Atelocollagen-based Hydrogels Crosslinked with Oxidised Polysaccharides as Cell Encapsulation Matrix for Engineered Bioactive Stromal Tissue

PTK2B inhibitor PF-431396 inhibits inflammatory response and apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells by targeting AKT1 phosphorylation in premature ovarian insufficiency

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a female reproductive disorder characterized by impaired ovarian function. Protein tyrosine kinase 2 beta (PTK2B), a non-receptor tyrosine kinase, has been implicated in folliculogenesis, but its role in POI remains unknown. In this study, a rat POI model was established by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (Cy) for 14 days. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been elicited to effectively improve ovarian function in POI. Here, mRNA sequencing (mRNA-seq) analysis found that PTK2B expression in ovarian tissues was upregulated by Cy treatment but downregulated by EA. To investigate PTK2B's role, primary rat ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) were co-treated with Cy (250 μM) and a PTK2B inhibitor PF-431396 (10 μM) for 48 h. PF-431396 inhibited Cy-induced inflammatory response and apoptosis in GCs. Further, PTK2B binds to AKT1 in GCs. PF-431396 facilitated AKT1 phosphorylation, and the inhibitory effects of PF-431396 on GC inflammatory response and apoptosis were reversed by an AKT1 inhibitor LY294002. In vivo, rats were given PF-431396 (10 mg/kg/d) by gavage for 7 days following Cy induction for 14 days. Treatment with PF-431396 increased ovarian weight, serum E2, and AMH levels, while decreased FSH and LH levels. Additionally, it could improve Cy-induced ovarian tissue injury, inhibit inflammation and apoptosis, and elevate p-AKT1 level in ovarian tissues. Together, our results unveil that PF-431396, a PTK2B inhibitor, ameliorates ovarian dysfunction in POI through promoting AKT1 phosphorylation, suggesting that PTK2B may be a therapeutic target for POI.

Establishment of a New Cryopreservation Solution for Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells

Preservation and transportation are essential for the clinical application of chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells. This study aimed to optimize a cryopreservation solution for CAR-T cells and evaluate the antitumor efficiency of CAR-T cells using this optimized solution in vitro and in vivo. First, the stability of the cryopreservation solution for CAR-T infusion was detected by the L27 (3⁷) orthogonal experiment. Subsequently, osmolality and pH were analyzed for the preservation reagent. Additionally, apoptosis and CAR expression of CAR-T cells were measured by flow cytometry, and the cytotoxicity was determined by calcein-AM staining. The results showed that cryopreservation solutions used in this study demonstrated high chemical stability, which induced only 2% CAR-T cells apoptosis in optimal solutions, which were slightly lower than other commercial solutions. Moreover, the CAR expression was not significantly affected by preservation with these solutions. There were no significant differences in the cytotoxicity between fresh and thawed CAR-T cells cryopreserved in the cryopreservation solutions in vivo and in vitro. This study developed a new cryopreservation solution for CAR-T cells, and it was safe and also had negligible effects on the CAR-T cells antitumor activity.

Controlled Production of Elastin-like Recombinamer Polymer-Based Membranes at a Liquid-Liquid Interface by Click Chemistry

Diffusion of organic and inorganic molecules controls most industrial and biological processes that occur in a liquid phase. Although significant efforts have been devoted to the design and operation of large-scale purification systems, diffusion devices with adjustable biochemical characteristics have remained difficult to achieve. In this regard, micrometer-scale, bioinspired membranes with tunable diffusion properties have been engineered by covalent cross-linking of two elastin-like recombinamers (ELRs) at a liquid-liquid interface. The covalent approach selected provides the desired ELR-based membranes with structural support, and modulation of the concentration of the polypeptides employed confers direct control of the thickness, pore size, and diffusive properties over a broad range of molecular weights (4-150 kDa). The recombinant and versatile nature of the proteinaceous building blocks employed further paves the way to engineering bioactive motifs within the membrane scaffold, thereby widening their applicability in the biological field.

Review of Plastic Surgery Biomaterials and Current Progress in Their 3D Manufacturing Technology

Plastic surgery is a broad field, including maxillofacial surgery, skin flaps and grafts, liposuction and body contouring, breast surgery, and facial cosmetic procedures. Due to the requirements of plastic surgery for the biological safety of materials, biomaterials are widely used because of its superior biocompatibility and biodegradability. Currently, there are many kinds of biomaterials clinically used in plastic surgery and their applications are diverse. Moreover, with the rise of three-dimensional printing technology in recent years, the macroscopically more precise and personalized bio-scaffolding materials with microporous structure have made good progress, which is thought to bring new development to biomaterials. Therefore, in this paper, we reviewed the plastic surgery biomaterials and current progress in their 3D manufacturing technology.

Advances in biomaterials for adipose tissue reconstruction in plastic surgery

Adipose tissue reconstruction is an important technique for soft tissue defects caused by facial plastic surgery and trauma. Adipose tissue reconstruction can be repaired by fat transplantation and biomaterial filling, but there are some problems in fat transplantation, such as second operation and limited resources. The application of advanced artificial biomaterials is a promising strategy. In this paper, injectable biomaterials and three-dimensional (3D) tissue-engineered scaffold materials for adipose tissue reconstruction in plastic surgery are reviewed. Injectable biomaterials include natural biomaterials and artificial biomaterials, which generally have problems such as high absorptivity of fillers, repeated injection, and rejection. In recent years, the technology of new 3D tissue-engineering scaffold materials with adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and porous scaffold as the core has made good progress in fat reconstruction, which is expected to solve the current problem of clinical adipose tissue reconstruction, and various biomaterials preparation technology and transformation research also provide the basis for clinical transformation of fat tissue reconstruction.

Electrostatically Interactive Injectable Hydrogels for Drug Delivery

BACKGROUND

Several injectable hydrogels have been developed extensively for a broad range of biomedical applications. Injectable hydrogels forming in situ through the change in external stimuli have the distinct properties of easy management and minimal invasiveness, and thus provide the advantage of bypassing surgical procedures for administration resulting in better patient compliance.

METHODS

The injectable in situ-forming hydrogels can be formed irreversibly or reversibly under physiological stimuli. Among several external stimuli that induce formation of hydrogels in situ, in this review, we focused on the electrostatic interactions as the most simple and interesting stimulus.

RESULTS

Currently, numerous polyelectrolytes have been reported as potential electrostatically interactive in situ-forming hydrogels. In this review, a comprehensive overview of the rapidly developing electrostatically interactive in situ-forming hydrogels, which are produced by various anionic and cationic polyelectrolytes such as chitosan, celluloses, and alginates, has been outlined and summarized. Further, their biomedical applications have also been discussed.

CONCLUSION

The review concludes with perspectives on the future of electrostatically interactive in situ-forming hydrogels.

Injectable Biomaterials in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: A Review of the Current Status

BACKGROUND

Injectable biomaterials have attracted increasing attention for volume restoration and tissue regeneration. The main aim of this review is to discuss the current status of the injectable biomaterials for correction of tissue defects in plastic and reconstructive surgery.

METHODS

Requirements of injectable biomaterials, mechanism of in situ gelation, characteristics, and the combinational usage of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and growth factors were reviewed.

RESULTS

The ideal injectable biomaterials should be biocompatible, non-toxic, easy to use, and cost-effective. Additionally, it should possess adequate mechanical properties and stability. In situ gelation method includes physical, chemical, enzymatic and photo-initiated methods. Natural and synthetic biomaterials carry their pros and cons due to their inherent properties. The combined use of ADSCs and growth factors provides enhanced potential for adipose tissue regeneration.

CONCLUSIONS

The usage of injectable biomaterials has been increasing for the tissue restoration and regeneration. The future of incorporating ADSCs and growth factors into the injectable biomaterials is promising.

In Situ Cross-Linkable Hydrogels as a Dynamic Matrix for Tissue Regenerative Medicine

BACKGROUND

Polymeric hydrogels are extensively used as promising biomaterials in a broad range of biomedical applications, including tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and drug delivery. These materials have advantages such as structural similarity to the native extracellular matrix (ECM), multi-tunable physicochemical and biological properties, and biocompatibility.

METHODS

In situ forming hydrogels show a phase transition from a solution to a gel state through various physical and chemical cross-linking reactions. These advanced hydrogel materials have been widely used for tissue regenerative medicine because of the ease of encapsulating therapeutic agents, such as cells, drugs, proteins, and genes.

RESULTS

With advances in biomaterials engineering, these hydrogel materials have been utilized as either artificial cellular microenvironments to create engineered tissue constructs or as bioactive acellular matrices to stimulate the native ECM for enhanced tissue regeneration and restoration.

CONCLUSION

In this review, we discuss the use of in situ cross-linkable hydrogels in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. In particular, we focus on emerging technologies as a powerful therapeutic tool for tissue regenerative medicine applications.

Bioactive Molecules Release and Cellular Responses of Alginate-Tricalcium Phosphate Particles Hybrid Gel

In this article, a hybrid gel has been developed using sodium alginate (Alg) and α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) particles through ionic crosslinking process for the application in bone tissue engineering. The effects of pH and composition of the gel on osteoblast cells (MC3T3) response and bioactive molecules release have been evaluated. At first, a slurry of Alg and α-TCP has been prepared using an ultrasonicator for the homogeneous distribution of α-TCP particles in the Alg network and to achieve adequate interfacial interaction between them. After that, CaCl2 solution has been added to the slurry so that ionic crosslinked gel (Alg-α-TCP) is formed. The developed hybrid gel has been physico-chemically characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a swelling study. The SEM analysis depicted the presence of α-TCP micro-particles on the surface of the hybrid gel, while cross-section images signified that the α-TCP particles are fully embedded in the porous gel network. Different % swelling ratio at pH 4, 7 and 7.4 confirmed the pH responsiveness of the Alg-α-TCP gel. The hybrid gel having lower % α-TCP particles showed higher % swelling at pH 7.4. The hybrid gel demonstrated a faster release rate of bovine serum albumin (BSA), tetracycline (TCN) and dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG) at pH 7.4 and for the grade having lower % α-TCP particles. The MC3T3 cells are viable inside the hybrid gel, while the rate of cell proliferation is higher at pH 7.4 compared to pH 7. The in vitro cytotoxicity analysis using thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT), bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and neutral red assays ascertained that the hybrid gel is non-toxic for MC3T3 cells. The experimental results implied that the non-toxic and biocompatible Alg-α-TCP hybrid gel could be used as scaffold in bone tissue engineering.