Single-Step Low-Temperature Synthesis of Carbon Dots for Advanced Multiparametric Bioimaging Probe Applications

Carbon dots (CDs) have recently emerged in biomedical and agricultural domains, mainly for their probe applications in developing efficient sensors. However, the existing high-temperature approaches limit the industrial level scaling up to further translate them into different products by mass-scale fabrication of CDs. To address this, we have attempted to lower the synthesis temperature to 140 °C and synthesized different CDs using different organic acids and their combinations in a one-step approach (quantum yield 3.6% to 16.5%; average size 3 to 5 nm). Further, sensing applications of CDs have been explored in three different biological models, mainly Danio rerio (zebrafish) embryos, bacterial strains, and the Lactuca sativa (lettuce) plant. The 72 h exposure of D. rerio embryos to 0.5 and 1 mg/mL concentrations of CDs exhibited significant uptake without mortality, a 100% hatching rate, and nonsignificant alterations in heart rate. Bacterial bioimaging experiments revealed CD compatibility with Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative (Serratia marcescens) strains without bactericidal effects. Furthermore, CDs demonstrated effective conduction and fluorescence within the vascular system of lettuce plants, indicating their potential as in vivo probes for plant tissues. The single-step low-temperature CD synthesis approach with efficient structural and optical properties enables the process as industrially viable to up-scale the technology readiness level. The bioimaging of CDs in different biological models indicates the possibility of developing a CD probe for diverse biosensing roles in diseases, metabolism, microbial contamination sensing, and more.

Development and performance evaluation of self-assembled pH-responsive curcumin-bacterial exopolysaccharide micellar conjugates as bioactive delivery system

The present study reports the synthesis of micellar conjugates, wherein curcumin (Cur), a bioactive compound with poor bioavailability, was covalently bonded to a bacterial exopolysaccharide (EPS). These conjugates were synthesized by utilizing succinic acid that linked Cur to the pyranosyl moiety of the EPS. The Cur-EPS conjugates appeared as spherical micelles in aqueous solution and were found to have an average hydrodynamic diameter of 254 ± 2.7 nm. The micellar conjugates showed superior stability than Cur as evident from their negative surface charge (-27 ± 1.8 mV) and low polydispersity index (PDI) (0.33 ± 0.04). The in vitro studies on release kinetics helped elucidate the pH-responsive characteristics of the Cur-EPS conjugate, as 87.50 ± 1.45 % of Cur was released at an acidic pH of 5.6, in contrast to 30.15 ± 2.61 % at systemic pH of 7.4 at 150 h. The conjugates were hemocompatible and exhibited cytotoxic effect against the osteosarcoma cell line (MG-63) after 48 h treatment. They also demonstrated superior antibacterial, antibiofilm, and antioxidant activities in comparison to free Cur. Therefore, the Cur-EPS conjugates have potential pharmaceutical applications as therapeutic biomaterial that can be applied as a drug delivery system.

Biosurfactant-Assisted Cu Doping of Brushite Coatings: Enhancing Structural, Electrochemical, and Biofunctional Properties

Stainless steel (316L SS) has been widely used in orthopedic, cardiovascular stents, and other biomedical implant applications due to its strength, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility. To address the weak interaction between steel implants and tissues, it is a widely adopted strategy to enhance implant performance through the application of bioactive coatings. In this study, Cu-doped brushite coatings were deposited successfully through pulse electrodeposition on steel substrates facilitated with a biosurfactant (BS) (i.e., surfactin). Further, the combined effect of various concentrations of Cu ions and BS on the structural, electrochemical, and biological properties was studied. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirms brushite composition with Cu substitution causing lattice contraction and a reduced crystallite size. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) studies reveal the morphological changes of the coatings with the incorporation of Cu, which is confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and elemental mapping. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy confirm the brushite and Cu doping in the coatings, respectively. Increased surface roughness and mechanical properties of Cu-doped coatings were analyzed by using atomic force microscopic (AFM) and nanohardness tests, respectively. Electrochemical assessments demonstrate corrosion resistance enhancement in Cu-doped coatings, which is further improved with the addition of biosurfactants. In vitro biomineralization studies show the Cu-doped coating's potential for osseointegration, with added stability. The cytocompatibility of the coatings was analyzed using live/dead and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays; cell adhesion, proliferation, and migration studies were evaluated using SEM. Antibacterial assays highlight significant improvement in the antibacterial properties of Cu-doped coatings with BS. Thus, the developed Cu-doped brushite coatings with BS demonstrate their potential in the realm of biomedical implant technologies, paving the way for further exploration.

Bioactive self-assembling silk fibroin-sericin films for skin tissue engineering

The quest for an ideal wound dressing material has been a strong motivation for researchers to explore novel biomaterials for this purpose. Such explorations have led to the extensive use of silk fibroin (SF) as a suitable polymer for several applications over the years. Unfortunately, another major silk protein-sericin has not received its due attention yet in spite of having favorable biological properties. In this study, we report an approach of blending SF and silk sericin (SS) without the usage of chemical crosslinkers is made possible by the usage of formic acid which evaporates to induceβ-sheets formation to form cytocompatible films. Raman spectroscopy confirms the presence of SF/SS components in blend and formation ofβ-sheet in films.In situ, gelation kinetics studies were conducted to understand the change in gelation properties with addition of sericin into SF. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium and live/dead assays were performed to study cellular attachment, viability and proliferation on SF/SS films. The antibacterial properties of SF/SS films were tested using Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The re-structured SF/SS films were stable, transparent, show good mechanical properties, antibacterial activity and cytocompatibility, therefore can serve as suitable biomaterial candidates for skin regeneration applications.

Identification of hub genes to determine drug-disease correlation in breast carcinomas

The exact molecular mechanism underlying the heterogeneous drug response against breast carcinoma remains to be fully understood. It is urgently required to identify key genes that are intricately associated with varied clinical response of standard anti-cancer drugs, clinically used to treat breast cancer patients. In the present study, the utility of transcriptomic data of breast cancer patients in discerning the clinical drug response using machine learning-based approaches were evaluated. Here, a computational framework has been developed which can be used to identify key genes that can be linked with clinical drug response and progression of cancer, offering an immense opportunity to predict potential prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. The framework concerned utilizes DeSeq2, Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), Cytoscape, and machine learning techniques to find these crucial genes. Total RNA extraction and qRT-PCR were performed to quantify relative expression of few hub genes selected from the networks. In our study, we have experimentally checked the expression of few key hub genes like APOA2, DLX5, APOC3, CAMK2B, and PAK6 that were predicted to play an immense role in breast cancer tumorigenesis and progression in response to anti-cancer drug Paclitaxel. However, further experimental validations will be required to get mechanistic insights of these genes in regulating the drug response and cancer progression which will likely to play pivotal role in cancer treatment and precision oncology.

Natural Polymer-Based Thin Film Strategies for Skin Regeneration in Lieu of Regenerative Dentistry

Wound healing (WH) is a complex and dynamic process that comprises of a series of molecular and cellular events that occur after tissue injury. The injuries of the maxillofacial and oral region caused by trauma or surgery result in undesirable WH such as delayed wound closure and formation of scar tissue. Skin tissue engineering (TE)/regeneration is an emerging approach toward faster, superior, and more effective resolution of clinically significant wounds effectively. A multitude of TE principles approaches are being put to action for the fabrication of hydrogels, electrospun sheets, 3D scaffolds, and thin films that can be used as wound dressings materials, sutures, or skin substitutes. Thin films are advantageous over other materials owing to their flexibility, ability to provide a barrier against external contamination, easy gaseous exchange, and easy monitoring of wounds. This review focuses on wound-dressing films and their significance and discusses various fabrication techniques. In addition, we explore various natural biopolymers that can be used for fabrication of skin TE materials. Impact Statement In this review article, critical evaluations of natural polymers used in skin regeneration were discussed. Further, the fabrication technology of the 2D and 3D material in wound healing were discussed.

Natural Killer T cells and the invariant subset promote atherosclerosis: A meta-analysis

AIMS

Natural Killer T (NKT) cells are reported to be both pro- and anti-atherosclerotic. With this meta-analysis, we evaluated the NKT population and their subsets in regulating the atherosclerotic disease in mice.

MAIN METHODS

Eighteen pre-clinical (mice, n = 1276) and 6 clinical observational studies (humans, n = 116) met the eligibility criteria for inclusion. Random effects model was used and standard mean difference (SMD) was calculated for the cell counts and aortic lesion area.

KEY FINDINGS

Lesion area decreased in the absence of whole NKT cell population (-1.33[95%CI, -2.14, -0.52]), and in the absence of only iNKT subset (-0.66[95%CI, -1.69, 0.37]). However, lesion area increased after over-expression/activation of iNKTs (1.40[95%CI, 0.28, 2.52]). Atherogenic diet (AD) or high fat diet (HFD) increased the number of NKT cells (2.51[95%CI, 1.42, 3.61]), whereas the iNKT cell numbers and iNKT cell-specific gene expression decreased in mice (-2.04[95%CI, -3.34, -0.75]) and atherosclerotic patients (-1.81[95 % CI, -2.89, -0.74]).

SIGNIFICANCE

Here we show that, NKT and iNKT cells promote atherosclerosis. In general, NKT cell population increases with the progression of the plaque in mice and the numbers of iNKT cells reduce once the disease is established both in mice and humans.

Full genomic sequence of the HLA-A*02:01:01:241 allele identified by next-generation sequencing

HLA-A*02:01:01:241 differs from HLA-A*02:01:01:01 by a single nucleotide substitution at position 178 in intron 1.

A Low-Cost Test for Anemia Using an Artificial Neural Network

BACKGROUND

Anemia during pregnancy can complicate maternal and neonatal health and even lead to fatal consequences if not diagnosed early on. Around 99% of women who face maternal mortality are from middle or low-income countries. Early screening of anemia could facilitate improved health outcomes in pregnant women. Point of care techniques are preferred due to their ability to provide results rapidly and because they can be used by personnel with minimal or no training. Such techniques are especially useful in resource-constrained settings like rural parts of developing countries.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to develop a tool using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to estimate hemoglobin values using color information recorded from blood sample images. Our method utilizes inexpensive consumables and a simple image acquisition setup that can be assembled easily.

METHODS

This study explores a neural network model to estimate the hemoglobin content in an individual's blood sample. Blood samples were collected from 86 volunteers and the images of blood drops were obtained using an image acquisition setup designed by the team. The color intensity values calculated from the blood drop images were used as feature descriptors for the samples. The features obtained from our samples were consequently fed to the Artificial Neural Network.

RESULTS

Our neural network that gives the best result has the architecture of 11 neurons in each of the 5 layers. The best model gave estimated hemoglobin levels by analyzing color of blood samples with an accuracy of ±1.8 g/dl Limits of agreement (LOA) and bias 0.03 g/dl (with mean error of 0.75 g/dl). The model was subsequently tested with a validation set prepared from an additional 65 samples. The estimated hemoglobin levels gave an accuracy of +2 g/dl to -1.9 g/dl Limits of agreement (LOA) and bias 0.06 g/dl (with mean error of 0.78 g/dl).

CONCLUSION

Optimization of sensitivity and specificity has been able to achieve the sensitivity and specificity values as 95.5% and 52% respectively. These results are at par with the contemporary measurement techniques indicating that our method can be used as a workable screening technique itself.

Meta-analysis reveals inhibition of the inflammatory cytokine IL-6 affords limited protection post-myocardial ischemia/infarction

Background

Proinflammatory cytokine cascades play crucial roles in the onset and progression of myocardial ischemia and infarction. Clinically, elevated serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 is a poor prognostic indicator for future cardiac events and cardiac morbidity. Despite several reports, there is no clear evidence of cardiac benefits of inhibiting IL-6 in pre-clinical and clinical settings.

Objective

To analyze the available data systematically and perform a meta-analysis to show the evidence of effects of IL-6 inhibition on cardiac remodeling and mortality in ischemic animal models.

Methods

We used PICO framework and the quality of the studies was assessed using SYRCLE's risk of bias tool. Studies with interventions i.e., genetic deletion or pharmacological inhibition of IL-6/IL-6R were included for the meta-analysis. Systematic review was synthesized by including pre-clinical as well as randomized clinical trials involving myocardial infarction patients treated with IL-6 inhibitors. The effect size of the pooled data was determined using standard mean difference and 95% confidence intervals.

Results

A total of 12 pre-clinical studies were included in the review for analysis. Most of the studies showed an unclear risk of bias as the selection and reporting criteria were poorly described. We observed high heterogeneity in the included studies due to the varying duration of myocardial infarction and the dosage of IL-6 antibodies used in the studies. Overall inhibition of IL-6 significantly increased area at risk [p = 0.001, SMD = 0.49 (95% CI: -0.36, 1.35)] and significantly reduced ejection fraction [p = 0.001, SMD = -0.19 (95% CI: -1.39, 1.01)] and end-diastolic diameter [p = 0.02, SMD = -0.25 (95% CI: -0.87, 0.36)] of left ventricle post-MI, but no effects on infarct size [p < 0.01, SMD = 0.00; 95% CI: -1.34, 0.58). In randomized clinical trials, the overall effect on C-reactive protein remains significantly unchanged on CRP levels (SMD = -0.38; 95% CI: -1.94, 0.55) post-treatment with IL-6R inhibitor tocilizumab. The meta-regression demonstrates a significant positive correlation (p = 0.058) between the increase in ischemic area and duration of ischemia post-surgery in the absence of IL-6. This meta-analysis indicates mixed effect of IL-6 inhibition on cardiac remodeling post-MI, particularly in protecting the myocardium viability from damaging acute inflammation but not significant on cardiac function of ischemic animal models.

Conclusion

Despite the well-established pro-inflammatory nature of IL-6 in myocardial ischemia, our meta-analysis reports a limited contribution of IL-6 in the cardiac remodeling of hearts in animal models of myocardial ischemia. Moreover, genetically deleted IL-6 murine models produced contrasting results. Additional pre-clinical studies exploring the pharmacological inhibition of IL-6R are required to determine the beneficial effects of IL-6 inhibitors in regulating cardiac remodeling. The findings from IL-6R inhibition have better clinical relevance compared to genetically inhibited IL-6.

Non-coding RNAs: the silent regulators of health and diseases

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) like miRNAs, siRNA, lncRNAs, circRNAs, piRNAs, snoRNAs, snRNAs etc. form a collective group of RNAs that is instrumental to the various functions of the genome. With the advent of cutting-edge molecular biology tools and techniques, scientists have unearthed several mechanisms through which these ncRNAs act. Although our understanding may still be limited, yet scientists have been able to establish ncRNAs as major regulators of genetic inter-plays that dictate various pathophysiological conditions. This special issue of Molecular Biology Reports features a collection of research and review articles on ncRNAs and their involvement in different pathophysiological conditions that include different types of cancers. It is expected that this special issue will motivate researchers in the field to delve deeper into the world of ncRNAs and attempt to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for challenging clinical conditions.

Plasma therapy: a passive resistance against the deadliest

Convalescent plasma therapy provides a useful therapeutic tool to treat infectious diseases, especially where no specific therapeutic strategies have been identified. The ongoing pandemic puts back the spotlight on this age-old method as a viable treatment option. In this review, we discuss the usage of this therapy in different diseases including COVID-19, and the possible mechanisms of action. The current review also discusses the progress of therapeutic applications of blood-derivatives, from the simple transfer of immunized animal sera, to the more target-specific intravenous administration of human immunoglobulins from a pool of convalescent individuals, in both infectious and non-infectious diseases of various etiologies.

Revisiting fetal hemoglobin inducers in beta-hemoglobinopathies: a review of natural products, conventional and combinatorial therapies

Beta-hemoglobinopathies exhibit a heterogeneous clinical picture with varying degrees of clinical severity. Pertaining to the limited treatment options available, where blood transfusion still remains the commonest mode of treatment, pharmacological induction of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) has been a lucrative therapeutic intervention. Till now more than 70 different HbF inducers have been identified. The practical usage of many pharmacological drugs has been limited due to safety concerns. Natural compounds, like Resveratrol, Ripamycin and Bergaptene, with limited cytotoxicity and high efficacy have started capturing the attention of researchers. In this review, we have summarized pharmacological drugs and bioactive compounds isolated from natural sources that have been shown to increase HbF significantly. It primarily discusses recently identified synthetic and natural compounds, their mechanism of action, and their suitable screening platforms, including high throughput drug screening technology and biosensors. It also delves into the topic of combinatorial therapy and drug repurposing for HbF induction. Overall, we aim to provide insights into where we stand in HbF induction strategies for treating β-hemoglobinopathies.

Curcumin Extraction, Isolation, Quantification and Its Application in Functional Foods: A Review With a Focus on Immune Enhancement Activities and COVID-19

An entirely unknown species of coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak occurred in December 2019. COVID-19 has already affected more than 180 million people causing ~3.91 million deaths globally till the end of June 2021. During this emergency, the food nutraceuticals can be a potential therapeutic candidate. Curcumin is the natural and safe bioactive compound of the turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) plant and is known to possess potent anti-microbial and immuno-modulatory properties. This review paper covers the various extraction and quantification techniques of curcumin and its usage to produce functional food. The potential of curcumin in boosting the immune system has also been explored. The review will help develop insight and new knowledge about curcumin's role as an immune-booster and therapeutic agent against COVID-19. The manuscript will also encourage and assist the scientists and researchers who have an association with drug development, pharmacology, functional foods, and nutraceuticals to develop curcumin-based formulations.

Decrypting the role of predicted SARS-CoV-2 miRNAs in COVID-19 pathogenesis: A bioinformatics approach

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a highly transmissible virus causing the ongoing global pandemic, COVID-19. Evidence suggests that viral and host microRNAs play pivotal roles in progression of such infections. The decisive impact of viral miRNAs and their putative targets in modulating the transcriptomic profile of its host, however remains unexplored. We hypothesized that the SARS-CoV-2 derived miRNAs can potentially play a contributory role in its pathogenicity and aid in its survival. A series of computational tools predicted 34 SARS-CoV-2 encoded miRNAs and their putative targets in the host. Immune and apoptotic pathways were identified as most enriched pathways. Further investigation using a dataset of SARS-CoV-2 infected cells (available from public repository- GSE150392) revealed that 46 genes related to immune and apoptosis-related functions were deregulated. Of these 46 genes, 42 genes were identified to be significantly up-regulated and 4 genes were down-regulated. In silico analysis revealed all of the these significantly down-regulated genes to be putative targets of 9 out of 34 of our predicted viral miRNAs. Overall, 123 out of 324 genes that are differentially regulated in SARS-CoV2 infected cells, and also identified as putative targets of viral miRNAs, were found to be significantly down-regulated. KEGG pathway analysis using these genes revealed p53 signaling as the most enriched pathway – a pathway that is known to influence immune responses. This study thus provides the theoretical foundation for the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in progression of viral pathogenesis.

Extensive early mineralization of pre-osteoblasts, inhibition of osteoclastogenesis and faster peri-implant bone healing in osteoporotic rat model: principle effectiveness of bone-specific delivery of Tibolone as evaluated in vitro and in vivo

Hydrophobic drug molecules pose a significant challenge in immobilization on super-hydrophobic metallic surfaces like conventional titanium implants. Pre-coating surface modifications may yield a better platform with improved wettability for such purposes. Such modifications, as depicted in this study, were hypothesized to provide the requisite roughness to assist deposition of polymers like silk fibroin (SF) as a drug-binding matrix in addition to significant improvement in early protein adsorption, which facilitates faster cellular adhesion and proliferation. A silk-based localized drug delivery module was developed on the titanium surface and tested for its surface roughness, wettability, biocompatibility and in vitro differentiation potential of cells cultured on the coated metallic surfaces with/without external supplementation of the active metabolite of Tibolone. Conditioning of the matrix-coated implants with osteogenic as well as osteoclastogenic media supplemented with Tibolone stimulated the expression of early osteogenic gene and calcium deposition in the extracellular matrix. Significant inhibition in resorptive activity was also observed in the presence of the drug. To assess the efficacy of localized delivery of Tibolone via topographically modified titanium implants for inducing early peri-implant bone formation, osteoporosis was artificially induced in rats subjected to bilateral ovariectomy and implants were placed thereafter. Bone-specific release of Tibolone through the biomimetic matrix in osteoporotic rats collectively indicated significant improvement in peri-implant bone growth after 2 and 4 weeks (p < 0.05 compared to dummy-coated implants). These findings demonstrate for the first time that Tibolone released from SF matrix-coated implants can accelerate the biological stability of bone fixtures.

MicroRNA expression patterns in HbE/β-thalassemia patients: The passwords to unlock fetal hemoglobin expression in β-hemoglobinopathies

Hemoglobin E (HbE)/β-thalassemia is a form of β-hemoglobinopathy that is well-known for its clinical heterogeneity. Individuals suffering from this condition are often found to exhibit increased fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels - a factor that may contribute to their reduced blood transfusion requirements. This study hypothesized that the high HbF levels in HbE/β-thalassemia individuals may be guided by microRNAs and explored their involvement in the disease pathophysiology. The miRNA expression profile of hematopoietic progenitor cells in HbE/β-thalassemia patients was investigated and compared with that of healthy controls. Using miRNA PCR array experiments, eight miRNAs (hsa-miR-146a-5p, hsa-miR-146b-5p, hsa-miR-148b-3p, hsa-miR-155-5p, hsa-miR-192-5p, hsa-miR-335-5p, hsa-miR-7-5p, hsa-miR-98-5p) were identified to be significantly up-regulated whereas four miRNAs (hsa-let-7a-5p, hsa-miR-320a, hsa-let-7b-5p, hsa-miR-92a-3p) were significantly down-regulated. Target analysis found them to be associated with several biological processes and molecular functions including MAPK and HIF-1 signaling pathways - the pathways known to be associated with HbF upregulation. Results of dysregulated miRNAs further indicated that miR-17/92 cluster might be of critical importance in HbF regulation. The findings of our study thus identify key miRNAs that can be extrinsically manipulated to elevate HbF levels in β-hemoglobinopathies.

Prediction of survival outcome based on clinical features and pretreatment 18FDG-PET/CT for HNSCC patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

In this study, we have analysed pretreatment positron-emission tomography/ computed tomography (PET/CT) images of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. We have used a publicly available dataset for our analysis. The clinical features of the patient, PET quantitative parameters, and textural indices from pretreatment PET-CT images are selected for the study. The main objective of the study is to use classifiers to predict the outcome for HNSCC patients and compare the performance of the model with the conventional statistical model (CoxPH).

METHODS

We have applied a 40% fixed SUV threshold method for tumour delineation. Clinical features of each patient are provided in the dataset, and other features are calculated using LIFEx software. For predicting the outcome, we have implemented three classifiers - Random Forest classifier, Gradient Boosted Decision tree (GBDT) and Decision tree classifier. We have trained each model using 93 data points and test the model performance using 39 data points. The best model - GBDT is chosen based on the performance metrics.

RESULTS

It is observed that typically three features: MTV (Metabolic tumour Volume), primary tumour site and GLCM_correlation are significant for prediction of survival outcome. For testing cohort, GBDT achieves a balanced accuracy of 88%, where conventional statistical model reported a balanced accuracy of 81.5%.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed classifier achieves higher accuracy than the state of the art technique. Using this classifier we can estimate the HNSCC patient's outcome, and depending upon the outcome treatment policy can be selected.

Integrative microRNA and gene expression analysis identifies new drug repurposing candidates for fetal hemoglobin induction in β-hemoglobinopathies

Therapeutic induction of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) is one of the most promising approaches to ameliorate the severity of hemoglobinopathies like β-thalassemia and sickle cell anemia. Although several pharmacological agents have been investigated for HbF induction in adults, the majority of these are associated with significant side-effects. While drug repurposing is known to open new doors for the use of approved drugs in unexplored clinical conditions, the primary challenge lies in identifying such candidates. In this study, we aimed to identify repurposing candidates for HbF induction using a novel in silico approach utilizing microRNA-pathway-drug relationships. A computational drug repurposing strategy identified several unique candidates for HbF induction; among which Curcumin, Ginsenoside, Valproate, and Vorinostat were found to be most suitable for future trials. This study identified new drug repurposing candidates for HbF induction and demonstrates an easily adaptable methodology that can be used for other pathophysiological conditions.

Identification of deleterious SNPs and their effects on BCL11A, the master regulator of fetal hemoglobin expression

The B-cell lymphoma/leukemia 11A protein (encoded by BCL11A gene) is a key regulator of fetal-to-adult hemoglobin switching as seen in post-natal life. Although genetic polymorphisms like SNPs in BCL11A gene are expected to affect fetal hemoglobin (HbF) expression levels, yet their implications are poorly studied. This study utilizes a computational approach to identify the deleterious SNPs which may affect the structure and function of BCL11A protein. The study also generated a 3D structure of native and mutants. The analysis identified two SNPs in BCL11A as highly deleterious: N391K and C414S which are expected to affect structure and stability of the protein. According to conservation analysis, both residues N391 and C414 were identified as highly conserved. Additionally, post-translational modification sites were predicted at both sites. Ligand binding sites were also predicted in N391 and C414. Therefore, N391K and C414S in BCL11A can considered as important candidates to mediate HbF variation.

Targeted Drug Delivery from Titanium Implants: A Review of Challenges and Approaches

Titanium implants are considered the gold standard of treatment for dental and orthopedic applications. Biocompatibility, low elasticity, and corrosion resistance are some of the key properties of these metallic implants. Nonetheless, a long-term clinical failure of implants may occur due to inadequate osseointegration. Poor osseointegration induces mobility, inflammation, increased bone resorption, and osteolysis; hence, it may result in painful revision surgeries. Topographical modifications, improvement in hydrophilicity, and the development of controlled-release drug-loading systems have shown to improve cellular adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. Surface modifications, along with drug coating, undoubtedly demonstrate better osseointegration, especially in challenged degenerative conditions, such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and osteogenesis imperfecta. Anabolic bone-acting drugs, such as parathyroid hormone peptides, simvastatin, prostaglandin-EP4-receptor antagonist, vitamin D, strontium ranelate, and anti-catabolic bone-acting drugs, such as calcitonin, bisphosphonates, and selective estrogen receptor modulators, expedite the process of osseointegration. In addition, various proteins, peptides, and growth factors may accessorize the idea of localized therapy. Loading these substances on modified titanium surfaces is achieved commonly by mechanisms such as direct coating, adsorption, and incorporating in biodegradable polymers. The primary approach toward the optimum drug loading is a critical trade-off between factors preventing release of a drug immediately and those allowing slow and sustained release. Recent advances broaden the understanding of the efficacy of adsorption, hydrogel coating, and electrospinning layer-by-layer coating facilitated by differential charge on metallic surface. This review discusses the existing approaches and challenges for the development of stable and sustained drug delivery systems on titanium implants, which would promote faster and superior osseointegration.

Parameter Optimization Of Injectable Polycaprolactone Microspheres Containing Curcumin Using Response Surface Methodology

The achievement of desirable pharmacokinetic parameters from particulate drug delivery systems are dependent on the physical characteristics of the systems namely, particle dimension, loading of therapeutic agent, encapsulation efficiency, in vitro release kinetics. This study aimed to evaluate the main and interaction effects of the formulation variables on those physical characteristics and also to optimize the best combination of the variables to formulate small size particles with high encapsulation efficiency. The results showed that all the process variables (amount of polycaprolactone and stirring speed) except the amount of surfactant contributed significantly to the parameters previously mentioned. The best optimized formulation was experimentally validated for the closeness to the theoretical estimates.

miRwayDB: a database for experimentally validated microRNA-pathway associations in pathophysiological conditions

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are well-known as key regulators of diverse biological pathways. A series of experimental evidences have shown that abnormal miRNA expression profiles are responsible for various pathophysiological conditions by modulating genes in disease associated pathways. In spite of the rapid increase in research data confirming such associations, scientists still do not have access to a consolidated database offering these miRNA-pathway association details for critical diseases. We have developed miRwayDB, a database providing comprehensive information of experimentally validated miRNA-pathway associations in various pathophysiological conditions utilizing data collected from published literature. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first database that provides information about experimentally validated miRNA mediated pathway dysregulation as seen specifically in critical human diseases and hence indicative of a cause-and-effect relationship in most cases. The current version of miRwayDB collects an exhaustive list of miRNA-pathway association entries for 76 critical disease conditions by reviewing 663 published articles. Each database entry contains complete information on the name of the pathophysiological condition, associated miRNA(s), experimental sample type(s), regulation pattern (up/down) of miRNA, pathway association(s), targeted member of dysregulated pathway(s) and a brief description. In addition, miRwayDB provides miRNA, gene and pathway score to evaluate the role of a miRNA regulated pathways in various pathophysiological conditions. The database can also be used for other biomedical approaches such as validation of computational analysis, integrated analysis and prediction of computational model. It also offers a submission page to submit novel data from recently published studies. We believe that miRwayDB will be a useful tool for miRNA research community.

Database URL: http://www.mirway.iitkgp.ac.in

miRnalyze: an interactive database linking tool to unlock intuitive microRNA regulation of cell signaling pathways

The various pathophysiological processes occurring in living systems are known to be orchestrated by delicate interplays and cross-talks between different genes and their regulators. Among the various regulators of genes, there is a class of small non-coding RNA molecules known as microRNAs. Although, the relative simplicity of miRNAs and their ability to modulate cellular processes make them attractive therapeutic candidates, their presence in large numbers make it challenging for experimental researchers to interpret the intricacies of the molecular processes they regulate. Most of the existing bioinformatic tools fail to address these challenges. Here, we present a new web resource 'miRnalyze' that has been specifically designed to directly identify the putative regulation of cell signaling pathways by miRNAs. The tool integrates miRNA-target predictions with signaling cascade members by utilizing TargetScanHuman 7.1 miRNA-target prediction tool and the KEGG pathway database, and thus provides researchers with in-depth insights into modulation of signal transduction pathways by miRNAs. miRnalyze is capable of identifying common miRNAs targeting more than one gene in the same signaling pathway-a feature that further increases the probability of modulating the pathway and downstream reactions when using miRNA modulators. Additionally, miRnalyze can sort miRNAs according to the seed-match types and TargetScan Context ++ score, thus providing a hierarchical list of most valuable miRNAs. Furthermore, in order to provide users with comprehensive information regarding miRNAs, genes and pathways, miRnalyze also links to expression data of miRNAs (miRmine) and genes (TiGER) and proteome abundance (PaxDb) data. To validate the capability of the tool, we have documented the correlation of miRnalyze's prediction with experimental confirmation studies.

Database URL

http://www.mirnalyze.in.

Computational pharmacokinetics and in vitro-in vivo correlation of anti-diabetic synergistic phyto-composite blend

Despite tremendous strides in modern medicine stringent control over insulin resistance or restoration of normoglycemia has not yet been achieved. With the growth of molecular biology, omics technologies, docking studies, and in silico pharmacology, modulators of enzymes and receptors affecting the molecular pathogenesis of the disease are being considered as the latest targets for anti-diabetic therapy. Therapeutic molecular targets are now being developed basing on the up or down regulation of different signaling pathways affecting the disease. Phytosynergistic anti-diabetic therapy is in vogue both with classical and non-classical medicinal systems. However its chemo-profiling, structural and pharmacokinetic validation awaits providing recognition to such formulations for international acceptance. Translational health research with its focus on benchside product development and its sequential transition to patient bedside puts the pharma RDs to a challenge to develop bio-waiver protocols. Pharmacokinetic simulation models and establishment of in vitro-in vivo correlation can help to replace in vivo bioavailability studies and provide means of quality control for scale up and post approval modification. This review attempts to bring different shades highlighting phyto-synergy, molecular targeting of antidiabetic agents via different signaling pathways and bio-waiver studies under a single umbrella.

Mesenchymal stem cells and nano-structured surfaces

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) represent multipotent stromal cells that can differentiate into a variety of cell types, including osteoblasts (bone cells), chondrocytes (cartilage cells), and adipocytes (fat cells). Their multi-potency provides a great promise as a cell source for tissue engineering and cell-based therapy for many diseases, particularly bone diseases and bone formation. To be able to direct and modulate the differentiation of MSCs into the desired cell types in situ in the tissue, nanotechnology is introduced and used to facilitate or promote cell growth and differentiation. These nano-materials can provide a fine structure and tuneable surface in nanoscales to help the cell adhesion and promote the cell growth and differentiation of MSCs. This could be a dominant direction in future for stem cells based therapy or tissue engineering for various diseases. Therefore, the isolation, manipulation, and differentiation of MSCs are very important steps to make meaningful use of MSCs for disease treatments. In this chapter, we have described a method of isolating MSC from human bone marrow, and how to culture and differentiate them in vitro. We have also provided research methods on how to use MSCs in an in vitro model and how to observe MSC biological response on the surface of nano-scaled materials.

The microRNA expression signature on modified titanium implant surfaces influences genetic mechanisms leading to osteogenic differentiation

Topographically and chemically modified titanium implants are recognized to have improved osteogenic properties; however, the molecular regulation of this process remains unknown. This study aimed to determine the microRNA profile and the potential regulation of osteogenic differentiation following early exposure of osteoprogenitor cells to sand-blasted, large-grit acid-etched (SLA) and hydrophilic SLA (modSLA) surfaces. Firstly, the osteogenic characteristics of the primary osteoprogenitor cells were confirmed using ALP activity and Alizarin Red S staining. The effect of smooth (SMO), SLA and modSLA surfaces on the TGF-β/BMP (BMP2, BMP6, ACVR1) and non-canonical WNT/Ca(2+) (WNT5A, FZD6) pathways, as well as the integrins ITGB1 and ITGA2, was determined. It was revealed that the modified titanium surfaces could induce the activation of TGF-β/BMP and non-canonical WNT/Ca(2+) signaling genes. The expression pattern of microRNAs (miRNAs) related to cell differentiation was evaluated. Statistical analysis of the differentially regulated miRNAs indicated that 35 and 32 miRNAs were down-regulated on the modSLA and SLA surfaces respectively, when compared with the smooth surface (SMO). Thirty-one miRNAs that were down-regulated were common to both modSLA and SLA. There were 10 miRNAs up-regulated on modSLA and nine on SLA surfaces, amongst which eight were the same as observed on modSLA. TargetScan predictions for the down-regulated miRNAs revealed genes of the TGF-β/BMP and non-canonical Ca(2+) pathways as targets. This study demonstrated that modified titanium implant surfaces induce differential regulation of miRNAs, which potentially regulate the TGF-β/BMP and WNT/Ca(2+) pathways during osteogenic differentiation on modified titanium implant surfaces.

Intracranial space-occupying lesions in the elderly

The nature of intracranial space-occupying lesions can now be accurately diagnosed without invasive investigations. Many lesions occur in the elderly for whom neurosurgery has an added risk, but it can restore independence and improve the quality of life.