Preclinical efficacy study of a porous biopolymeric scaffold based on gelatin-hyaluronic acid-chondroitin sulfate in a porcine burn injury model: role of critical molecular markers (VEGFA, N-cadherin, COX-2), gamma sterilization efficacy and a comparison of healing potential to Integra™

Nanoceria Ameliorates Fibrosis, Inflammation, and Cellular Stress in Experimental Chronic Pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is an inflammatory, irreversible disorder of the pancreas which leads to organ atrophy and poses high risk for the development of pancreatic cancer. Given the lack of clinically approved therapy, we explored the pharmacological potential of the nanoparticles of cerium oxide (nanoceria, NC) against animal models of CP. Nanoceria ameliorated the features of CP as evident from biochemical parameters. It inhibited the inflammatory cytokines and chemokines by abrogation of macrophage signaling. Further, NC attenuated the fibrogenesis by inhibition of TGF-β signaling, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Our findings reveal the anti-CP potential of the novel redox regenerative nanoceria against two models of CP.

Chondroitin sulfate-based composites: a tour d'horizon of their biomedical applications

Chondroitin sulfate (CS), a natural anionic mucopolysaccharide, belonging to the glycosaminoglycan family, acts as the primary element of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of diverse organisms. It comprises repeating units of disaccharides possessing β-1,3-linked N-acetyl galactosamine (GalNAc), and β-1,4-linked D-glucuronic acid (GlcA), and exhibits antitumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-coagulant, anti-oxidant, and anti-thrombogenic activities. It is a naturally acquired bio-macromolecule with beneficial properties, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and immensely low toxicity, making it the center of attention in developing biomaterials for various biomedical applications. The authors have discussed the structure, unique properties, and extraction source of CS in the initial section of this review. Further, the current investigations on applications of CS-based composites in various biomedical fields, focusing on delivering active pharmaceutical compounds, tissue engineering, and wound healing, are discussed critically. In addition, the manuscript throws light on preclinical and clinical studies associated with CS composites. A short section on Chondroitinase ABC has also been canvassed. Finally, this review emphasizes the current challenges and prospects of CS in various biomedical fields.

Tropolone derivative hinokitiol ameliorates cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in mice

Hinokitiol is a natural bio-active tropolone derivative with promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study was conducted to evaluate the ameliorative effects of hinokitiol against acute pancreatitis induced by cerulein. Mice were pre-treated with hinokitiol intraperitoneally for 7 days (50 and 100 mg/kg), and on the final day of study, cerulein (6 × 50 μg/kg) was injected every hour for six times. Six hours after the last dose of cerulein, blood was collected from the mice through retro-orbital plexus for biochemical analysis. After blood collection, mice were euthanized and the pancreas was harvested for studying effects on oxidative stress, pro-inflammatory cytokines, immunohistochemistry and histopathology of tissue sections. Hinokitiol treatment significantly reduced edema of the pancreas and reduced the plasma levels of lipase and amylase in mice with cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis. It also attenuated the oxidative and nitrosative stress related damage as evident from the reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitrite levels, which were significantly increased in the mice with acute pancreatitis. Furthermore, hinokitiol administration significantly reduced the pancreatitis-evoked decrease in the activity of catalase, glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the pancreatic tissue. Pre-treatment with hinokitiol significantly reduced the elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines like interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) as well as increased the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the pancreatic tissue of mice with acute pancreatitis. The immunohistochemical expression of nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), cyclooxygenase (COX-2) and TNF-α were significantly decreased by hinokitiol in mice with cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis. In conclusion, the results of the present study demonstrate that hinokitiol has significant potential to prevent cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis.

Vincamine, an active constituent of Vinca rosea ameliorates experimentally induced acute lung injury in Swiss albino mice through modulation of Nrf-2/NF-κB signaling cascade

Acute lung injury (ALI) or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is one of the leading pulmonary inflammatory disorders causing significant morbidity and mortality. Vincamine is a novel phytochemical with promising anti-inflammatory properties. In the current work, the protective effect of vincamine was studied in vitro (Raw 264.7 macrophages) and in vivo against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced ALI in Swiss albino mice. Vincamine significantly reduced nitrite and TNF-α release from the LPS stimulated macrophages and increased the levels of IL-10, indicating potent anti-inflammatory effects. It was observed that vincamine at the dose of 40 mg/kg, significantly reduced LPS induced inflammatory cell count in blood and in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. Further, vincamine exerted potent suppression of inflammation by reducing the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, while significantly increased (p < 0.001) the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10 and IL-22). Interestingly, histological changes were reversed in vincamine treated groups in a dose-dependent manner. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed significantly enhanced expression of NF-κB, TNF-α and COX-2 while reduced expression of Nrf-2 in disease control group, which were significantly (p < 0.001) ameliorated by vincamine. We, to the best of our knowledge, report for the first time that vincamine possesses protective potential against LPS induced inflammation and oxidative stress, possibly by inhibiting the NF-κB cascade, while positively regulating the Nrf-2 pathway. These findings are of potential relevance for COVID-19 management concerning the fact that lung injury and ARDS are its critical features.

IGF-I and Hyaluronic Acid Mitigate the Negative Effect of Irradiation on Human Skin Keratinocytes

Simple Summary

Patients undergoing radiation therapy for the treatment of various types of cancer often experience side effects such as radiation dermatitis. A gold standard treatment is still lacking. The objective of the present study was to find novel therapeutic strategies for the regeneration and repair of damaged skin areas after irradiation. An in vitro 2D and 3D primary keratinocyte model was used to test the effect of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), platelet lysate (PL), hyaluronic acid (HA), and adipose-derived stem cell (ADSC) conditioned medium on the functional abilities (viability, migration) and the gene expression of irradiated keratinocytes. Hyaluronic acid and IGF-I effectively reduced the irradiation damage of primary keratinocytes by stimulating viability and migration and reducing cell apoptosis and necrosis. These findings indicate that the negative effects of irradiation on keratinocytes located in the patient’s skin can be counterbalanced with HA and IGF-I treatment.

Abstract

Ionizing radiation has become an integral part of modern cancer therapy regimens. Various side effects, such as radiation dermatitis, affect patients in acute and chronic forms and decrease therapy compliance significantly. In this study, primary keratinocytes were irradiated in a 2-dimensional (2D) culture as well as on a 3-dimensional (3D) collagen-elastin matrix with doses of 2 and 5 Gy. The effect of different concentrations of IGF-I, KGF, platelet lysate (PL), high and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid (H-HA, L-HA), and adipose-derived stem cell (ADSC) conditioned medium was analyzed in respect to cell viability (WST-8), wound closure (migration), and the gene expression (quantitative real-time PCR) of 2D cultures. The 3D culture was evaluated by WST-8. A mixture of H-HA and L-HA, as well as IGF-I, could significantly stimulate the keratinocyte viability and migration which were severely reduced by irradiation. The MKI67and IL6 gene expression of irradiated keratinocytes was significantly higher after H-HA/L-HA treatment. The stimulating effects of H-HA/L-HA and IGF-I were able to be confirmed in 3D culture. A positive influence on cell viability, migration, and gene expression was achieved after the treatment with H-L-HA and IGF-I. These results open the possibility of a novel therapeutic method for both the prevention and the treatment of radiation dermatitis.

Biocompatibility evaluation for the developed hydrogel wound dressing - ISO-10993-11 standards -in vitroandin vivostudy

Assessment of biocompatibility for the developed wound dressing plays a significant role in translational studies. In the present research work, a wound dressing has been developed using gelatin, hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate using EDC as crosslinker in a specific manner. The characterized hydrogel wound dressing was evaluated for its biocompatibility studies by means of ISO-10993-11 medical device rules and standards. Various parameters like skin sensitization test, acute systemic toxic test, implantation study, intracutaneous reactivity test,in vitrocytotoxicity test and bacterial reverse mutation test, were evaluated and the results demonstrated its safety for the pre-clinical investigation.