Characterization of bound water in skin hydrators prepared with and without a 3D3P interpenetrating polymer network

Multi compartmental 3D breast cancer disease model–recapitulating tumor complexity in in-vitro

Breast cancer is the most common ailment among women. In 2020, it had the highest incidence of any type of cancer. Many Phase II and III anti-cancer drugs fail due to efficacy, durability, and side effects. Thus, accelerated drug screening models must be accurate. In-vivo models have been used for a long time, but delays, inconsistent results, and a greater sense of responsibility among scientists toward wildlife have led to the search for in-vitro alternatives. Stromal components support breast cancer growth and survival. Multi-compartment Transwell models may be handy instruments. Co-culturing breast cancer cells with endothelium and fibroblasts improves modelling. The extracellular matrix (ECM) supports native 3D hydrogels in natural and polymeric forms. 3D Transwell cultured tumor spheroids mimicked in-vivo pathological conditions. Tumor invasion, migration, Trans-endothelial migration, angiogenesis, and spread are studied using comprehensive models. Transwell models can create a cancer niche and conduct high-throughput drug screening, promising future applications. Our comprehensive shows how 3D in-vitro multi compartmental models may be useful in producing breast cancer stroma in Transwell culture.

Photo-crosslinked hyaluronic acid hydrogel as a biomimic extracellular matrix to recapitulate in vivo features of breast cancer cells

2D cell culture is widely utilized to develop anti-cancer drugs and to explore the mechanisms of cancer tumorigenesis and development. However, the findings obtained from 2D culture often fail to provide guidance for clinical tumor treatments since it cannot precisely replicate the features of real tumors. 3D tumor models capable of recapitulating native tumor microenvironments have been proved to be a promising alternative technique. Herein, we constructed a breast tumor model from novel hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel which was prepared through photocrosslinking of methacrylated HA. The hydrogel was used as a biomimetic extracellular matrix to incubate MCF-7 cells. It was found that methacrylation degree had great effects on hydrogel's microstructure, mechanical performances, and liquid-absorbing and degradation abilities. Optimized hydrogel exhibited highly porous morphology, high equilibrium swelling ratio, suitable mechanical properties, and hyaluronidase-responsive degradation behavior. The results demonstrated that the HA hydrogel facilitated MCF-7 cell proliferation and growth in an aggregation manner. Furthermore, 3D-cultured MCF-7 cells not only up-regulated the expression of VEGF, bFGF and interleukin-8 but exhibited greater invasion and tumorigenesis capabilities compared with 2D-cultured cells. Therefore, the HA hydrogel is a reliable substitute for tumor model construction.

Employing Extracellular Matrix-Based Tissue Engineering Strategies for Age-Dependent Tissue Degenerations

Tissues and organs are not composed of solely cellular components; instead, they converge with an extracellular matrix (ECM). The composition and function of the ECM differ depending on tissue types. The ECM provides a microenvironment that is essential for cellular functionality and regulation. However, during aging, the ECM undergoes significant changes along with the cellular components. The ECM constituents are over- or down-expressed, degraded, and deformed in senescence cells. ECM aging contributes to tissue dysfunction and failure of stem cell maintenance. Aging is the primary risk factor for prevalent diseases, and ECM aging is directly or indirectly correlated to it. Hence, rejuvenation strategies are necessitated to treat various age-associated symptoms. Recent rejuvenation strategies focus on the ECM as the basic biomaterial for regenerative therapies, such as tissue engineering. Modified and decellularized ECMs can be used to substitute aged ECMs and cell niches for culturing engineered tissues. Various tissue engineering approaches, including three-dimensional bioprinting, enable cell delivery and the fabrication of transplantable engineered tissues by employing ECM-based biomaterials.

Hyaluronic Acid as Macromolecular Crowder in Equine Adipose-Derived Stem Cell Cultures

The use of macromolecular crowding in the development of extracellular matrix-rich cell-assembled tissue equivalents is continuously gaining pace in regenerative engineering. Despite the significant advancements in the field, the optimal macromolecular crowder still remains elusive. Herein, the physicochemical properties of different concentrations of different molecular weights hyaluronic acid (HA) and their influence on equine adipose-derived stem cell cultures were assessed. Within the different concentrations and molecular weight HAs, the 10 mg/mL 100 kDa and 500 kDa HAs exhibited the highest negative charge and hydrodynamic radius, and the 10 mg/mL 100 kDa HA exhibited the lowest polydispersity index and the highest % fraction volume occupancy. Although HA had the potential to act as a macromolecular crowding agent, it did not outperform carrageenan and Ficoll®, the most widely used macromolecular crowding molecules, in enhanced and accelerated collagen I, collagen III and collagen IV deposition.

Novel interpenetrating polymer network provides significant and long-lasting improvements in hydration to the skin from different body areas

Background

Hydration and moisturization both impact skin quality, directly reflecting its appearance. Signs and onset of dehydration‐related skin aging are region‐specific and require tailored treatment to be effective.

Aims

To test the hydrating effects of formulas containing a novel 3‐dimensional 3‐polymer interpenetrating network (3D3P‐IPN) to deliver humectants and actives to specific body sites.

Methods

Two clinical studies were conducted focused on the skin under eyes and body (arms/legs). Healthy women ages 25‐65 (eyes) or 35‐65 (body) with mild to moderate dry and aged skin were enrolled. Study product containing the 3D3P‐IPN and tailored actives was applied twice daily for 8 weeks on the periorbital area and for 4 weeks on the body. Changes in skin attributes were measured by biophysical instrumentation for hydration, dark circles, skin color, elasticity and transepidermal water loss, and by clinical grading and subject self‐assessment.

Results

Significant improvements in hydration and skin smoothing were demonstrated in both studies. In the periorbital region, actives and humectants delivered by the 3D3P‐IPN also led to significant improvements in dark circles, fine lines/crow's feet, puffiness, restoring radiance, and overall younger‐looking appearance. On the arms and legs, there were significant reductions in crepiness and dullness. The arms and legs also had improvements in tactile and visual skin texture, radiance, and general healthy look. Improvements were immediate and persisted through the end of both studies.

Conclusion

The 3D3P‐IPN provides immediate and long‐lasting improvements in skin hydration and overall healthy appearance regardless of the targeted application site.

Characterization of bound water in skin hydrators prepared with and without a 3D3P interpenetrating polymer network

Background

Hyaluronic acid (HA) has been considered the gold standard ingredient for improving skin hydration and combating age‐related effects, however it is an inefficient polymer with inconsistent results partially due to its poor skin penetration, surface deposition, and rapid degradation. Herein we report the synthesis and in vitro characterization of a newly developed, topical super‐humectant with the goal of attracting and binding water molecules more efficiently than traditional, cosmetic‐grade forms of HA.

Methods

A modified interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) was developed using three polymers into a three‐dimensional formation (3D3P) for entrapping HA and water. This 3D3P‐IPN functions as a super‐humectant, attracting and binding water molecules more efficiently than the traditional cosmetic‐grade forms of HA. We compare 3D3P‐IPN serum samples to a traditional commercial benchmark product of similar ingredients using microscopic analysis, rheology, Karl Fischer (KF) titration, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and dynamic vapor sorption (DVS) techniques.

Results

The 3D3P‐IPN samples appeared to bind water tighter than the benchmark sample as evidenced by maximum endpoints of endotherms occurring at significantly higher temperatures. The DVS results further confirm this speculation as the 3D3P‐IPN samples lost approximately 10% less water up to 35% RH than the benchmark. The 3D3P‐IPN samples also absorbed more water as the humidity level increased,demonstrating superior humectant properties. KF titration indicated that all three samples had similar water concentrations; however, TGA results demonstrated that the benchmark (a viscous, humectant‐rich hydrating masque) did not have much bound water.

Conclusion

Through the synthesis of a 3D3P‐IPN using simplified methods, we were able to increase the water‐binding and HA‐delivery capabilities of a thin serum. This 3D3P‐IPN serum has potential to deliver more hydration to the skin's surface compared to traditional HA formulations.