Application of thermosensitive-hydrogel combined with dental pulp stem cells on the injured fallopian tube mucosa in an animal model

Injective hydrogel encapsulating dental pulp stem cells for the treatment of traumatic optic nerve injury

Objectives

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of GeLMA/bFGF hydrogel loaded with dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) on the repair and regeneration of traumatic optic nerve injury.

Materials and methods

GeLMA/bFGF hydrogel was photo-cross-linked by LED light. The physical-chemical properties and cytocompatibility of GeLMA/bFGF hydrogel after being squeezed (GeLMA/bFGF-SQ) were evaluated by SEM and degradation analyses, as well as live/dead and CCK-8 assays, respectively. The axon growth of PC12 cells was evaluated by MAP2 staining. The GeLMA/bFGF/DPSCs-SQ hydrogel was injected in situ into the lesion site to observe the repair of optic nerve injury. The number of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) was calculated by βIII-tubulin staining. The length of regenerated axons was observed by CTB staining. Tissue recovery and axon growth of the optic nerve were observed by HE and TEM analyses, respectively.

Results

GeLMA/bFGF-SQ hydrogel had a porous structure and great degradability, as well as good cytocompatibility. Meanwhile, DPSCs-conditioned medium (DPSCs-CM) could promote the axon growth of PC12 cells. Moreover, the number of RGCs and the regeneration of axons of the optic nerve were the highest in the GeLMA/bFGF/DPSCs-SQ group. HE and TEM data revealed abundant newly and orderly arrangement of optic nerve axons that was observed in the damaged area of the GeLMA/bFGF/DPSCs-SQ group.

Conclusion

Transplantation of GeLMA/bFGF/DPSCs-SQ in situ provided an appropriate microenvironment for the repair and regeneration of injured optic nerves. Moreover, DPSCs combined with bFGF protected the RGCs from apoptosis and promoted optic nerve regeneration by secreting a series of neurotrophic factors.

Hydrogel Strategies for Female Reproduction Dysfunction

Infertility is an important issue for human reproductive health, with over half of all cases of infertility associated with female factors. Dysfunction of the complex female reproductive system may cause infertility. In clinical practice, female infertility is often treated with oral medications and/or surgical procedures, and ultimately with assisted reproductive technologies. Owing to their excellent biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, and adjustable mechanical properties, hydrogels are emerging as valuable tools in the reconstruction of organ function, supplemented by tissue engineering techniques to increase their structure and functionality. Hydrogel-based female reproductive reconstruction strategies targeting the pathological mechanisms of female infertility may provide alternatives for the treatment of ovarian, endometrium/uterine, and fallopian tube dysfunction. In this review, we provide a general introduction to the basic physiology and pathology of the female reproductive system, the limitations of current infertility treatments, and the lack of translation from animal models to human reproductive physiology. We further provide an overview of the current and future potential applications of hydrogels in the treatment of female reproductive system dysfunction, highlighting the great prospects of hydrogel-based strategies in the field of translational medicine, along with the significant challenges to be overcome.

Preparation of VX765 sodium alginate nanogels and evaluation of their therapeutic effect via local injection on myocardial infarction in rats

Myocardial Infarction (MI) is major cause of heart failure, highlighting the critical need for effective therapeutic strategies to improve cardiac repair. This study investigated the cardioprotective effects of VX765-coated polyethyleneimine (PEI)/sodium alginate (AG) composite nanogels (AG/PEI-VX765 NGs) in a rat model of MI. Additionally, AG-VX765 NGs and PEI-VX765 nanospheres (NPs) were synthesized and tested to compare their efficacy. MI was caused in rats by ligating the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery, and the rats were grouped and set as Sham, MI, MI + VX765, MI + AG-VX765NGs, MI + PEI-VX765NPs, and MI + AG/PEI-VX765NGs. Results demonstrate that AG/PEI-VX765NGs were non-toxic and exhibited a sustained release of VX765. In vivo, experiments demonstrated that all treatment groups significantly enhanced cardiac function, reduced infarct size, fibrosis, and apoptosis in rats with MI, with the MI + AG/PEI-VX765NGs group exhibiting the most favorable outcomes. Our findings indicate that AG/PEI-VX765NGs represent a promising therapeutic approach for MI treatment.

Application of stem cells in regeneration medicine

Regeneration is a complex process affected by many elements independent or combined, including inflammation, proliferation, and tissue remodeling. Stem cells is a class of primitive cells with the potentiality of differentiation, regenerate with self-replication, multidirectional differentiation, and immunomodulatory functions. Stem cells and their cytokines not only inextricably linked to the regeneration of ectodermal and skin tissues, but also can be used for the treatment of a variety of chronic wounds. Stem cells can produce exosomes in a paracrine manner. Stem cell exosomes play an important role in tissue regeneration, repair, and accelerated wound healing, the biological properties of which are similar with stem cells, while stem cell exosomes are safer and more effective. Skin and bone tissues are critical organs in the body, which are essential for sustaining life activities. The weak repairing ability leads a pronounced impact on the quality of life of patients, which could be alleviated by stem cell exosomes treatment. However, there are obstacles that stem cells and stem cells exosomes trough skin for improved bioavailability. This paper summarizes the applications and mechanisms of stem cells and stem cells exosomes for skin and bone healing. We also propose new ways of utilizing stem cells and their exosomes through different nanoformulations, liposomes and nanoliposomes, polymer micelles, microspheres, hydrogels, and scaffold microneedles, to improve their use in tissue healing and regeneration.