Mineralized polysaccharide capsules as biomimetic microenvironments for cell, gene and growth factor delivery in tissue engineering

Challenges in developing strategies for the valorization of lignin-a major pollutant of the paper mill industry

Apart from protecting the environment from undesired waste impacts, wastewater treatment is a crucial platform for recovery. The exploitation of suitable technology to transform the wastes from pulp and paper industries (PPI) to value-added products is vital from an environmental and socio-economic point of view that will impact everyday life. As the volume and complexity of wastewater increase in a rapidly urbanizing world, the challenge of maintaining efficient wastewater treatment in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly manner must be met. In addition to producing treated water, the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) has a large amount of paper mill sludge (PMS) daily. Sludge management and disposal are significant problems associated with wastewater treatment plants. Applying the biorefinery concept is necessary for PPI from an environmental point of view and because of the piles of valuables contained therein in the form of waste. This will provide a renewable source for producing valuables and bio-energy and aid in making the overall process more economical and environmentally sustainable. Therefore, it is compulsory to continue inquiry on different applications of wastes, with proper justification of the environmental and economic factors. This review discusses current trends and challenges in wastewater management and the bio-valorization of paper mills. Lignin has been highlighted as a critical component for generating valuables, and its recovery prospects from solid and liquid PPI waste have been suggested.

Advances in polysaccharide-based nano/microcapsules for biomedical applications: A review

Biocompatible and biodegradable polysaccharides are abundant and renewable natural materials. Polysaccharides and their derivatives are developed into various carrier materials for biomedical applications. In particular, advanced polysaccharide-based nano/microcapsules have received extensive attention in biomedical applications due to their good encapsulation ability and tunability. In recent years, polysaccharide-based nano/microcapsules have been widely used in drug carriers, gene carriers, antigen carriers, wound dressings, bioimaging and biosensors. Numerous research results have confirmed the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of polysaccharide-based nano/microcapsules in the above-mentioned biomedical applications. This review discussed and analyzed the latest research strategies and design considerations for these applications in detail. The preparation methods, application strategies, and design considerations of polysaccharide-based nano/microcapsules are summarized and analyzed, and their challenges and future research prospects in biomedicine are further discussed. It is expected to provide researchers with inspiration and design ideas.

Synthesis of nanostructured protein-mineral-microcapsules by sonication

We propose a simple and eco-friendly method for the formation of composite protein-mineral-microcapsules induced by ultrasound treatment. Protein- and nanoparticle-stabilized oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions loaded with different oils are prepared using high-intensity ultrasound. The formation of thin composite mineral proteinaceous shells is realized with various types of nanoparticles, which are pre-modified with Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) and subsequently characterized by EDX, TGA, zeta potential measurements and Raman spectroscopy. Cryo-SEM and EDX mapping visualizations show the homogeneous distribution of the densely packed nanoparticles in the capsule shell. In contrast to the results reported in our previous paper,¹ the shell of those nanostructured composite microcapsules is not cross-linked by the intermolecular disulfide bonds between BSA molecules. Instead, a Pickering-Emulsion formation takes place because of the amphiphilicity-driven spontaneous attachment of the BSA-modified nanoparticles at the oil/water interface. Using colloidal particles for the formation of the shell of the microcapsules, in our case silica, hydroxyapatite and calcium carbonate nanoparticles, is promising for the creation of new functional materials. The nanoparticulate building blocks of the composite shell with different chemical, physical or morphological properties can contribute to additional, sometimes even multiple, features of the resulting capsules. Microcapsules with shells of densely packed nanoparticles could find interesting applications in pharmaceutical science, cosmetics or in food technology.

Nanodeformations of microcapsules: comparing the effects of cross-linking and nanoparticles

The mechanical properties of proteinaceous and composite microcapsules loaded with oil were measured by SFM and evaluated using the Reissner model. Comparison of the obtained results reveals significantly higher Young’s moduli of protein capsules due to intermolecular crosslinking. In contrast, conformational restrictions in composite microcapsules inhibit protein crosslinking leading to the reduction of their elasticity.

SFM results for protein and composite microcapsules are evaluated by the Reissner model. Protein capsules show higher Young’s moduli due to crosslinking, which is absent in composite capsules because of restrictions in the protein conformations.

Designing the new generation of intelligent biocompatible carriers for protein and peptide delivery

Therapeutic proteins and peptides have revolutionized treatment for a number of diseases, and the expected increase in macromolecule-based therapies brings a new set of challenges for the pharmaceutics field. Due to their poor stability, large molecular weight, and poor transport properties, therapeutic proteins and peptides are predominantly limited to parenteral administration. The short serum half-lives typically require frequent injections to maintain an effective dose, and patient compliance is a growing issue as therapeutic protein treatments become more widely available. A number of studies have underscored the relationship of subcutaneous injections with patient non-adherence, estimating that over half of insulin-dependent adults intentionally skip injections. The development of oral formulations has the potential to address some issues associated with non-adherence including the interference with daily activities, embarrassment, and injection pain. Oral delivery can also help to eliminate the adverse effects and scar tissue buildup associated with repeated injections. However, there are several major challenges associated with oral delivery of proteins and peptides, such as the instability in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, low permeability, and a narrow absorption window in the intestine. This review provides a detailed overview of the oral delivery route and associated challenges. Recent advances in formulation and drug delivery technologies to enhance bioavailability are discussed, including the co-administration of compounds to alter conditions in the GI tract, the modification of the macromolecule physicochemical properties, and the use of improved targeted and controlled release carriers.

Lignin from Micro- to Nanosize: Applications

Micro- and nanosize lignin has recently gained interest due to improved properties compared to standard lignin available today. As the second most abundant biopolymer after cellulose, lignin is readily available but used for rather low-value applications. This review focuses on the application of micro- and nanostructured lignin in final products or processes that all show potential for high added value. The fields of application are ranging from improvement of mechanical properties of polymer nanocomposites, bactericidal and antioxidant properties and impregnations to hollow lignin drug carriers for hydrophobic and hydrophilic substances. Also, a carbonization of lignin nanostructures can lead to high-value applications such as use in supercapacitors for energy storage. The properties of the final product depend on the surface properties of the nanomaterial and, therefore, on factors like the lignin source, extraction method, and production/precipitation methods, as discussed in this review.

Preparation of inorganic/organic polymer hybrid microcapsules with high encapsulation efficiency by an electrospray technique

Microcapsules composed of calcium phosphate and chitosan were prepared in a single step by electrospraying. An aqueous solution containing calcium chloride and chitosan was electrosprayed into a phosphate solution to form a calcium phosphate shell on the sprayed droplets. The resulting microcapsules were 350 μm in average diameter. Investigation using fluorescently labeled chitosan and XRD measurements revealed that the shells of the microcapsules were composed of calcium phosphate (mainly hydroxyapatite) and chitosan. Instead of chitosan, poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) and polyethylene glycol were also available for microcapsule production by electrospraying. Variations in the electrospraying conditions resulted in a variety of microcapsule shapes. Various types of substrates were successfully encapsulated in microcapsules with a high encapsulation efficiency (more than 80%). Finally, we succeeded in the encapsulation of living yeast cells in microcapsules, and observed their growth within these microcapsules.

Biomineralized organic–inorganic hybrids aiming for smart drug delivery

Organic–inorganic hybrid materials have received great interest in the last 10 years in the controlled drug delivery area because of their excellent biocompatible, biomimetic, and pH-sensitive properties. Biomineralization is a biomineral-inspired route to prepare novel organic–inorganic hybrids, which involves a diffusion-controlled deposition of inorganic minerals within porous polymeric matrices. Proper combination of controlled biomineralization technique with the rational choice of polymer templates would lead to the successful development of smart self-assembled drug carriers. The present work mainly summarizes our recent work about the biomineralized organic–inorganic hybrid materials aiming for smart drug delivery including hybrid beads, membranes, and micro/nano gels. Furthermore, prospect for future development of the smart organic–inorganic hybrids is also discussed.

Novel banana peel pectin mediated green route for the synthesis of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles and their spectral characterization

Hydroxyapatite [HAP, Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2] is the main inorganic component of natural bone and is widely used in various biomedical applications. In this paper, we have reported the synthesis of HAP nanoparticles by banana peel pectin mediated green template method. The pectin extracted from the peels of banana and its various concentrations were exploited in our study to achieve a controlled crystallinity, particle size as well as uniform morphology of HAP. The extracted pectin was characterized by spectral techniques like Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for the functional group analysis, proton-1 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H NMR) and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((13)C NMR) for the identification of H and C atoms in the extracted pectin, respectively. The HAP nanoparticles were synthesized using different concentrations of the as-extracted pectin. The purity, crystallinity and morphology of the as-synthesized HAP nanoparticles were evaluated by FTIR, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. Moreover the antibacterial activity of HAP nanoparticles was evaluated against the gram positive and negative bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli), respectively. The experimental results revealed that the HAP nanoparticles synthesized in the presence of an optimized concentration of pectin are pure, low crystalline, spherical and discrete particles with reduced size. Also, the HAP sample derived in the presence of pectin showed an enhanced antibacterial activity than that of the HAP synthesized in the absence of pectin. Hence, the HAP nanoparticles synthesized using pectin as a green template can act as a good biomaterial for biomedical applications.

Biomimetic cell-mediated three-dimensional assembly of halloysite nanotubes

Biomimetic architectural assembly of clay nanotube shells on yeast cells was demonstrated producing viable artificial hybrid inorganic-cellular structures (armoured cells). These modified cells were preserved for one generation resulting in the intact second generation of cells with delayed germination.

Incorporation of DOPE into Lipoplexes formed from a Ferrocenyl Lipid leads to Inverse Hexagonal Nanostructures that allow Redox-Based Control of Transfection in High Serum

We report small angle X-ray and neutron scattering measurements that reveal that mixtures of the redox-active lipid bis(11-ferrocenylundecyl)dimethylammonium bromide (BFDMA) and dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) spontaneously form lipoplexes with DNA that exhibit inverse hexagonal nanostructure (H(II) (c)). In contrast to lipoplexes of DNA and BFDMA only, which exhibit a multilamellar nanostructure (L(α) (c)) and limited ability to transfect cells in the presence of serum proteins, we measured lipoplexes of BFDMA and DOPE with the H(II) (c) nanostructure to survive incubation in serum and to expand significantly the range of media compositions (e.g., up to 80% serum) over which BFDMA can be used to transfect cells with high efficiency. Importantly, we also measured the oxidation state of the ferrocene within the BFDMA/DNA lipoplexes to have a substantial influence on the transfection efficiency of the lipoplexes in media containing serum. Specifically, whereas lipoplexes of reduced BFDMA and DOPE transfect cells with high efficiency, lipoplexes of oxidized BFDMA and DNA lead to low levels of transfection. Complementary measurements using SAXS reveal that the low transfection efficiency of the lipoplexes of oxidized BFDMA and DOPE correlates with the presence of weak Bragg peaks and thus low levels of H(II) (c) nanostructure in solution. Overall, these results provide support for our hypothesis that DOPE-induced formation of the H(II) (c) nanostructure of the BFDMA-containing lipoplexes underlies the high cell transfection efficiency measured in the presence of serum, and that the oxidation state of BFDMA within lipoplexes with DOPE substantially regulates the formation of the H(II) (c) nanostructure and thus the ability of the lipoplexes to transfect cells with DNA. More generally, the results presented in this paper suggest that lipoplexes formed from BFDMA and DOPE may offer the basis of approaches that permit active and external control of transfection of cells in the presence of high (physiologically relevant) levels of serum.

Growth of hydroxyapatite coatings on biodegradable polymer microspheres

Mineral-coated microspheres were prepared via a bioinspired, heterogeneous nucleation process at physiological temperature. Poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) microspheres were fabricated via a water-in-oil-in-water emulsion method and were mineral-coated via incubation in a modified simulated body fluid (mSBF). X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy with associated energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed the presence of a continuous mineral coating on the microspheres. The mineral grown on the PLG microsphere surface has characteristics analogous to those of bone mineral (termed "bonelike" mineral), with a carbonate-containing hydroxyapatite phase and a porous structure of platelike crystals at the nanometer scale. The assembly of mineral-coated microspheres into aggregates was observed when microsphere concentrations above 0.50 mg/mL were incubated in mSBF for 7 days, and the size of the aggregates was dependent on the microsphere concentration in solution. In vitro mineral dissolution studies performed in Tris-buffered saline confirmed that the mineral formed was resorbable. A surfactant additive (Tween 20) was incorporated into mSBF to gain insight into the mineral growth process, and Tween 20 not only prevented aggregation but also significantly inhibited mineral formation and influenced the characteristics of the mineral formed on the surface of PLG microspheres. Taken together, these findings indicate that mineral-coated PLG microspheres or mineral-coated microsphere aggregates can be synthesized in a controllable manner using a bioinspired process. These materials may be useful in a range of applications, including controlled drug delivery and biomolecule purification.