Tunable hybrid cryogels functionalized with microparticles as supermacroporous multifunctional biomaterial scaffolds

Cryogels: Advancing Biomaterials for Transformative Biomedical Applications

Cryogels, composed of synthetic and natural materials, have emerged as versatile biomaterials with applications in tissue engineering, controlled drug delivery, regenerative medicine, and therapeutics. However, optimizing cryogel properties, such as mechanical strength and release profiles, remains challenging. To advance the field, researchers are exploring advanced manufacturing techniques, biomimetic design, and addressing long-term stability. Combination therapies and drug delivery systems using cryogels show promise. In vivo evaluation and clinical trials are crucial for safety and efficacy. Overcoming practical challenges, including scalability, structural integrity, mass transfer constraints, biocompatibility, seamless integration, and cost-effectiveness, is essential. By addressing these challenges, cryogels can transform biomedical applications with innovative biomaterials.

Cervical cancer and novel therapeutic and diagnostic approaches using chitosan as a carrier: A review

In our knowledge, using appropriate carriers in delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs, would result in better targeting and therefore it would increase the effectiveness and decrease the side effects of drugs. Chitosan, a natural polymer derived from chitin, has attracted the attention of pharmaceutical industries recently. New research show that chitosan not only can be used in drug delivery but it can also have some usages in prevention and diagnosis of cancer. This means that using chitosan Nanoformulations can be a promising approach for prevention, diagnosis, and specially treatment of cervical cancer, fourth common cancer among the women of the world. We aim to investigate the related papers to find a novel method and preventing more women from suffering.

Possible role of nanocarriers in drug delivery against cervical cancer

Introduction: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer and the largest cancer killer among women in most developing countries including India. Although, various drugs have been developed for cervical cancer, treatment with these drugs often results in a number of undesirable side effects, toxicity and multidrug resistance (MDR). Also, the outcomes for cervical cancer patients remain poor after surgery and chemo radiation. Methods: A literature search (for drugs and delivery systems against cervical cancer) was performed on PubMed and through Google. The present review discuss about various methods including its current conventional treatment with special reference to recent advances in delivery systems encapsulating various anticancer drugs and natural plant products for targeting towards cervical cancer. The role of photothermal therapy, gene therapy and radiation therapy against cervical cancer is also discussed. Results: Systemic/targeted drug delivery systems including liposomes, nanoparticles, hydrogels, dendrimers etc. and localized drug delivery systems like cervical patches, films, rings etc. are safer than the conventional chemotherapy which has further been proved by the several drug delivery systems undergoing clinical trials. Conclusion: Novel approaches for the aggressive treatment of cervical cancer will optimistically result in decreased side effects as well as toxicity, frequency of administration of existing drugs, to overcome MDR and to increase the survival rates.

The biocompatibility evaluation of mPEG-PLGA-PLL copolymer and different LA/GA ratio effects for biocompatibility

Biomaterial poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), a FDA-approved material for clinical application, showed broad prospects in the past, but gradually can no longer meet present clinical developments and requirements, which we synthesized monomethoxy(polyethylene glycol)-poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid)-poly(L-lysine) (mPEG-PLGA-PLL) (PEAL) and have had some relevant reports. But studies on biocompatibility and the impacts of LA and GA ratio (LA/GA=60/40, 70/30, and 80/20) in main material have not yet been reported. Hemolysis experiment indicates that the hemolysis rate of PEAL extraction medium is less than 5%. Whole blood clotting time (CT), plasma recalcification time, activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time evaluations, and dynamic CT assay show that the anticoagulant time of PEAL copolymer for blood is longer than that under negative and positive control. Protein adsorption assay indicates that PEAL films adsorb less protein than PLGA films (p<0.01); but comparing with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, the aforementioned difference is not significant (p>0.05). Complement activation test shows that PEAL surface does not induce complement activation. CCK8 measurement shows that the relative growth rates of Huh7, L02, and L929 cells co-incubated with PEAL nanoparticles (NPs) are more than 90%. PEAL NPs co-incubated with 5% foetal bovine serum or 2% bovine serum albumin, through dynamic light scattering assay, remain stable. Different concentrations of PEAL NPs co-incubated with zebrafish embryos at 6-72 h post fertilization show that comparing with negative control, 10, 100, or 500 μM of NPs for embryos development has no significant effects (p>0.05), only 1000 or 2000 μM of NPs has some effects (p<0.05). It is concluded that the PEAL copolymer, with excellent biocompatibility, proves to be a high-safety dose as drug carrier and implant candidate in vivo.