Mesoporous Silica Promotes Osteogenesis of Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Identified by a High-Throughput Microfluidic Chip Assay

Electrochemical-Genetic Programming of Protein-Based Magnetic Soft Robots for Active Drug Delivery

Magnetic soft robots have the potential to revolutionize the field of drug delivery owing to their capability to execute tasks in hard-to-reach regions of living organisms. Advancing their functionality to perform active drug delivery and related tasks necessitates the innovation of smart substrate materials that satisfy both mechanical and biocompatibility requirements while offering stimuli-responsive properties. Optimization of the interaction between the substrate and magnetic components is also critical as it ensures robust actuation of the robot in complex physiological environments. To address these issues, a facile strategy is presented that synergistically combines genetic programming and electrochemical engineering to achieve on-demand drug release with protein-magnetite soft robots. As the substrate of the robot, genetically engineered silk-elastin-like protein (SELP) is encoded with thermo-responsive motifs, serving as the dynamic unit to respond to temperature changes. Ultrafine magnetite (Fe3O4) nanocrystals are electrochemically nucleated in situ and grown on Fe-protein coordination sites within the SELP hydrogel network, endowing reinforced mechanical strength, superparamagnetic property, and photothermal conversion capability. These soft robots can navigate confined spaces, target specific sites, and release drug payloads ex vivo in an intestinal model. Taken together, the proposed strategy offers an innovative approach to tailoring protein-based soft robots toward precision drug delivery systems.

Design considerations when creating a high throughput screen-compatible in vitro model of osteogenesis

Inducing osteogenic differentiation in vitro is useful for the identification and development of bone regeneration therapies as well as modelling bone disorders. To couple in vitro models with high throughput screening techniques retains the assay's relevance in research while increasing its therapeutic impact. Miniaturizing, automating and/or digitalizing in vitro assays will reduce the required quantity of cells, biologic stimulants, culture/output assay reagents, time and cost. This review highlights the design and workflow considerations for creating a high throughput screen-compatible model of osteogenesis, comparing and contrasting osteogenic cell type, assay fabrication and culture methodology, osteogenic induction approach and repurposing existing output techniques.

Cytocompatible and osteoconductive silicon oxycarbide glass scaffolds 3D printed by DLP: a potential material for bone tissue regeneration

Bone lesions affect individuals of different age groups, compromising their daily activities and potentially leading to prolonged morbidity. Over the years, new compositions and manufacturing technologies were developed to offer customized solutions to replace injured tissue and stimulate tissue regeneration. This work used digital light processing (DPL) technology for three-dimensional (3D) printing of porous structures using pre-ceramic polymer, followed by pyrolysis to obtain SiOC vitreous scaffolds. The SiOC scaffolds produced had an amorphous structure (compatible with glass) with an average porosity of 72.69% ± 0.99, an average hardness of 935.1 ± 71.0 HV, and an average maximum flexural stress of 7.8 ± 1.0 MPa, similar to cancellous bone tissue. The scaffolds were not cytotoxic and allowed adult stem cell adhesion, growth, and expansion. After treatment with osteoinductive medium, adult stem cells in the SiOC scaffolds differentiated to osteoblasts, assuming a tissue-like structure, with organization in multiple layers and production of a dense fibrous matrix rich in hydroxyapatite. The in vitro analyses supported the hypothesis that the SiOC scaffolds produced in this work were suitable for use as a bone substitute for treating critically sized lesions, with the potential to stimulate the gradual process of regeneration of the native tissue. The data obtained stimulate the continuity of studies with the SiOC scaffolds developed in this work, paving the way for evaluating safety and biological activity in vivo.