Simone S. Silva, Diana Soares da Costa, Luisa C. Rodrigues, Rui L. Reis, Tiago H. Silva
Summary: The study aimed to create agarose/fucoidan hydrogels as a potential biomaterial for diabetes therapeutics. The hydrogels were produced by combining fucoidan and agarose, marine polysaccharides derived from seaweeds, and a thermal gelation process. Rheological tests showed a non-Newtonian and viscoelastic behavior, and the mechanical behavior indicated that increasing agarose concentrations resulted in hydrogels with higher Young's modulus. Encapsulating pancreatic cells in the hydrogels showed the ability to sustain cell viability and promote self-organization of pancreatic beta cells into pseudo-islets.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cristina V. Rodrigues, Rita O. Sousa, Ana C. Carvalho, Ana L. Alves, Catarina F. Marques, Mariana T. Cerqueira, Rui L. Reis, Tiago H. Silva
Summary: The potential of Atlantic codfish skin collagen for skincare was evaluated in this study. The extracted collagen showed similar characteristics to bovine skin collagen and was not cytotoxic to keratinocytes. Collagen membranes developed from the extract exhibited smooth surfaces, good water absorption capacity, and improved metabolic activity and proliferation of keratinocytes. Therefore, these membranes have potential applications in the biomedical and cosmeceutical fields.
Article
Polymer Science
Duarte Nuno Carvalho, Flavia C. M. Lobo, Luisa C. Rodrigues, Emanuel M. M. Fernandes, David S. S. Williams, Andrew Mearns-Spragg, Carmen G. G. Sotelo, Ricardo I. I. Perez-Martin, Rui L. L. Reis, Michael Gelinsky, Tiago H. H. Silva
Summary: The self-repair capacity of human tissue is limited, leading to the development of tissue engineering for tissue regeneration. This study proposes the development and characterization of innovative polymeric membranes formed by blending marine origin polymers as biomaterials for tissue regeneration. The polymeric membranes demonstrated promising chemical and physical properties, suitable for tissue engineering approaches, particularly for the regeneration of damaged articular cartilage.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sara Gimondi, Helena Ferreira, Rui L. L. Reis, Nuno M. M. Neves
Summary: The use of nanoparticles in nanomedicine has great potential in overcoming the limitations of conventional therapies and improving early diagnosis and follow-up of diseases. Microfluidic systems offer an efficient and cost-effective method for nanoparticle synthesis and screening by simulating dynamic fluid flows and specific microenvironments. Microfluidic devices allow for controlled synthesis of nanoparticles, enhancing batch-to-batch reproducibility, and provide versatile platforms for rapid and efficient in vitro and in vivo screening. This review summarizes the major microfluidic platforms for controlled nanoparticle synthesis, discusses innovative platforms for mimicking in vitro environments and organism-on-a-chip, and evaluates the current challenges and future directions of microfluidic systems in nanomedicine.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sara F. Vieira, Joana Araujo, Virginia M. F. Goncalves, Carla Fernandes, Madalena Pinto, Helena Ferreira, Nuno M. Neves, Maria Elizabeth Tiritan
Summary: The relationship between drug chirality and biological activity has gained significant importance in medicinal chemistry in recent years. Chiral derivatives of xanthones (CDXs) exhibit interesting biological activities, such as enantioselective anti-inflammatory effects. This study describes the synthesis of a library of CDXs using a chiral pool strategy, resulting in sixty new derivatives. Several CDXs showed promising anti-inflammatory activity, with the amino ester of L-tyrosine (X1AELT) being the most effective in reducing interleukin 6 (IL-6) production in macrophages.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biology
Temuulen Selenge, Sara F. Vieira, Odontuya Gendaram, Rui L. Reis, Soninkhishig Tsolmon, Enkhtuul Tsendeekhuu, Helena Ferreira, Nuno M. Neves
Summary: In this study, the ethanol and dichloromethane extracts of Stellera chamaejasme were evaluated for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The ethanol extract of the aerial parts contained flavonoid compounds, while the root extracts and dichloromethane extract did not. The extracts exhibited strong antioxidant activity and efficiently inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Particularly, the dichloromethane extract of the root showed the strongest activity and contained fatty acids and triterpenoids.
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Ana M. Martins, Alexandra Brito, Maria Grazia Barbato, Alessia Felici, Rui L. Reis, Ricardo A. Pires, Iva Pashkuleva, Paolo Decuzzi
Summary: The 3D organization of cells plays a significant role in their behavior and response to treatment. In cancer research, spheroids, organoids, and microfluidic chips are used to mimic the complex microenvironment of tumors. This study utilized microfluidic devices to replicate the spatial organization of brain tumors and evaluate the efficacy of anti-cancer agents. The results showed that brain tumor cells were more sensitive to treatment in the microfluidic device compared to traditional cell cultures. The proposed microfluidic chips can effectively reproduce the 3D structure of tumors and assess the effectiveness of therapeutic compounds.
BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Fatemeh Soltanzadeh, Ali Edalat-Behbahani, Kasra Hosseinmostofi, Ibrahim Fatih Cengiz, Joaquim Miguel Oliveira, Rui L. Reis
Summary: This study investigated the bond durability characteristics of basalt-fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) rebars in fiber-reinforced self-compacting concrete (FRSCC) structures. The influence of environmental conditions, reinforcement type, and loading type on the bond strength of the specimens was explored. The results were used to estimate the bond strength retention between BFRP and FRSCC after 50 years of exposure to seawater.
