In vitro probing of oxidized inulin cross-linked collagen-ZrO2 hybrid scaffolds for tissue engineering applications

Analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry: An update for 2021-2022

The use of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry for the analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates is a well-established technique and this review is the 12th update of the original article published in 1999 and brings coverage of the literature to the end of 2022. As with previous review, this review also includes a few papers that describe methods appropriate to analysis by MALDI, such as sample preparation, even though the ionization method is not MALDI. The review follows the same format as previous reviews. It is divided into three sections: (1) general aspects such as theory of the MALDI process, matrices, derivatization, MALDI imaging, fragmentation, quantification and the use of computer software for structural identification. (2) Applications to various structural types such as oligo- and polysaccharides, glycoproteins, glycolipids, glycosides and biopharmaceuticals, and (3) other general areas such as medicine, industrial processes, natural products and glycan synthesis where MALDI is extensively used. Much of the material relating to applications is presented in tabular form. MALDI is still an ideal technique for carbohydrate analysis, particularly in its ability to produce single ions from each analyte and advancements in the technique and range of applications show little sign of diminishing.

Potentially commercializable nerve guidance conduits for peripheral nerve injury: Past, present, and future

Peripheral nerve injuries are a prevalent global issue that has garnered great concern. Although autografts remain the preferred clinical approach to repair, their efficacy is hampered by factors like donor scarcity. The emergence of nerve guidance conduits as novel tissue engineering tools offers a promising alternative strategy. This review aims to interpret nerve guidance conduits and their commercialization from both clinical and laboratory perspectives. To enhance comprehension of clinical situations, this article provides a comprehensive analysis of the clinical efficacy of nerve conduits approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. It proposes that the initial six months post-transplantation is a critical window period for evaluating their efficacy. Additionally, this study conducts a systematic discussion on the research progress of laboratory conduits, focusing on biomaterials and add-on strategies as pivotal factors for nerve regeneration, as supported by the literature analysis. The clinical conduit materials and prospective optimal materials are thoroughly discussed. The add-on strategies, together with their distinct obstacles and potentials are deeply analyzed. Based on the above evaluations, the development path and manufacturing strategy for the commercialization of nerve guidance conduits are envisioned. The critical conclusion promoting commercialization is summarized as follows: 1) The optimization of biomaterials is the fundamental means; 2) The phased application of additional strategies is the emphasized direction; 3) The additive manufacturing techniques are the necessary tools. As a result, the findings of this research provide academic and clinical practitioners with valuable insights that may facilitate future commercialization endeavors of nerve guidance conduits.

Jellyfish Collagen Grafted with Hydroxybutyl Chitosan and Protocatechuic Acid Adhesive Sponge with Antibacterial Activity for Rapid Hemostasis

Natural jellyfish collagen (JC) has garnered significant attention in the field of hemostasis due to its oceanic origin, nontoxicity, biodegradability, and absence of complications related to diseases and religious beliefs. However, the hemostatic performance of pure JC is limited by its poor stability, adhesion to wet tissue, and mechanical properties. We developed a novel (HJP) sponge comprising JC, protocatechuic acid (PA), and hydroxybutyl chitosan (HS) to enhance the application of JC in emergency hemostasis. This sponge exhibits antibacterial properties, good biocompatibility, wet tissue adhesion, and hemostatic capabilities. The HJP sponge demonstrates excellent thermal stability and mechanical strength (tensile strength: ∼106.6 kPa, compressive strength at 70% compressive strain: ∼1013.5 kPa) and strong wet tissue adhesion (∼117.1 kPa). Upon application to a wound, the HJP sponge rapidly forms a wound seal, achieving effective hemostasis through the synergistic action of PA and JC. The blood loss was also reduced to 0.105 g when compared to a commercial gelatin sponge. This JC-based sponge, with its multifaceted characteristics, holds significant promise for rapid hemostasis in clinical applications.

Ionically-crosslinked carboxymethyl chitosan scaffolds by additive manufacturing for antimicrobial wound dressing applications

Chitosan chemical functionalization is a powerful tool to provide novel materials for additive manufacturing strategies. The main aim of this study was the employment of computer-aided wet spinning (CAWS) for the first time to design and fabricate carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) scaffolds. For this purpose, the synthesis of a chitosan derivative with a high degree of O-substitution (1.07) and water soluble in a large pH range allowed the fabrication of scaffolds with a 3D interconnected porous structure. In particular, the developed scaffolds were composed of CMCS fibers with a small diameter (< 60 μm) and a hollow structure due to a fast non solvent-induced coagulation. Zn2+ ionotropic crosslinking endowed the CMCS scaffolds with stability in aqueous solutions, pH-sensitive water uptake capability, and antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, post-printing functionalization through collagen grafting resulted in a decreased stiffness (1.6 ± 0.3 kPa) and a higher elongation at break (101 ± 9 %) of CMCS scaffolds, as well as in their improved ability to support in vitro fibroblast viability and wound healing process. The obtained results encourage therefore further investigation of the developed scaffolds as antimicrobial wound dressing hydrogels for skin regeneration.

Exploring nanobioceramics in wound healing as effective and economical alternatives

Wound healing is a sophisticated process for which various treatment methods have been developed. Bioceramics with the ability to release inorganic ions in biological environments play a crucial role in cellular metabolism and exhibit bactericidal activity, contributing to numerous physiological processes. Their multifaceted roles in biological systems highlight their significance. The release of different metallic ions from bioceramics enables the repair of both hard and soft tissues. These ions may be effective in cell motility, proliferation, differentiation, adhesion, angiogenesis, and antibiosis. Unlike conventional medications, the bioactivity and antibacterial properties of bioceramics are typically not associated with side effects or bacterial resistance. Bioceramics are commonly recognized for their capcity to facilitate the healing of hard tissues due to their exceptional mechanical properties. In this review, we first explore wound treatment and its prevalent methods, and subsequently, we discuss the application of three primary categories of bioceramics-oxide ceramics, silicate-based ceramics, and calcium-phosphate ceramics-in the context of wound treatment. This review introduces bioceramics as a cost-effective and efficient alternative for wound repair. Our aim is to inspire researchers to incorporate bioceramics with other biomaterials to achieve enhanced, economical, expedited, and safer wound healing.

Characterization of a novel inulosucrase from Lactiplantibacillus plantarum

Fructansucrases produce fructans by polymerizing the fructose moiety released from sucrose. Here, we describe the recombinant expression and characterization of a unique fructansucrase from Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DKL3 that showed low sequence similarity with previously characterized fructansucrases. The optimum pH and temperature of fructansucrase were found to be 4.0 and 35 °C, respectively. Enzyme activity increased in presence of Ca2+ and distinctly in presence of Mn2+. The enzyme was characterized as an inulosucrase (LpInu), based on the production of an inulin-type fructan as assessed byNMR spectroscopy and methylation analysis. In addition to β-2,1-linkages, the inulin contained a few β-2,1,6-linked branchpoints. High-performance size exclusion chromatography with refractive index detection (HPSEC-RI) revealed the production of inulin with a lower molecular weight compared to other characterized bacterial inulin. LpInu and its inulin product represent novel candidates to be explored for possible food and biomedical applications.

Progress in the Preparation and Application of Inulin-Based Hydrogels

Inulin, a natural polysaccharide, has emerged as a promising precursor for the preparation of hydrogels due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and structural versatility. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent progress in the preparation, characterization, and diverse applications of inulin-based hydrogels. Different synthesis strategies, including physical methods (thermal induction and non-thermal induction), chemical methods (free-radical polymerization and chemical crosslinking), and enzymatic approaches, are discussed in detail. The unique properties of inulin-based hydrogels, such as stimuli-responsiveness, antibacterial activity, and their potential as fat replacers, are highlighted. Special emphasis is given to their promising applications in drug delivery systems, especially for colon-targeted delivery, due to the selective degradation of inulin via colonic microflora. The ability to incorporate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs further expands their therapeutic potential. In addition, the applications of inulin-based hydrogels in responsive materials, the food industry, wound dressings, and tissue engineering are discussed. While significant progress has been achieved, challenges and prospects in optimizing synthesis, improving mechanical properties, and exploring new functionalities are discussed. Overall, this review highlights the remarkable properties of inulin-based hydrogels as a promising class of biomaterials with immense potential in the biomedical, pharmaceutical, and materials science fields.

Zirconia based composite scaffolds and their application in bone tissue engineering

In the field of bone tissue engineering, biomimetic scaffold utilization is deemed an immensely promising method. The bio-ceramic material Zirconia (ZrO2) has garnered significant attention in the biomimetic scaffolds realm due to its remarkable biocompatibility, superior mechanical strength, and exceptional chemical stability. Numerous examinations have been conducted to investigate the properties and functions of biomimetic structures built from zirconia. Generally, nano-ZrO2 materials have showcased encouraging applications in bone tissue engineering, providing a blend of mechanical robustness, bioactivity, drug delivery capabilities, and antibacterial properties. This review aims to concentrate on the properties and preparations of ZrO2 and its composite materials, while emphasizing its role along with other materials as scaffolds for bone tissue repair applications. The study also discusses the constraints of materials and technology involved in this domain. Ongoing research and development in this area are anticipated to further augment the potential of nano-ZrO2 for advancing bone regeneration therapies.

Inulin-based formulations as an emerging therapeutic strategy for cancer: A comprehensive review

Cancer stands as the second leading cause of death in the United States (US). Most chemotherapeutic agents exhibit severe adverse effects that are attributed to exposure of drugs to off-target tissues, posing a significant challenge in cancer therapy management. In recent years, inulin, a naturally occurring prebiotic fiber has gained substantial attention for its potential in cancer treatment owing to its multitudinous health values. Its distinctive structure, stability, and nutritional properties position it as an effective adjuvant and carrier for drug delivery in cancer therapy. To address some of the above unmet clinical issues, this review summarizes the recent efforts towards the development of inulin-based nanomaterials and nanocomposites for healthcare applications with special emphasis on the multifunctional role of inulin in cancer therapy as a synergist, signaling molecule, immunomodulatory and anticarcinogenic molecule. Furthermore, the review provides a concise overview of ongoing clinical trials and observational studies associated with inulin-based therapy. In conclusion, the current review offers insights on the significant role of inulin interventions in exploring its potential as a therapeutic agent to treat cancer.

Inulin: Unveiling its potential as a multifaceted biopolymer in prebiotics, drug delivery, and therapeutics

In recent years, inulin has gained much attention as a promising multifunctional natural biopolymer with numerous applications in drug delivery, prebiotics, and therapeutics. It reveals a multifaceted biopolymer with transformative implications by elucidating the intricate interplay between inulin and the host, microbiome, and therapeutic agents. Their flexible structure, exceptional targetability, biocompatibility, inherent ability to control release behavior, tunable degradation kinetics, and protective ability make them outstanding carriers in healthcare and biomedicine. USFDA has approved Inulin as a nutritional dietary supplement for infants. The possible applications of inulin in biomedicine research inspired by nature are presented. The therapeutic potential of inulin goes beyond its role in prebiotics and drug delivery. Recently, significant research efforts have been made towards inulin's anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties for their potential applications in treating various chronic diseases. Moreover, its ability to reduce inflammation and modulate immune responses opens new avenues for treating conditions such as autoimmune disorders and gastrointestinal ailments. This review will attempt to illustrate the inulin's numerous and interconnected roles, shedding light on its critical contributions to the advancement of healthcare and biomedicine and its recent advancement in therapeutics, and conclude by taking valuable insights into the prospects and opportunities of inulin.

From medical strategy to foodborne prophylactic strategy: Stabilizing dental collagen with aloin

Infectious oral diseases are longstanding global public health concerns. However, traditional medical approaches to address these diseases are costly, traumatic, and prone to relapse. Here, we propose a foodborne prophylactic strategy using aloin to safeguard dental collagen. The effect of aloin on the stability of dental collagen was evaluated by treating dentin with a solution containing aloin (0.1 mg/mL) for 2 min. This concentration is comparable to the natural aloin content of edible aloe. Furthermore, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the interactions between aloin and dentin collagen. Our findings, obtained through fluorescence spectroscopy, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Gaussian peak fitting, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction, revealed that aloin interacts with dental collagen through noncovalent bonding, specifically hydrogen bonding in situ. This interaction leads to a reduction in the distance between molecules and an increase in the proportion of stable α-helical chains in the dental collagen. The ultimate tensile strength and thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated that dental collagen treated with aloin exhibited improved mechanical strength and thermostability. Additionally, the release of hydroxyproline, cross-linked carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen, and C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen, along with weight loss, indicated an enhancement in the enzymatic stability of dental collagen. These findings suggest that aloin administration could be a daily, nondestructive, and cost-effective strategy for managing infectious oral diseases.

Direct inkjet writing type 1 bovine collagen/β-tricalcium phosphate scaffolds for bone regeneration

Bone tissue has the capacity to regenerate under healthy conditions, but complex cases like critically sized defects hinder natural bone regeneration, necessitating surgery, and use of a grafting material for rehabilitation. The field of bone tissue engineering (BTE) has pioneered ways to address such issues utilizing different biomaterials to create a platform for cell migration and tissue formation, leading to improved bone reconstruction. One such approach involves 3D-printed patient-specific scaffolds designed to aid in regeneration of boney defects. This study aimed to develop and characterize 3D printed scaffolds composed of type I collagen augmented with β-tricalcium phosphate (COL/β-TCP). A custom-built direct inkjet write (DIW) printer was used to fabricate β-TCP, COL, and COL/β-TCP scaffolds using synthesized colloidal gels. After chemical crosslinking, the scaffolds were lyophilized and subjected to several characterization techniques, including light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and x-ray diffraction to evaluate morphological and chemical properties. In vitro evaluation was performed using human osteoprogenitor cells to assess cytotoxicity and proliferative capacity of the different scaffold types. Characterization results confirmed the presence of β-TCP in the 3D printed COL/β-TCP scaffolds, which exhibited crystals that were attributed to β-TCP due to the presence of calcium and phosphorus, detected through energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. In vitro studies showed that the COL/β-TCP scaffolds yielded more favorable results in terms of cell viability and proliferation compared to β-TCP and COL scaffolds. The novel COL/β-TCP scaffold constructs hold promise for improving BTE applications and may offer a superior environment for bone regeneration compared with conventional COL and β-TCP scaffolds.

Biomedical Applications of Zirconia-Based Nanomaterials: Challenges and Future Perspectives

ZrO₂ nanoparticles have received substantially increased attention in every field of life owing to their wide range of applications. Zirconium oxide is a commercially economical, non-hazardous, and sustainable metal oxide having diversified potential applications. ZrO₂ NPs play a vast role in the domain of medicine and pharmacy such as anticancer, antibacterial, and antioxidant agents and tissue engineering owing to their reliable curative biomedical applications. In this review article, we address all of the medical and biomedical applications of ZrO₂ NPs prepared through various approaches in a critical way. ZrO₂ is a bio-ceramic substance that has received increased attention in biomimetic scaffolds owing to its high mechanical strength, excellent biocompatibility, and high chemical stability. ZrO₂ NPs have demonstrated potential anticancer activity against various cancer cells. ZrO₂-based nanomaterials have exhibited potential antibacterial activity against various bacterial strains and have also demonstrated excellent antioxidant activity. The ZrO₂ nanocomposite also exhibits highly sensitive biosensing activity toward the sensing of glucose and other biological species.

3D printed macroporous scaffolds of PCL and inulin-g-P(D,L)LA for bone tissue engineering applications

Bone repair and tissue-engineering (BTE) approaches require novel biomaterials to produce scaffolds with required structural and biological characteristics and enhanced performances with respect to those currently available. In this study, PCL/INU-PLA hybrid biomaterial was prepared by blending of the aliphatic polyester poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) with the amphiphilic graft copolymer Inulin-g-poly(D,L)lactide (INU-PLA) synthetized from biodegradable inulin (INU) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA). The hybrid material was suitable to be processed using fused filament fabrication 3D printing (FFF-3DP) technique rendering macroporous scaffolds. PCL and INU-PLA were firstly blended as thin films through solvent-casting method, and then extruded by hot melt extrusion (HME) in form of filaments processable by FFF-3DP. The physicochemical characterization of the hybrid new material showed high homogeneity, improved surface wettability/hydrophilicity as compared to PCL alone, and right thermal properties for FFF process. The 3D printed scaffolds exhibited dimensional and structural parameters very close to those of the digital model, and mechanical performances compatible with the human trabecular bone. In addition, in comparison to PCL, hybrid scaffolds showed an enhancement of surface properties, swelling ability, and in vitro biodegradation rate. In vitro biocompatibility screening through hemolysis assay, LDH cytotoxicity test on human fibroblasts, CCK-8 cell viability, and osteogenic activity (ALP evaluation) assays on human mesenchymal stem cells showed favorable results.

Exploring the potential of Halomonas levan and its derivatives as active ingredients in cosmeceutical and skin regenerating formulations

Demand on natural products that contain biological ingredients mimicking growth factors and cytokines made natural polysaccharides popular in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Levan is the β-(2-6) linked, nontoxic, biocompatible, water-soluble, film former fructan polymer that has diverse applications in pharmacy and cosmeceutical industries with its moisturizing, whitening, anti-irritant, anti-aging and slimming activities. Driven by the limited reports on few structurally similar levan polymers, this study presents the first systematic investigation on the effects of structurally different extremophilic Halomonas levan polysaccharides on human skin epidermis cells. In-vitro experiments with microbially produced linear Halomonas levan (HL), its hydrolyzed, (hHL) and sulfonated (ShHL) derivatives as well as enzymatically produced branched levan (EL) revealed increased keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation (113-118 %), improved skin barrier function through induced expressions of involucrin (2.0 and 6.43 fold changes for HL and EL) and filaggrin (1.74 and 3.89 fold changes for hHL and ShHL) genes and increased type I collagen (2.63 for ShHL) and hyaluronan synthase 3 (1.41 for HL) gene expressions together with fast wound healing ability within 24 h (100 %, HL) on 2D wound models clearly showed that HL and its derivatives have high potential to be used as natural active ingredients in cosmeceutical and skin regenerating formulations.

Collagen-Based Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering

Collagen is commonly used as a regenerative biomaterial due to its excellent biocompatibility and wide distribution in tissues. Different kinds of hybridization or cross-links are favored to offer improvements to satisfy various needs of biomedical applications. Previous reviews have been made to introduce the sources and structures of collagen. In addition, biological and mechanical properties of collagen-based biomaterials, their modification and application forms, and their interactions with host tissues are pinpointed. However, there is still no review about collagen-based biomaterials for tissue engineering. Therefore, we aim to summarize and discuss the progress of collagen-based materials for tissue regeneration applications in this review. We focus on the utilization of collagen-based biomaterials for bones, cartilages, skin, dental, neuron, cornea, and urological applications and hope these experiences and outcomes can provide inspiration and practical techniques for the future development of collagen-based biomaterials in related application fields. Moreover, future improving directions and challenges for collagen-based biomaterials are proposed as well.

PVA/Inulin-Based Sustainable Films Reinforced with Pickering Emulsion of Niaouli Essential Oil for Potential Wound Healing Applications

In this study, sustainable water-based films were produced via the solvent-casting method. Petroleum-free-based polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and carbohydrate-based inulin (INL) were used as matrices. Vegetable-waste pumpkin powder was used in the study because of its sustainability and antibacterial properties. Pickering emulsions were prepared using β-cyclodextrin. The influence of the different ratios of the β-cyclodextrin/niaouli essential oil (β-CD/NEO) inclusion complex (such as 1:1, 1:3, and 1:5) on the morphological (SEM), thermal (TGA), physical (FT-IR), wettability (contact angle), and mechanical (tensile test) characteristics of PVA/inulin films were investigated. Moreover, the antibacterial activities against the Gram (-) (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram (+) (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria of the obtained films were studied. From the morphological analysis, good emulsion stability and porosity were obtained in the Pickering films with the highest oil content, while instability was observed in the Pickering films with the lowest concentration of oil content. Thermal and spectroscopic analysis indicated there was no significant difference between the Pickering emulsion films and neat films. With the addition of Pickering emulsions, the tensile stress values decreased from 7.3 ± 1.9 MPa to 3.3 ± 0.2. According to the antibacterial efficiency results, films containing pumpkin powder and Pickering emulsion films containing both pumpkin powder and a ratio of 1:1 (β-CD/NEO) did not have an antibacterial effect, while Pickering emulsion films with a ratio of (β-CD/NEO) 1:3 and 1:5 showed an antibacterial effect against Escherichia coli, with a zone diameter of 12 cm and 17 cm, respectively. Among the samples, the films with ratio of (β-CD/NEO) 1:5 had the highest antioxidant capacity, as assessed by DPPH radical scavenging at 12 h intervals. Further, none of the samples showed any cytotoxic effects the according to LDH and WST-1 cytotoxicity analysis for the NIH3T3 cell line. Ultimately, it is expected that these films are completely bio-based and may be potential candidates for use in wound healing applications.