Wound healing strategies based on nanoparticles incorporated in hydrogel wound patches

The intricate, tightly controlled mechanism of wound healing that is a vital physiological mechanism is essential to maintaining the skin's natural barrier function. Numerous studies have focused on wound healing as it is a massive burden on the healthcare system. Wound repair is a complicated process with various cell types and microenvironment conditions. In wound healing studies, novel therapeutic approaches have been proposed to deliver an effective treatment. Nanoparticle-based materials are preferred due to their antibacterial activity, biocompatibility, and increased mechanical strength in wound healing. They can be divided into six main groups: metal NPs, ceramic NPs, polymer NPs, self-assembled NPs, composite NPs, and nanoparticle-loaded hydrogels. Each group shows several advantages and disadvantages, and which material will be used depends on the type, depth, and area of the wound. Better wound care/healing techniques are now possible, thanks to the development of wound healing strategies based on these materials, which mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) microenvironment of the wound. Bearing this in mind, here we reviewed current studies on which NPs have been used in wound healing and how this strategy has become a key biotechnological procedure to treat skin infections and wounds.

Comparison of I-gel and LMA Protector in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Aims

Comparison of the use of I-gel and Laringeal Mask Airway (LMA) Protector in laparoscopic cholecystectomy regarding the time and ease of insertion for supraglottic airway devices (SAD) and gastric tube (GT), airway sealing capacity, and postoperative complications.

Patients and Methods

Sixty-four American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) I-III patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomly allocated into two groups. After anesthesia induction, LMA Protector was inserted in Group LPRO (LMA Protector) (n = 33) and I-gel was inserted in Group IGEL (I-gel) (n = 31) patients. Time of SAD insertion, number of attempts, time, and ease of GT insertion were recorded. The peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) and oropharyngeal leak pressure (OLP) were measured at the time of SAD insertion, 10 min after insertion, 10 min after pneumoperitoneum, and just before the termination of pneumoperitoneum. The presence of bloodstains on SAD, sore throat, hoarseness, nausea, and pain in swallowing was assessed postoperatively. A P value of < 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant.

Result

Two patients in Group LPRO needed endotracheal intubation and were excluded from the study. The SAD insertion time was shorter in Group IGEL than in Group LPRO (13 ± 7.4 s vs. 18.8 ± 9.8 s). The number of attempts and success rate on the first attempt were similar in both groups. GT insertion time was shorter in Group IGEL than Group LPRO (11 ± 7.7 s vs. 21 ± 11 s). The insertion of GT was easier in Group IGEL. The OLP levels decreased during the pneumoperitoneum in Group LPRO while they remained constant in Group IGEL.

Conclusion

We observed that I-gel offers more stable airway sealing and easier GT insertion advantages when compared with LMA Protector in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Glioma-on-a-Chip Models

Glioma, as an aggressive type of cancer, accounts for virtually 80% of malignant brain tumors. Despite advances in therapeutic approaches, the long-term survival of glioma patients is poor (it is usually fatal within 12-14 months). Glioma-on-chip platforms, with continuous perfusion, mimic in vivo metabolic functions of cancer cells for analytical purposes. This offers an unprecedented opportunity for understanding the underlying reasons that arise glioma, determining the most effective radiotherapy approach, testing different drug combinations, and screening conceivable side effects of drugs on other organs. Glioma-on-chip technologies can ultimately enhance the efficacy of treatments, promote the survival rate of patients, and pave a path for personalized medicine. In this perspective paper, we briefly review the latest developments of glioma-on-chip technologies, such as therapy applications, drug screening, and cell behavior studies, and discuss the current challenges as well as future research directions in this field.

Microfluidics for microalgal biotechnology

Microalgae have expanded their roles as renewable and sustainable feedstocks for biofuel, smart nutrition, biopharmaceutical, cosmeceutical, biosensing, and space technologies. They accumulate valuable biochemical compounds from protein, carbohydrate, and lipid groups, including pigments and carotenoids. Microalgal biomass, which can be adopted for multivalorization under biorefinery settings, allows not only the production of various biofuels but also other value-added biotechnological products. However, state-of-the-art technologies are required to optimize yield, quality, and the economical aspects of both upstream and downstream processes. As such, the need to use microfluidic-based devices for both fundamental research and industrial applications of microalgae, arises due to their microscale sizes and dilute cultures. Microfluidics-based devices are superior to their competitors through their ability to perform multiple functions such as sorting and analyzing small amounts of samples (nanoliter to picoliter) with higher sensitivities. Here, we review emerging applications of microfluidic technologies on microalgal processes in cell sorting, cultivation, harvesting, and applications in biofuels, biosensing, drug delivery, and nutrition.