Porous Nanogold/Polyurethane Scaffolds with Improved Antibiofilm, Mechanical, and Thermal Properties and with Reduced Effects on Cell Viability: A Suitable Material for Soft Tissue Applications

Evaluation of Lactobacillus plantarum and PRGF as a new bioactive multi-layered scaffold PU/PRGF/gelatin/PU for wound healing

The effect of tissue engineering strategies in combination with Lactobacillus plantarum and platelet-rich growth factor (PRGF) with the aim of creating an appropriate wound dressing can be useful in wound healing and infection prevention in patients suffering from acute and chronic skin damages. Therefore, in this study, a new approach was employed to create a bioactive multilayer electrospun scaffold composed of polyurethane (PU), PRGF, and gelatin fibers, then human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs), fibroblast cells (HU-02) and L. plantarum were cultured on the scaffold. The physicochemical properties, biocompatibility, and antibacterial activity of the scaffold were evaluated. In addition, the expression of the migration and proliferation genes of fibroblast cells were investigated by real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction). Mitochondrial activity assays revealed that PRFG and L. plantarum had a significant positive effect on the viability of target co-cultured cells.Fluorescent and SEM (scanning electron microscopy) images presented the cells and bacterial proliferation and adhesion in hydrophilic scaffolds within 21 days. The sustained release of PRGF from scaffolds with a zero-order pattern was confirmed. RT-PCR analysis revealed that PRGF elevated the expression of VEGF genes up to fourfold, but L. plantarum had a better effect on DDR2 gene expression compared to the TCPS group. Antibacterial tests showed that L. plantarum has a bacterial load reduction of more than 70% in CFU/mL. The present scaffold is an appropriate model for cell attachment, migration, proliferation, and infection prevention.

Antibacterial Properties of Gold Nanoparticles in the Modification of Medical Implants: A Systematic Review

The widespread occurrence of bacterial infections and their increased resistance to antibiotics has led to the development of antimicrobial coatings for multiple medical implants. Owing to their desirable properties, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been developed as antibacterial agents. This systematic investigation sought to analyze the antibacterial effects of implant material surfaces modified with AuNPs. The data from 27 relevant studies were summed up. The included articles were collected from September 2011 to September 2021. According to the retrieved literature, we found that medical implants modified by AuNPs have good antibacterial effects against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, and the antibacterial effects would be improved by near-infrared (NIR) radiation.

Coaxial fibers of poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride)@poly(vinyl alcohol) for wound dressing applications: Dual and sustained delivery of bioactive agents promoting fibroblast proliferation with reduced cell adherence

The prevalence of chronic and acute wounds, as well as the complexity of their treatment represent a great challenge for health systems around the world. In this context, the development of bioactive wound dressings that release active agents to prevent infections and promote wound healing, appears as the most promising solution. In this work, we develop an antibacterial and biocompatible wound dressing material made from coaxial electrospun fibers of poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PSMA@PVA). The coaxial configuration of the fibers consists of a shell of poly (styrene-co-maleic anhydride) containing a variable concentration of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) 0.1-0.6 wt% as antibacterial agent, and a core of PVA containing 1 wt% allantoin as healing agent. The fibers present diameters between 0.72 and 1.7 µm. The release of Ag⁺ in a physiological medium was studied for 72 h, observing a burst release during the first 14 h and then a sustained and controlled release during the remaining 58 h. Allantoin release curves showed significant release only after 14 h. The meshes showed an antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis that correlates with the amount of AgNPs incorporated and the release rate of Ag⁺. Indeed, meshes containing 0.3 and 0.6 wt% of AgNPs showed a 99.99% inhibition against both bacteria. The adherence and cell viability of the meshes were evaluated in mouse embryonic fibroblasts NIH/3T3, observing a significant increase in cell viability after 72 h of incubation accompanied by a reduced adhesion of fibroblasts that decreased in the presence of the active agents. These results show that the material prepared here is capable of significantly promoting fibroblast cell proliferation but without strong adherence, which makes it an ideal material for wound dressings with non-adherent characteristics and with potential for wound healing.

Peritumoral Microgel Reservoir for Long-Term Light-Controlled Triple-Synergistic Treatment of Osteosarcoma with Single Ultra-Low Dose

Local minimally invasive injection of anticancer therapies is a compelling approach to maximize the utilization of drugs and reduce the systemic adverse drug effects. However, the clinical translation is still hampered by many challenges such as short residence time of therapeutic agents and the difficulty in achieving multi-modulation combination therapy. Herein, mesoporous silica-coated gold nanorods (AuNR@SiO₂ ) core-shell nanoparticles are fabricated to facilitate drug loading while rendering them photothermally responsive. Subsequently, AuNR@SiO₂ is anchored into a monodisperse photocrosslinkable gelatin (GelMA) microgel through one-step microfluidic technology. Chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (DOX) is loaded into AuNR@SiO₂ and 5,6-dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid (DMXAA) is loaded in the microgel layer. The osteosarcoma targeting ligand alendronate is conjugated to AuNR@SiO₂ to improve the tumor targeting. The microgel greatly improves the injectability since they can be dispersed in buffer and the injectability and degradability are adjustable by microfluidics during the fabrication. The drug release can, in turn, be modulated by multi-round light-trigger. Importantly, a single super low drug dose (1 mg kg^-1 DOX with 5 mg kg^-1 DMXAA) with peritumoral injection generates long-term therapeutic effect and significantly inhibited tumor growth in osteosarcoma bearing mice. Therefore, this nanocomposite@microgel system can act as a peritumoral reservoir for long-term effective osteosarcoma treatment.

Application of nanoparticles in bone tissue engineering; a review on the molecular mechanisms driving osteogenesis

The introduction of nanoparticles into bone tissue engineering strategies is beneficial to govern cell fate into osteogenesis and the regeneration of large bone defects. The present study explored the role of nanoparticles to advance osteogenesis with a focus on the cellular and molecular pathways involved. Pubmed, Pubmed Central, Embase, Scopus, and Science Direct databases were explored for those published articles relevant to the involvement of nanoparticles in osteogenic cellular pathways. As multifunctional compounds, nanoparticles contribute to scaffold-free and scaffold-based tissue engineering strategies to progress osteogenesis and bone regeneration. They regulate inflammatory responses and osteo/angio/osteoclastic signaling pathways to generate an osteogenic niche. Besides, nanoparticles interact with biomolecules, enhance their half-life and bioavailability. Nanoparticles are promising candidates to promote osteogenesis. However, the interaction of nanoparticles with the biological milieu is somewhat complicated, and more considerations are recommended on the employment of nanoparticles in clinical applications because of NP-induced toxicities.

Recent advances in tissue engineering scaffolds based on polyurethane and modified polyurethane

Organ repair, regeneration, and transplantation are constantly in demand due to various acute, chronic, congenital, and infectious diseases. Apart from traditional remedies, tissue engineering (TE) is among the most effective methods for the repair of damaged tissues via merging the cells, growth factors, and scaffolds. With regards to TE scaffold fabrication technology, polyurethane (PU), a high-performance medical grade synthetic polymer and bioactive material has gained significant attention. PU possesses exclusive biocompatibility, biodegradability, and modifiable chemical, mechanical and thermal properties, owing to its unique structure-properties relationship. During the past few decades, PU TE scaffold bioactive properties have been incorporated or enhanced with biodegradable, electroactive, surface-functionalised, ayurvedic products, ceramics, glass, growth factors, metals, and natural polymers, resulting in the formation of modified polyurethanes (MPUs). This review focuses on the recent advances of PU/MPU scaffolds, especially on the biomedical applications in soft and hard tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The scientific issues with regards to the PU/MPU scaffolds, such as biodegradation, electroactivity, surface functionalisation, and incorporation of active moieties are also highlighted along with some suggestions for future work.

The effect of Staphylococcus aureus on the electrochemical behavior of porous Ti-6Al-4V alloy

Ti-6Al-4V alloy has been widely investigated for biomedical applications due to its low density, high specific strength, and favorable corrosion resistance. However, some reported failures have imposed a challenge to improve bone regeneration and fixation, as well as antibacterial properties. A further opportunity for solving this problem is the introduction of porosity. However, this can induce metallic release and corrosion product formation. In this work, a Ti-6Al-4V alloy was exposed to Hank's solution, sterilized and inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus at 37 °C. Surface analysis was carried out by SEM-EDS and XPS. Electrochemical measurements were also performed using chronopotentiometry at open circuit potential, polarization curves, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. After exposure, FE-SEM showed some colonies of S. aureus on the sample with 22% porosity. However, XPS analysis revealed that the presence of bacterium influenced the composition of the oxide layer, even more drastically with the increase in added porosity. Moreover, the impedance analysis showed De Levie's behavior, revealing a reduction of pore resistance and modulus of the impedance in the low frequency range in inoculated medium, and polarization curves showed that the passivity potential range was decreased, whereas the passivity current increased in the presence of the S. aureus.

Synthesis, characterization, and aging resistance of the polyurethane dimethacrylate layer for dental restorations

In this study, polyurethane dimethacrylate (PUDMA) was synthetized from different components and incorporated into a direct resin composite restoration system with the aim to buffer tooth-resin interfacial stresses and maintain the marginal adaptation. The tensile strength, elongation at fracture (ε), and thermal stability of the PUDMA layer were characterized, showing a tensile strength of 22 MPa, an ε of 112%, and a thermal decomposition temperature of about 282°C. In addition, the degree of conversion, water sorption/solubility, hydrophobicity, microtensile bond strength (μTBS), marginal leakage, and cytotoxicity in vitro were evaluated for the PUDMA layer. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, except for leakage depths (which were analyzed using the Wilcoxon paired-rank test). The level of significance was set at 0.05. Compared with dental adhesives, PUDMA displayed a higher degree of conversion, lower water sorption/solubility, and improved hydrophobicity and biocompatibility in vitro. After thermocycling, the μTBS of the restoration system containing PUDMA had increased compared with the μTBS at 24 h. Restorations containing PUDMA showed lower leakage depths than those which did not contain PUDMA. In conclusion, because of its hydrophobic and elastic nature, the PUDMA layer, when used as an intermediate between tooth and resin restoratives, may buffer interfacial stresses, improve the stability and durability of the bonding interface, and reduce microleakage.

Mechanically robust enzymatically degradable shape memory polyurethane urea with a rapid recovery response induced by NIR

NIR-light triggered shape memory process involving PU/gold-nanorod composites is shown.

Biodegradable silver-loaded polycation modified nanodiamonds/polyurethane scaffold with improved antibacterial and mechanical properties for cartilage tissue repairing

For cartilage tissue repairing, it remains a key challenge to design implant materials with antibacterial activity, proper degradation rate and mechanical property. In this research, antibacterial nanodiamonds (QND, QND-Ag) modified acrylate-terminated polyurethanes (APU) were prepared. By the addition of nanocomposites, the crystallinity of modified APU obviously increased, which indicates a strong interaction between NDs and APU. Tensile and compression tests were carried out to evaluate the improved mechanical properties. Compared with APU, APU(10%PEG)/QND-Ag possessed the increased modulus and strength, a nevertheless slight decrease in elongation at break. Due to the dual actions of contact-killing of cationic polymers and release-killing of the Ag NPs, QND-Ag-containing polyurethane showed excellent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Moreover, APU containing polyethylene glycol showed a significant increase in degradability rates. Consequently, owing to the dual effect of crystallinity and hydrophilicity, our modified APU exhibited the proper degradation rate adaptable to the healing rate of cartilage tissue. Furthermore, the CCK-8 results demonstrated that synthesized samples were low toxic. Therefore, APU(10%PEG)/QND-Ag holds great promise for the application of cartilage tissue repairing.

Surface Functionalization of an Aluminum Alloy to Generate an Antibiofilm Coating Based on Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) and Silver Nanoparticles

An experimental protocol was studied to improve the adhesion of a polymeric poly(methyl methacrylate) coating that was modified with silver nanoparticles to an aluminum alloy, AA2024. The nanoparticles were incorporated into the polymeric matrix to add the property of inhibiting biofilm formation to the anticorrosive characteristics of the film, thus also making the coating antibiocorrosive. The protocol consists of functionalizing the surface through a pseudotransesterification treatment using a methyl methacrylate monomer that bonds covalently to the surface and leaves a terminal double bond that promotes and directs the polymerization reaction that takes place in the process that follows immediately after. This results in more compact and thicker poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) coatings than those obtained without pseudotransesterification. The poly(methyl methacrylate) matrix modified with nanoparticles was obtained by incorporating both the nanoparticles and the methyl methacrylate in the reactor. The in situ polymerization involved combining the pretreated AA2024 specimens combined with the methyl methacrylate monomer and AgNps. The antibiofilm capacity of the coating was evaluated against P. aeruginosa, with an excellent response. Not only did the presence of bacteria decrease, but the formation of the exopolymer subunits was 99.99% lower than on the uncoated aluminum alloy or the alloy coated with unmodified poly(methyl methacrylate). As well and significantly, the potentiodynamic polarization measurements indicate that the PMMA-Ag coating has a good anticorrosive property in a 0.1-M NaCl medium.