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Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2021 Mar 31;203:111725. Epub 2021 Mar 31.

Biomedical Engineering Department, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Tehran, Iran.

Hydrogels are a promising choice for soft tissue (cartilage, skin and adipose) engineering and repair. However, lack of interconnected porosity and poor mechanical performance have hindered their application, especially in natural polymer-based hydrogels. Cryogels with the potential to overcome the shortcomings of hydrogels have drawn attention in the last few years. Read More

Tissue Cell 2021 Apr 2;72:101539. Epub 2021 Apr 2.

Transplant Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Background: The use of growth factors in tissue engineering is often challenging due to their instability and short half-life. The delivery of growth factors with nanocarriers can eliminate these problems. In the present study, we introduced an alginate oxide particle in acellular collagen-alginate composite hydrogel platform for the immobilization and controlled release of VEGF and bFGF to promote angiogenesis. Read More

Biotechnol Adv 2021 Apr 7:107752. Epub 2021 Apr 7.

State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China. Electronic address:

The hierarchical formation of self-assembling peptide-based hydrogels (SAPHs) starts from peptide to nanofibers, following with the entanglement into hydrogels with nanofibrous network. Such characteristic structure and extraordinary biocompatibility, and the peptide components endow the SAPHs with diverse applications in biotechnological field. Therefore, the thorough comprehension of SAPHs is significant to broadening their application. Read More

Methods 2021 Apr 7. Epub 2021 Apr 7.

Montreal Heart Institute, 5000 Belanger, Montréal, Québec, H1T 1C8, Canada; Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, H3C 3J7, Canada; Pharmacology and Physiology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, H3C 3J7, Canada; Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, H3C 3J7, Canada. Electronic address:

Cardiac fibroblasts play a critical role in extracellular matrix homeostasis, wound healing, and cardiac interstitial fibrosis: the latter being a pathophysiological response to a chronic increase in afterload. Using a standard protocol to isolate cardiac fibroblasts and maintain them in their quiescent phenotype in vitro will enable a better understanding of cardiac fibroblast biology and their role in the response to profibrotic stimuli. Here, we describe an enzymatic method for isolating cardiac fibroblasts. Read More

Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021 Apr 7. Epub 2021 Apr 7.

Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel; Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel. Electronic address:

The complexity and diversity of the biochemical processes that occur during tumorigenesis and metastasis are frequently over-simplified in the traditional in vitro cell cultures. Two-dimensional cultures limit researchers' experimental observations and frequently give rise to misleading and contradictory results. Therefore, in order to overcome the limitations of in vitro studies and bridge the translational gap to in vivo applications, 3D models of cancer cell were developed in the last decades. Read More

Int J Biol Macromol 2021 Apr 7. Epub 2021 Apr 7.

State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, No.14, Section 3, Ren Min Nan Rd., Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China. Electronic address:

As generally accepted, inhibiting the bacterial invasion at initial stage and promoting the behavior of related osteogenesis cells afterwards is crucial to achieve favorable osteointegration after dental implantation. In this study, a novel combined structured hydrogel composed of chitosan and pore-closed poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microparticles was prepared and characterized. In vitro and in-vivo studies have identified that this biocompatible material can rapidly release vancomycin at initial 2 days and then sustainedly release recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 for about 12 days, thus respectively accomplish antibacterial and osteogenesis functions. Read More

Int J Biol Macromol 2021 Apr 7. Epub 2021 Apr 7.

School of Food Science and Technology, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, PR China; National Engineering Research Center of Seafood, Dalian 116034, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Seafood Deep Processing, Dalian 116034, PR China. Electronic address:

Gel properties of hydrogel-forming by Ala-Lys dipeptide (AK) and iota-carrageenan (ι-C) were investigated by rheological behavior, fourier transform infrared analysis, cryo-scanning electron microscopy, low field-NMR relaxometry and magnetic resonance imaging. Iota-carrageenan was changed from a liquid to a gel with the addition of AK, and the existence of AK significantly increased the storage modulus (G') of ι-C from 590.4 to 1077. Read More

J Nanobiotechnology 2021 Apr 9;19(1):100. Epub 2021 Apr 9.

Department of Biomedical Science & Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea.

Background: Carvedilol, the anti-hypertensive drug, has poor bioavailability when administered orally. Ethosomes-mediated transdermal delivery is considered a potential route of administration to increase the bioavailability of carvedilol. The central composite design could be used as a tool to optimize ethosomal formulation. Read More

BMC Urol 2021 Apr 9;21(1):58. Epub 2021 Apr 9.

Department of Research and Development, B. Braun Medical Ltd., Sempach, Switzerland.

Background: Long-term use of urethral catheters is associated with high risk of urinary tract infection (UTI) and blockage. Microbial biofilms are a common cause of catheter blockage, reducing their lifetime and significantly increasing morbidity of UTIs. A 0. Read More

Biofabrication 2021 Apr 9. Epub 2021 Apr 9.

Biosensors for Bioengineering, IBEC, c/ Baldiri Reixac 10-12, Parc Científic de Barcelona (PCB), Edifici Clúster, Barcelona, Barcelona, E08028, SPAIN.

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is the most common hereditary myopathy in the adult population. The disease is characterized by progressive skeletal muscle degeneration that produces severe disability. At present, there is still no effective treatment for DM1 patients, but the breakthroughs in understanding the molecular pathogenic mechanisms in DM1 have allowed the testing of new therapeutic strategies. Read More

Biofabrication 2021 Apr 9. Epub 2021 Apr 9.

Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 2 Yikuang Street, Nangang District, Harbin, 150001, CHINA.

In vitro cancer models that can largely mimic the in vivo microenvironment are crucial for conducting more accurate research. Models of three-dimensional (3D) culture that can mimic some aspects of cancer microenvironment or cancer biopsies that can adequately represent tumor heterogeneity are intensely used currently. Those models still lack the dynamic stress stimuli in gastric carcinoma exposed to stomach peristalsis in vivo. Read More

Biotechnol Bioeng 2021 Apr 9. Epub 2021 Apr 9.

Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA.

A complex cellular cascade characterizes the pathophysiological response following spinal cord injury (SCI) limiting regeneration. Biomaterial and stem cell combination therapies together have shown synergistic effects, compared to the independent benefits of each intervention, and represent a promising approach towards regaining function after injury. In this study, we combine our polyethylene glycol (PEG) cell delivery platform with lentiviral-mediated overexpression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-10 to improve mouse embryonic day 14 (E14) spinal progenitor transplant survival. Read More

Pharm Res 2021 Apr 9. Epub 2021 Apr 9.

College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, 501 Jinju Daero, Jinju, Gyeongnam, 52828, Republic of Korea.

Purpose: To develop a hydrogel film containing bovine serum albumin (BSA)-coated silver nanoparticles (BSA/AgNP) and evaluate its applicability for topical photothermal treatment (PTT) of skin cancer.

Methods: BSA/AgNP-loaded hydrogel films were prepared and their swelling, bioadhesive, mechanical, and photothermal properties were characterized in vitro and in vivo.

Results: The synthesized BSA/AgNP exhibited a narrow size distribution with good size stability and, notably, possessed great photothermal activity that could stably maintain through repetitive laser irradiation. Read More

ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2021 Apr 9. Epub 2021 Apr 9.

National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.

Microalgae immobilized in hydrogels offer advantages over those cultured in suspension culture in terms of carbon fixation and oxygen emission. However, alginate as a commonly used hydrogel for microalgal immobilization encounters problems with mechanical strength and stability. To address this limitation, silk fibroin (silk) hydrogels prepared by ultrasonication were utilized to host microalgae when mixed with the presonicated protein solution prior to its gelation. Read More

Chem Asian J 2021 Apr 8. Epub 2021 Apr 8.

Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University Institute for Research and Medical Consultations, Biophysics, SAUDI ARABIA.

A novel hydrogel polymer electrolyte was prepared by incorporation of 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BG) to cross-linked polyacrylamide (PAM). The electrolyte (PAMBG) was modified with cobalt (II) sulfate with various doping ratios (PAMBGCoX) to increase the capacitance by increasing faradaic reactions. The supercapacitor device assembly was performed by using active carbon (AC) electrodes and hydrogel polymer electrolytes. Read More

Macromol Rapid Commun 2021 Apr 8:e2000660. Epub 2021 Apr 8.

Laboratory of Biomechanical Orthopedics, EPFL, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland.

Attaching hydrogels to soft internal tissues is crucial for the development of various biomedical devices. Tough sticky hydrogel patches present high adhesion, yet with lack of injectability and the need for treatment of contacting surface. On the contrary, injectable and photo-curable hydrogels are highly attractive owing to their ease of use, flexibility of filling any shape, and their minimally invasive character, compared to their conventional preformed counterparts. Read More

ACS Appl Polym Mater 2020 Mar 2;2(3):1134-1144. Epub 2020 Jan 2.

University of Kansas (KU), Lawrence, Kansas.

Bacterial adhesion and growth at the composite/adhesive/tooth interface remain the primary cause of dental composite restoration failure. Early colonizers, including , play a critical role in the formation of dental caries by creating an environment that reduces the adhesive's integrity. Subsequently, other bacterial species, biofilm formation, and lactic acid from demineralize the adjoining tooth. Read More

APL Bioeng 2021 Jun 1;5(2):021502. Epub 2021 Apr 1.

School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.

Enzymes play a central role in fundamental biological processes and have been traditionally used to trigger various processes. In recent years, enzymes have been used to tune biomaterial responses and modify the chemical structures at desired sites. These chemical modifications have allowed the fabrication of various hydrogels for tissue engineering and therapeutic applications. Read More

Int J Nanomedicine 2021 30;16:2585-2595. Epub 2021 Mar 30.

Engineering Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1UB, UK.

Background: In cancer nanomedicine, drugs are transported by nanocarriers through a biological system to produce a therapeutic effect. The efficacy of the treatment is affected by the ability of the nanocarriers to overcome biological transport barriers to reach their target. In this work, we focus on the process of nanocarrier penetration through tumour tissue after extravasation. Read More

Anal Chim Acta 2021 May 13;1157:338400. Epub 2021 Mar 13.

Institute of Materials, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang, 621907, China.

It is of great significance to develop facile and economical strategies for on-site detection and treatment of toxic metal ions. Stimulus-responsive DNA hydrogel materials have been increasingly used for convenient detection of metal ions due to their advantages such as simplicity, portability, and ease of storage. However, these methods still require encapsulation of signal tags by labeling or embedding. Read More

Acta Biomater 2021 Apr 5. Epub 2021 Apr 5.

Department of Materials, School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.; Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB), The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.. Electronic address:

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a process that starts in the central nucleus pulposus (NP) and leads to inflammation, extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, and progressive loss of disc height. Early treatment of IVD degeneration is critical to the reduction of low back pain and related disability. As such, minimally invasive therapeutic approaches that can halt and reverse NP degeneration at the early stages of the disease are needed. Read More

Acta Biomater 2021 Apr 5. Epub 2021 Apr 5.

Research Center for Nano-Biomaterials, Analytical and Testing Center, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China. Electronic address:

Bone regeneration is an interdisciplinary complex lesson, including but not limited to materials science, biomechanics, immunology, and biology. Having witnessed impressive progress in the past decades in the development of bone substitutes; however, it must be said that the most suitable biomaterial for bone regeneration remains an area of intense debate. Since its discovery, poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) has been widely used in bone tissue engineering due to its good biocompatibility and adjustable biodegradability. Read More

Org Lett 2021 Apr 8. Epub 2021 Apr 8.

School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India.

The assembly of guanosine and boronic acids produces anionic hydrogels (G-B hydrogels) that mimic the topology of the DNA G-quadruplex. We herein demonstrate an unconventional approach of using the G-B hydrogel as a supramolecular template that assembles the irreversible formation of DNA G-quadruplex-selective 1,4-triazole ligands from a pool of alkyne-azide building blocks. These generated ligands could also stabilize and strengthen the gel assembly. Read More

Chempluschem 2021 Apr;86(4):601-611

Graduate Department of Chemical Materials, and Institute for Plastic Information and Energy Materials, Sustainable Utilization of Photovoltaic Energy Research Center, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea.

The development of multifunctional hydrogels with excellent stretchability and toughness is one of the most fascinating subjects in soft matter research. Numerous research efforts have focused on the design of new hydrogel systems with superior mechanical properties because of their potential applications in diverse fields. In this Minireview, we consider the most up-to-date mechanically strong hydrogels and summarize their design strategies based on the formation of double networks and dual physical crosslinking. Read More

Adv Mater 2021 Apr 8:e2008235. Epub 2021 Apr 8.

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90 095, USA.

Crosslinked polymers and gels are important in soft robotics, solar vapor generation, energy storage, drug delivery, catalysis, and biosensing. However, their attractive mass transport and volume-changing abilities are diffusion-limited, requiring miniaturization to avoid slow response. Typical approaches to improving diffusion in hydrogels sacrifice mechanical properties by increasing porosity or limit the total volumetric flux by directionally confining the pores. Read More

Regen Eng Transl Med 2019 Dec 27;5(4):373-386. Epub 2019 Feb 27.

Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 5118 WIMR, 1111 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705-2275, USA.

Vocal fold scar, characterized by alterations in the lamina propria extracellular matrix, disrupts normal voice quality and function. Due to a lack of satisfactory clinical treatments, there is a need for tissue engineering strategies to restore voice. Candidate biomaterials for vocal fold tissue engineering must match the unique biomechanical and viscoelastic properties of native tissue without provoking inflammation. Read More

Front Med (Lausanne) 2021 22;8:643402. Epub 2021 Mar 22.

Department of Ophthalmology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Glaucoma is an irreversible and blinding neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells. The current animal models of glaucoma fail to provide a chronic elevated intraocular pressure and cannot maintain the optical media clarity for a long time, which brings some difficulties to the study of glaucoma. Here, we developed a new chronic ocular hypertension model of mice induced by cross-linking hydrogel intracameral injection. Read More

J Pharm Bioallied Sci 2020 Nov 5;12(Suppl 2):S816-S820. Epub 2020 Nov 5.

Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Sekip Utara, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Introduction: Andrographolide is a compound that shows various pharmacological activities, which can be applied topically or orally. Nanoemulsion can improve drug solubility and stability, but has limitations for topical application. Incorporation of nanoemulsion into hydrogel can increase the viscosity of the system which can prolong the drug residence time. Read More

Nat Commun 2021 04 7;12(1):2082. Epub 2021 Apr 7.

Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule Chemistry of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, China.

3D-printing tough conductive hydrogels (TCHs) with complex structures is still a challenging task in related fields due to their inherent contrasting multinetworks, uncontrollable and slow polymerization of conductive components. Here we report an orthogonal photochemistry-assisted printing (OPAP) strategy to make 3D TCHs in one-pot via the combination of rational visible-light-chemistry design and reliable extrusion printing technique. This orthogonal chemistry is rapid, controllable, and simultaneously achieve the photopolymerization of EDOT and phenol-coupling reaction, leading to the construction of tough hydrogels in a short time (t ~30 s). Read More

Optom Vis Sci 2021 Apr 6. Epub 2021 Apr 6.

Centre for Ocular Research & Education, School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Alcon Research, LLC, Vision Care Franchise, Johns Creek, Georgia

Significance: Previous in vitro measurements of contact lenses commonly investigate the impact of nonpolar tear film lipids (i.e., sterols). Read More