Progenitor Cells Derived from Drain Waste Product of Open-Heart Surgery in Children

Potential of Autologous Progenitor Cells and Decellularized Porcine Artery Matrix in Construction of Tissue-engineered Vascular Grafts

To develop a tissue-engineered vascular graft, we used pericardial effusion-derived progenitor cells (PEPCs) collected from drained fluid after open-heart surgery in children with congenital heart diseases to repopulate a decellularized porcine pulmonary artery. The PEPCs were compared with human fibroblasts (HS68) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in cell growth and migration. They were cultured with the matrices via an inner approach (intima), lateral approach (media), and outer approach (adventitia). PEPCs grew and migrated better than the other two cells 14 days after seeding in the decellularized vessel. In immunofluorescence assays, PEPCs expressed CD90 and CD105 indicating a vascular differentiation. PEPCs grew in a decellularized porcine pulmonary artery matrix may have the potential for producing tissue-engineered vascular grafts.

Lactic-co-glycolic acid-coated methylene blue nanoparticles with enhanced antibacterial activity for efficient wound healing

Effective wound healing has been demonstrated using lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)-coated methylene blue nanoparticles (MPNPs) as a novel susceptible agent for photodynamic antibacterial therapy. Compared with methylene blue (MB) solution, MPNPs have a significantly improved antibacterial effect in vitro and in vivo. The enhanced antibacterial effect is achieved through increased singlet oxygen generation in MPNPs compared to that of MB solution, as a result of the decreased aggregation-induced quenching (ACQ) effect of the MPNPs. The mouse skin infection model experiment proved that MPNP has good antibacterial effects and promotes wound healing.