Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Katarina Valachova, Ladislav Soltes
Summary: Chitosan and hyaluronan, two biopolymers providing structure, have numerous applications in medicine and cosmetics. Their biodegradability, non-toxicity, bacteriostatic, and fungistatic properties make them highly valuable in various fields.
Review
Polymer Science
Alessandro Pellis, Georg M. Guebitz, Gibson Stephen Nyanhongo
Summary: This review provides an overview of chitosan as an important raw material for various applications and discusses different sources, extraction and conversion techniques, inherent characteristics, and customization methods of chitosan. The review also explores the effects of degree of acetylation, degree of deacetylation, and molecular weight on the properties of chitosan.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kana Marunaka, Shokoku Shu, Mao Kobayashi, Makiko Goto, Yuji Katsuta, Yuta Yoshino, Akira Ikari
Summary: The expression of HAS2/3 is up-regulated by magnesium supplementation in HaCaT cells mediated through the activation of GSK3 and CREB. This indicates that magnesium may play a pivotal role in maintaining the skin barrier function.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Polymer Science
Alenka Vesel
Summary: Materials for biomedical applications often need to be coated to enhance their performance, such as their biocompatibility, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, or to assist the regeneration process and influence cell adhesion. Chitosan, a naturally available substance, meets these criteria. Plasma treatment is an effective solution for altering the surface of synthetic polymer materials to ensure interaction with chitosan. This review focuses on plasma methods for surface modification of polymers to improve chitosan immobilization, including direct and indirect immobilization approaches.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Mariana Barbosa, Pedro M. Alves, Fabiola Costa, Claudia Monteiro, Paula Parreira, Catia Teixeira, Paula Gomes, Maria Cristina L. Martins
Summary: Surface immobilization of antimicrobial peptides is a promising strategy to prevent biofilm formation on biomaterials. This study demonstrates that direct surface immobilization of Dhvar5 peptide using copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition method improves antimicrobial activity of chitosan ultrathin coatings.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Katarina Valachova, Ladislav Soltes
Summary: Chitosan and hyaluronan, as vital biopolymers, play a significant role in skin wound healing and can be utilized as skin wound dressings and carriers of remedies.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yonglei Wang, Xinglin Wang, Liping Tian, Yanan Li, Guilin He, Haiyang Yu, Hua Qi, Wentao Sun
Summary: This study successfully removed microcystis aeruginosa in lakes and reservoirs by modifying chitosan as amphiphilic material and using it as a bubble modifier. The modified chitosan showed improved water solubility but decreased thermal stability. Butyl-N-2 hydroxypropyl trimethyl chitosan ammonium chloride was the most effective modifier with an algae removal ratio of 93.47% at a dosage of 1.0 mg/L. The presence of algal organic matter enhanced the overall effect of algae removal, and electrostatic attraction was the primary adhesion mechanism.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Niranjan G. Kotla, Isma Liza Mohd Isa, Aitor Larranaga, Balaji Maddiboyina, Samantha K. Swamy, Gandhi Sivaraman, Praveen K. Vemula
Summary: In recent years, there has been a significant expansion in the research and clinical applications of hyaluronic acid-based scaffolds, medical devices, and bioconjugate systems. These developments are driven by the abundance of hyaluronic acid in mammalian tissues and its potential for chemical modifications. This review summarizes the importance of chemical modifications of hyaluronic acid, various advancements in bioconjugate derivatives, and their potential advantages in terms of physicochemical and pharmacological properties.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2023)
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.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Kristyna Skuhrovcova, Adela Kotzianova, Lenka Bardonova, Ondrej Zidek, Evgeniy Toropitsyn, Hana Vagnerova, Aneta Capova, Katerina Dostalova, Martina Hermannova, Marek Pokorny, Vladimir Velebny
Summary: This paper focuses on the preparation of nanofibrous layers produced from hydrophobized derivatives of hyaluronan for potential uses in regenerative medicine. The structural modification expands the material's range of potential applications, making it breathable, mechanically stable, and non-toxic to cells. The self-supporting nanofibrous matrix can be used as a scaffold or porous wound dressing.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Majid Pakizeh, Ali Moradi, Toktam Ghassemi
Summary: Chitin-based materials are promising in biomedical applications. Waste shrimp shells can be chemically extracted to produce high-value chitosan products. Future research should focus on improving extraction and production techniques for chitin.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kui Zeng, Ruhuai Mei, Xizhou Cecily Zhang, Loren B. Andreas, Kai Zhang
Summary: A catalyst-free one-pot methodology for direct nitrogen interception of chitosan/chitin for imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines was developed. This strategy allows for the synthesis of previously inaccessible products, including important deuterated imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines and tridentate ligands.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
J. B. M. Rocha Neto, F. Copes, P. Chevallier, R. S. Vieira, J. V. L. da Silva, D. Mantovani, M. M. Beppu
Summary: The development of hyaluronan/chitosan films functionalized with sulfated chitosan provides a new insight for the design of novel antithrombogenic biomaterials. The sulfated groups in the films effectively limit platelet adhesion and offer anti-thrombogenic properties.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Katarzyna Lewandowska, Alina Sionkowska, Marzanna Kurzawa
Summary: In this study, thin films composed of chitosan mixtures containing salicin were characterized and the effect of hyaluronic acid on the film properties was investigated. The results showed that the chitosan mixture films can be used in various applications, including wound-healing materials and cosmetic beauty masks.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Anna Lierova, Jitka Kasparova, Alzbeta Filipova, Jana Cizkova, Lenka Pekarova, Lucie Korecka, Nikola Mannova, Zuzana Bilkova, Zuzana Sinkorova
Summary: Hyaluronic acid is a major component of the extracellular matrix and plays a regulatory role in cell processes. This article reviews its history, metabolic pathway, unique properties, and interaction partners, and explores its potential applications in radiation-induced damage therapy.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
James Carthew, Hazem H. Abdelmaksoud, Karla J. Cowley, Margeaux Hodgson-Garms, Roey Elnathan, Joachim P. Spatz, Juergen Brugger, Helmut Thissen, Kaylene J. Simpson, Nicolas H. Voelcker, Jessica E. Frith, Victor J. Cadarso
Summary: The novel technology developed allows for direct imprint of micro- and nanoscaled topographical features onto the base of conventional cell cultureware, making it compatible with standard biological techniques and methods of analysis. High-throughput screening across five distinct cell types interrogated the effects of 12 surface topographies, demonstrating unique cell specific responses to behavior and cell morphological characteristics. This technology provides new insights into how surface topographies can regulate key image descriptors to drive cell fate determination in various fields in the life sciences.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Roey Elnathan, Andrew Dzurak, Justin Cooper-White, Craig Priest, Hark Hoe Tan, Michael Withford, Gordon Wallace, Lorenzo Faraone, Tom Eddershaw, Ian Griffiths, Jane Fitzpatrick, Nicolas H. Voelcker
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ji Tu, Wentian Li, Sidong Yang, Pengyi Yang, Qi Yan, Shenyu Wang, Kaitao Lai, Xupeng Bai, Cenhao Wu, Wenyuan Ding, Justin Cooper-White, Ashish Diwan, Cao Yang, Huilin Yang, Jun Zou
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive single-cell resolution transcript landscape of human NP, identifying six novel NPC populations with distinct molecular signatures and analyzing their potential functional differences. The study explores predictive transcripts, transcriptional factors, and signal pathways related to degeneration grades. The research reveals that G-MDSCs are enriched in mildly degenerated NP tissues and have immunosuppressive function and alleviation effects on NPC matrix degradation.
Article
Cell Biology
Gina D. Kusuma, Anqi Li, Dandan Zhu, Hannah McDonald, Ishmael M. Inocencio, Daniel C. Chambers, Kenneth Sinclair, Haoyun Fang, David W. Greening, Jessica E. Frith, Rebecca Lim
Summary: The impact of 3D culture on the secretion, proteome composition, and functional properties of extracellular vesicles (EVs) from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) was evaluated in this study. The results showed that EVs from 3D culture did not enhance typical MSC-EV properties expected from 2D culture, such as immunomodulation, anti-fibrotic, and anti-inflammatory effects. The study highlighted the critical differences between MSC-EVs obtained from different culture microenvironments, which should be considered in clinical manufacturing.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
James Carthew, Jason B. J. Taylor, Maria R. Garcia-Cruz, Nasim Kiaie, Nicolas H. Voelcker, Victor J. Cadarso, Jessica E. Frith
Summary: Cells respond to physical cues from their microenvironment, which is important for controlling stem cell behavior. Surface topographies can influence stem cell fate, and advances in fabrication technologies have allowed for the precise study of these mechanisms. However, further challenges must be overcome before the full potential of these approaches can be realized.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Ilze Donderwinkel, Rocky S. Tuan, Neil R. Cameron, Jessica E. Frith
Summary: The lack of a widely-adopted protocol for tenogenic differentiation has been a major obstacle in the field of tendon tissue engineering. This review presents a holistic evaluation and proposes a pathway to facilitate the development of a consensus protocol for stem cell tenogenic differentiation and tendon tissue engineering, building on current knowledge on tendon development and healing.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Bianca Nowlan, Elizabeth D. Williams, Michael Robert Doran
Summary: The study evaluated the impact of partially humanizing mouse bone marrow with human bone marrow-derived stromal cells on human prostate cancer cell behavior. Results showed that PC-3-DsRed cells preferentially populated bones in mice that had received human BMSC, and there were more bone lesions in these mice.
Review
Biophysics
Mojtaba Farahani, James Carthew, Sanchyan Bhowmik, Chloe Shard, Ana Nunez-Nescolarde, Guillermo A. Gomez, Victor J. Cadarso, Alexander N. Combes, Jessica E. Frith
Summary: The ability to create complex three-dimensional cellular models that can effectively replicate the structure and function of human organs and tissues in vitro has the potential to revolutionize medicine. Recent advances in tissue morphogenesis and bioengineering have led to the development of new technologies and materials that address the challenges in creating these models.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Eamonn McKenna, Kathryn Futrega, Travis J. Klein, Tariq A. Altalhi, Amirali Popat, Tushar Kumeria, Michael R. Doran
Summary: Spray nebulization is an understudied technique for scaffold production. Researchers fabricated polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofiber mesh scaffolds by spray nebulization, which simultaneously generated nanofibers and removed solvent. The scaffolds showed promising properties and supported cell growth, indicating their potential for dermal scaffold applications.
Article
Psychology, Biological
Katherine Christian, Jo-ann Larkins, Michael R. Doran
Summary: Early-career researchers in Australia express dissatisfaction, bullying, and concerns about research integrity. This article explores the potential impact of these issues on the replication crisis and proposes local and international strategies to address them.
NATURE HUMAN BEHAVIOUR
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Daniela Lazaro-Pacheco, Mina Mohseni, Samuel Rudd, Justin Cooper-White, Timothy Patrick Holsgrove
Summary: Low back pain is a major cause of disability worldwide and puts a significant socioeconomic burden on healthcare systems. Intervertebral disc degeneration is a primary cause of lower back pain, and despite the development of regenerative therapies, there are currently no commercially available devices or therapies for disc regeneration. Various models for mechanical stimulation and preclinical evaluation have been developed, but challenges and compromises remain.
APL BIOENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Aeolus Vilar, Margeaux Hodgson-Garms, Gina D. Kusuma, Ilze Donderwinkel, James Carthew, Jean L. Tan, Rebecca Lim, Jessica E. Frith
Summary: The stiffness of the substrate significantly affects the paracrine activity of MSCs, altering their proliferation, differentiation, immune modulation, and regenerative potential. These findings can be used to customize the culture environment for manufacturing potent MSCs for specific clinical applications, or to design biomaterials that support MSC activity after delivery.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Thuy P. T. Nguyen, Fanyi Li, Brendan Hung, Vinh Xuan Truong, Helmut Thissen, John S. Forsythe, Jessica E. Frith
Summary: Microgels, microscale particles of hydrogel, are attracting increasing attention for tissue regeneration applications due to their ability to support cell-ECM and cell-cell interactions, as well as their high surface area-to-volume ratio facilitating nutrient and metabolite exchange. This article presents methods for fabricating and modifying microfluidic devices using common laboratory consumables, allowing for the production of microgels. The introduced pipet-based chip offers simplicity, tunability, and versatility, making it easy to assemble in most laboratories for the effective production of cell-laden microgels for tissue engineering applications.
ACS BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Md. Shafiullah Shajib, Kathryn Futrega, Rose Ann G. Franco, Eamonn McKenna, Bianca Guillesser, Travis J. Klein, Ross W. Crawford, Michael R. Doran
Summary: This study developed a method for the mass production and cryopreservation of 3D cartilage microtissues, and found that the cryopreserved microtissues maintained their tissue function.
JOURNAL OF TISSUE ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Rose Ann G. Franco, Eamonn McKenna, Pamela G. Robey, Ross W. Crawford, Michael R. Doran, Kathryn Futrega
Summary: For the use of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) in cartilage repair, controlling their hypertrophic differentiation is crucial. TGF-beta 1 stimulation triggers chondrogenic and hypertrophic differentiation in BMSCs, and silencing SP7, a transcription factor associated with hypertrophic differentiation, reduces both hypertrophic and chondrogenic differentiation processes. However, SP7 silencing compromises overall trilineage differentiation of BMSCs and makes it challenging to promote chondrogenesis while reducing hypertrophy in cartilage tissue engineering.
JOURNAL OF TISSUE ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Lin-Lin Luo, Jie Xu, Bing-Qiao Wang, Chen Chen, Xi Chen, Qiu-Mei Hu, Yu-Qiu Wang, Wan-Yun Zhang, Wan-Xiang Jiang, Xin-Ting Li, Hu Zhou, Xiao Xiao, Kai Zhao, Sen Lin
Summary: A novel AAV serotype, AAVYC5, introduced in this study, showed more efficient transduction into multiple retinal layers compared to AAV2, and enabled successful delivery of anti-angiogenic molecules in mice and non-human primates.