Increased healthy osteoblast to osteosarcoma density ratios on specific PLGA nanopatterns

Sulfated Chitosan Nanofibrous Scaffolds Seeded With Adipose Stem Cells Promote Ischemic Wound Healing in a Proangiogenic Strategy

Ischemic wounds are chronic wounds with poor blood supply that delays wound reconstruction. To accelerate wound healing and promote angiogenesis, adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are ideal seed cells for stem cell-based therapies. Nevertheless, providing a favorable environment for cell proliferation and metabolism poses a substantial challenge. A highly sulfated heparin-like polysaccharide 2-N, 6-O-sulfated chitosan (26SCS)-doped poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) scaffold (S-PLGA) can be used due to their biocompatibility, mechanical properties, and coagent 26SCS high affinity for growth factors. In this study, a nano-scaffold system, constructed from ADSCs seeded on electrospun fibers of modified PLGA, was designed to promote ischemic wound healing. The S-PLGA nanofiber membrane loaded with adipose stem cells ADSCs@S-PLGA was prepared by a co-culture in vitro, and the adhesion and compatibility of cells on the nano-scaffolds were explored. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the growth state and morphological changes of ADSCs after co-culture with PLGA electrospun fibers. The proliferation and apoptosis after co-culture were detected using a Cell Counting Kit-8 kit and flow cytometry, respectively. An ischemic wound model was then established, and we further studied the ability of ADSCs@S-PLGA to promote wound healing and angiogenesis. We successfully established ischemic wounds on the backs of rats and demonstrated that electrospun fibers combined with the biological effects of adipose stem cells effectively promoted wound healing and the growth of microvessels around the ischemic wounds. Phased research results can provide a theoretical and experimental basis for a new method for promoting clinical ischemic wound healing.

Nanomaterials for treating cardiovascular diseases: A review

Nanomaterials such as nanostructured surfaces, nanoparticles, and nanocomposites represent new viable sources for future therapeutics for cardiovascular diseases. The special properties of nanomaterials such as their intrinsic physiochemical properties, surface energy and surface topographies could actively enhance desirable cellular responses within the cardiovascular system, projecting a growing potential for clinical translation. Recent progress on nanomaterials opened up new opportunities for treating cardiovascular diseases. Successful translation of nanomaterials into cardiovascular applications requires a comprehensive understanding of both nanomaterials and biomedicine, and, thus, it is critical to stress current advancements on both sides. In this review, the authors introduced crucial fabrication techniques for promising nanomaterials for cardiovascular applications. This review highlighted the key elements to consider for their fabrication, properties and applications. The important concerns relevant to cardiovascular nanomaterials, such as cellular responses to nanomaterials and the toxicity of nanomaterials, are also discussed. This review provided an overview of necessary knowledge and key concerns on nanomaterials specific for treating cardiovascular diseases, from the perspectives of both material science and biomedicine.

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Reviewed current progress of nanomaterials and their cardiovascular applications.

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Mainly focused on nanostructured surfaces, nanoparticles and nanocomposites.

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Discussed important topics of nanomaterials for cardiovascular applications.

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Comparatively reviewed the fabrication of nanomaterials.

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Informative to researchers in the field of biomaterials and nanomaterials.

The roles of cellular nanomechanics in cancer

The biomechanical properties of cells and tissues may be instrumental in increasing our understanding of cellular behavior and cellular manifestations of diseases such as cancer. Nanomechanical properties can offer clinical translation of therapies beyond what are currently employed. Nanomechanical properties, often measured by nanoindentation methods using atomic force microscopy, may identify morphological variations, cellular binding forces, and surface adhesion behaviors that efficiently differentiate normal cells and cancer cells. The aim of this review is to examine current research involving the general use of atomic force microscopy/nanoindentation in measuring cellular nanomechanics; various factors and instrumental conditions that influence the nanomechanical properties of cells; and implementation of nanoindentation methods to distinguish cancer cells from normal cells or tissues. Applying these fundamental nanomechanical properties to current discoveries in clinical treatment may result in greater efficiency in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer, which ultimately can change the lives of patients.

Effects of chemically modified nanostructured PLGA on functioning of lung and breast cancer cells

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanotopographies with alginate or chitosan protein preadsorption on the functioning of healthy and cancerous lung and breast cells, including adhesion, proliferation, apoptosis, and release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which promotes tumor angiogenesis and secretion.

Methods

We used a well established cast-mold technique to create nanoscale surface features on PLGA. Some of the nanomodified PLGA films were then exposed to alginate and chitosan. Surface roughness and the presence of protein was confirmed by atomic force microscopy. Surface energy was quantified by contact angle measurement.

Results

Nanostructured PLGA surfaces with 23 nm features decreased synthesis of VEGF in both lung and breast cancer cells compared with conventional PLGA. Preadsorbing alginate further decreased cancer cell function, with nanostructured PLGA preadsorbed with alginate achieving the greatest decrease in synthesis of VEGF in both lung and breast cancer cells. In contrast, compared with nonmodified smooth PLGA, healthy cell functions were either not altered (ie, breast) or were enhanced (ie, lung) by use of nanostructured features and alginate or chitosan protein preadsorption.

Conclusion

Using this technique, we developed surface nanometric roughness and modification of surface chemistry that could selectively decrease breast and lung cancer cell functioning without the need for chemotherapeutics. This technique requires further study in a wide range of anticancer and regenerative medicine applications.

Decreased cervical cancer cell adhesion on nanotubular titanium for the treatment of cervical cancer

Cervical cancer can be treated by surgical resection, chemotherapy, and/or radiation. Titanium biomaterials have been suggested as a tool to help in the local delivery of chemotherapeutic agents and/or radiation to cervical cancer sites. However, current titanium medical devices used for treating cervical cancer do not by themselves possess any anticancer properties; such devices act as carriers for pharmaceutical agents or radiation sources and may even allow for the growth of cancer cells. Based on studies, which have demonstrated decreased lung, breast, and bone cancer cell functions on nanostructured compared to nanosmooth polymers, the objective of the present in vitro study was to modify titanium to possess nanotubular surface features and determine cervical cancer cell adhesion after 4 hours. Here, titanium was anodized to possess nanotubular surface features. Results demonstrated the ability to decrease cervical cancer cell adhesion by about a half on nanotubular compared to currently used nanosmooth titanium (without the use of chemotherapeutics or radiation), opening up numerous possibilities for the use of nanotubular titanium in local drug delivery or radiation treatment of cervical cancer.