Fabrication and characterization of metal stent coating with drug-loaded nanofiber film for gallstone dissolution
Stent insertion and chemical agents of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid and sodium cholate for dissolving common bile duct stone diseases through extra biliary tract infusion have been believed a relatively effective therapeutics for the clinical symptom. Core-shell nanofibers produced by co-axial electrospinning to deliver chemical drugs, biomacromolecules, genes and even cells have been reported for various advanced drug delivery system and tissue engineering applications. In the present study, poly (lactide-co--caprolactone) (PLCL) core-shell nanofiber-coated film of stent, loaded with ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid...
Source: Journal of Biomaterials Applications - October 25, 2016 Category: Materials Science Authors: Gao, Q., Huang, C., Sun, B., Aqeel, B. M., Wang, J., Chen, W., Mo, X., Wan, X. Tags: Functional Biomaterials Surfaces Source Type: research

Preparation and characterization of hemoglobin-silver composites as biocompatible antiseptics
In this study, the main protein component of red blood cells, hemoglobin (Hb), was employed to prepare Ag–Hb nanocomposites as novel biocompatible antiseptics. The formation of Ag–Hb nanocomposites on the titanium substrate are confirmed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopic, contact angles, and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry analysis. The Ag–Hb titanium shows potent antibacterial ability against planktonic bacteria in the suspension and ability to prevent bacterial adhesion. Moreover, the Ag–Hb titanium shows excellent bi...
Source: Journal of Biomaterials Applications - October 25, 2016 Category: Materials Science Authors: Li, P., Tong, Z., Jia, Z., Su, W. Tags: Functional Biomaterials Surfaces Source Type: research

Tamoxifen citrate-loaded poly(D,L) lactic acid nanoparticles: Evaluation for their anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo
The optimization of tamoxifen citrate entrapment and its release from biodegradable poly(d,l) lactic acid nanoparticles are prepared by modified spontaneous emulsification solvent diffusion method. Since the addition of tamoxifen citrate induces the formation of drug crystals from nanoparticle suspension the influence of several parameters on tamoxifen citrate encapsulation was investigated. In vitro studies for cytotoxicity, DNA ladder, and the expression of Bcl-2–Bax expression were also investigated for MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells after the addition of tamoxifen citrate alone and tamoxifen citrate–poly(d,l) l...
Source: Journal of Biomaterials Applications - October 25, 2016 Category: Materials Science Authors: Ravikumara, N., Bharadwaj, M., Madhusudhan, B. Tags: Nanotechnology in Biomaterials Source Type: research

Enhanced osteogenesis on biofunctionalized poly({varepsilon}-caprolactone)/poly(m-anthranilic acid) nanofibers
Biofunctionalized nanofibers with a desired biological function can be used as a tissue engineering scaffold due to their small fiber diameters and porous structure. In the present study, poly(-caprolactone)/poly(m-anthranilic acid) nanofibers were biofunctionalized with covalent immobilization of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) through 1-ethyl-3-(dimethyl-aminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride/N-hydroxysuccinimide activation. Fourier transform infrared analysis of the nanofiber surfaces confirmed the successful immobilization. The amount of immobilized BMP-2 was determined with bicinchoninic acid protein assay. The ...
Source: Journal of Biomaterials Applications - October 25, 2016 Category: Materials Science Authors: Guler, Z., Silva, J. C., Sarac, A. S. Tags: Nanotechnology in Biomaterials Source Type: research

Exploring the unexpected influence of the Si:Ge ratio on the molecular architecture and mechanical properties of Al-free GICs
Germanium (Ge)-based glass ionomer cements have demonstrated the ability to balance strength with extended setting times, a unique set of characteristics for aluminum-free glass ionomer cements. However, the mechanical properties of current Ge-based glass ionomer cements significantly deteriorate over time, which jeopardizes their clinical potential. This work explores the effect of incrementally decreasing the Si:Ge ratio in the glass phase of zinc-silicate glass ionomer cements to identify potential mechanisms responsible for the time-induced mechanical instability of Ge-based glass ionomer cements. The influence of Ge w...
Source: Journal of Biomaterials Applications - October 25, 2016 Category: Materials Science Authors: Dickey, B., Price, R., Boyd, D. Tags: Biomaterials Processing Source Type: research

In situ thiolated alginate hydrogel: Instant formation and its application in hemostasis
An in situ formed hydrogel was synthesized by sodium alginate and cysteine methyl ester, which turned the sodium alginate into thiolated alginate (SA-SH). SA-SH can in situ formed into hydrogel (SA-SS-SA) with a large amount of water through covalent bond in less than 20 s. The structure characterization showed that the mechanism of SA-SH gelation was thiol-disulfide transformation. The rheology and cytotoxicity experiments of SA-SS-SA hydrogel were also investigated, which indicated that SA-SS-SA hydrogel had an appropriate mechanical strength as well as an excellent biocompatibility. The SA-SS-SA hydrogel would degrade u...
Source: Journal of Biomaterials Applications - October 25, 2016 Category: Materials Science Authors: Xu, G., Cheng, L., Zhang, Q., Sun, Y., Chen, C., Xu, H., Chai, Y., Lang, M. Tags: Biomaterials Processing Source Type: research

Effect of the incorporation of chitosan on the physico-chemical, mechanical properties and biological activity on a mixture of polycaprolactone and polyurethanes obtained from castor oil
The objectives of the study were to evaluate the effect of the incorporation of chitosan on the changes of the physico-chemical and mechanical properties and the in vitro biological activity of the polyurethanes. It was found that the incorporation of chitosan enhances the ultimate tensile strength of the polyurethanes and does not affect the strain at fracture in polyurethanes with 5% w/w of polycaprolactone and concentrations of chitosan ranging from 0 to 2% w/w. In addition, PCL5-Q-PU formulations and their degradation products did not affect cell viability of L929 mouse fibroblast and 3T3, respectively. Polyuretha...
Source: Journal of Biomaterials Applications - October 25, 2016 Category: Materials Science Authors: Arevalo, F., Uscategui, Y. L., Diaz, L., Cobo, M., Valero, M. F. Tags: Biomaterials Processing Source Type: research

Production and characterization of hyaluronic acid microparticles for the controlled delivery of growth factors using a spray/dehydration method
Hyaluronic acid is the main polysaccharide present in the connective tissue. Besides its structural function as backbone of the extracellular matrix, hyaluronic acid plays staple roles in several biological processes including the modulation of inflammation and wound healing processes. The application of hyaluronic acid in regenerative medicine, either as cells and/or drug/growth factors delivery vehicles, relies on its ability to be cross-linked using a plethora of reactions, producing stable hydrogels. In this work, we propose a novel method for the production of hyaluronic acid microparticles that presents several advan...
Source: Journal of Biomaterials Applications - October 25, 2016 Category: Materials Science Authors: Babo, P. S., Reis, R. L., Gomes, M. E. Tags: Biomaterials Processing Source Type: research

Bio-printing cell-laden Matrigel-agarose constructs
3D printing of biological architectures that mimic the structural and functional features of in vivo tissues is of great interest in tissue engineering and the development of transplantable organ constructs. Printable bio-inks that are compatible with cellular activities play critical roles in the process of 3D bio-printing. Although a variety of hydrogels have been used as bio-inks for 3D bio-printing, they inherit poor mechanical properties and/or the lack of essential protein components that compromise their performance. Here, a hybrid Matrigel–agarose hydrogel system has been demonstrated that possesses both desi...
Source: Journal of Biomaterials Applications - October 25, 2016 Category: Materials Science Authors: Fan, R., Piou, M., Darling, E., Cormier, D., Sun, J., Wan, J. Tags: Biomaterials Processing Source Type: research

Antibacterial and osteo-stimulatory effects of a borate-based glass series doped with strontium ions
This work considered the effect of both increasing additions of Strontium (Sr2+) and incubation time on solubility and both antibacterial and osteo-stimulatory effects of a series of glasses based on the B2O3–P2O5–CaCO3–Na2CO3–TiO2–SrCO3 series. The amorphous nature of all the glasses was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Discs of each glass were immersed in de-ionized water for 1, 7 and 30 days, and the water extracts were used for ion release profiles, pH measurements and cytotoxicity testing. Atomic absorption spectroscopy was employed to detect the release of Na+, Ca2+ and Sr2+ ions from the...
Source: Journal of Biomaterials Applications - October 25, 2016 Category: Materials Science Authors: Li, Y., Stone, W., Schemitsch, E. H., Zalzal, P., Papini, M., Waldman, S. D., Towler, M. R. Tags: Hard Tissues and Materials Source Type: research

Augmenting in vitro osteogenesis of a glycine-arginine-glycine-aspartic-conjugated oxidized alginate-gelatin-biphasic calcium phosphate hydrogel composite and in vivo bone biogenesis through stem cell delivery
A functionally modified peptide-conjugated hydrogel system was fabricated with oxidized alginate/gelatin loaded with biphasic calcium phosphate to improve its biocompatibility and functionality. Sodium alginate was treated by controlled oxidation to transform the cis-diol group into an aldehyde group in a controlled manner, which was then conjugated to the amine terminus of glycine–arginine–glycine–aspartic. Oxidized alginate glycine–arginine–glycine–aspartic was then combined with gelatin-loaded biphasic calcium phosphate to form a hydrogel of composite oxidized alginate/gelatin/biphasi...
Source: Journal of Biomaterials Applications - October 25, 2016 Category: Materials Science Authors: Linh, N. T., Paul, K., Kim, B., Lee, B.-T. Tags: Hard Tissues and Materials Source Type: research

Three-dimensional printing akermanite porous scaffolds for load-bearing bone defect repair: An investigation of osteogenic capability and mechanical evolution
Some Ca–Mg-silicate ceramics have been widely investigated to be highly bioactive and biodegradable, whereas their osteogenic potential and especially biomechanical response in the early stage in vivo are scarcely demonstrated. Herein, the osteogenesis capacity and mechanical evolution of the akermanite (Ca2MgSi2O7) porous materials manufactured by ceramic ink writing three-dimensional printing technique were investigated systematically in a critical size femur defect model, in comparison with the clinically available β-tricalcium phosphate porous bioceramic. Such three-dimensional printed akermanite scaffolds p...
Source: Journal of Biomaterials Applications - October 25, 2016 Category: Materials Science Authors: Liu, A., Sun, M., Yang, X., Ma, C., Liu, Y., Yang, X., Yan, S., Gou, Z. Tags: Hard Tissues and Materials Source Type: research

Assessment of bone healing ability of calcium phosphate cements loaded with platelet lysate in rat calvarial defects
Injectable calcium phosphate cements have been used as a valid alternative to autologous bone grafts for bone augmentation with the additional advantage of enabling minimally invasive implantation procedures and for perfectly fitting the tissue defect. Nevertheless, they have low biodegradability and lack adequate biochemical signaling to promote bone healing and remodeling. In previous in vitro studies, we observed that the incorporation of platelet lysate directly into the cement paste or loaded in hyaluronic acid microspheres allowed to modulate the cement degradation and the in vitro expression of osteogenic ...
Source: Journal of Biomaterials Applications - October 25, 2016 Category: Materials Science Authors: Babo, P. S., Carvalho, P. P., Santo, V. E., Faria, S., Gomes, M. E., Reis, R. L. Tags: Hard Tissues and Materials Source Type: research

The performance of bone tissue engineering scaffolds in in vivo animal models: A systematic review
Bone tissue engineering is an excellent alternative for the regeneration of large bone defects caused by trauma or bone pathologies. Scaffolds, stem cells, and bioactive molecules are the three key components of bone regeneration. Although a wide range of biomaterials of various compositions and structures has been proposed in the literature, these materials are rarely used in clinical applications. Therefore, more standardized studies are required to design scaffolds that enable better bone regeneration and are suitable for clinical use. The aim of this systematic review was to compare the performance of scaffolds used in...
Source: Journal of Biomaterials Applications - October 25, 2016 Category: Materials Science Authors: de Misquita, M. R. D. O. F., Bentini, R., Goncalves, F. Tags: Review Article Source Type: research

Intracellular plasmid DNA delivery by self-assembled nanoparticles of amphiphilic PHML-b-PLLA-b-PHML copolymers and the endocytosis pathway analysis
This work presents a new series of polycationic nanoparticles of (l-)-lysine conjugated amphiphilic triblock copolymer poly(hydroxyletheyl methacrylate-L-lysine)-b-poly(L-lactide)-b-poly(hydroxyletheyl methacrylate-L-lysine)s (PHML-b-PLLA-b-PHML) as potent low cytotoxic vectors for intracellular plasmid DNA delivery. First, the triblock PHML-b-PLLA-b-PHML copolymers were prepared via a combination of metal-free controlled ring opening polymerization and successive atom transfer radical polymerization. Then the cationic PHML-b-PLLA-b-PHML nanoparticles were further prepared by solution self-assembly. The particle size, zeta...
Source: Journal of Biomaterials Applications - October 13, 2016 Category: Materials Science Authors: Sun, J., Luo, T., Sheng, R., Li, H., Wang, Z., Cao, A. Tags: Nanotechnology in Biomaterials Source Type: research