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Topic Review
Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Macrophage Polarization for Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a low-grade inflammatory disorder of the joints that causes deterioration of the cartilage, bone remodeling, formation of osteophytes, meniscal damage, and synovial inflammation (synovitis). The synovium is the primary site of inflammation in OA and is frequently characterized by hyperplasia of the synovial lining and infiltration of inflammatory cells, primarily macrophages. Macrophages play a crucial role in the early inflammatory response through the production of several inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and proteinases. These pro-inflammatory mediators are activators of numerous signaling pathways that trigger other cytokines to further recruit more macrophages to the joint, ultimately leading to pain and disease progression. Very few therapeutic alternatives are available for treating inflammation in OA due to the condition’s low self-healing capacity and the lack of clear diagnostic biomarkers. Researchers opted to explore the immunomodulatory properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their paracrine mediators-dependent as a therapeutic intervention for OA, with a primary focus on the practicality of polarizing macrophages as suppression of M1 macrophages and enhancement of M2 macrophages can significantly reduce OA symptoms.
  • 713
  • 15 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Scaffolds and Biomaterials for Soft Tissue Engineering
The utilization of materials in medical implants, serving as substitutes for non-functional biological structures, supporting damaged tissues, or reinforcing active organs, holds significant importance in modern healthcare, positively impacting the quality of life for millions of individuals worldwide. Biodegradable metals, including zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), iron, and others, present a new paradigm in the realm of implant materials. Research focuses on developing optimized materials that meet medical standards, encompassing controllable corrosion rates, sustained mechanical stability, and favorable biocompatibility. Achieving these objectives involves refining alloy compositions and tailoring processing techniques to carefully control microstructures and mechanical properties. Among the materials under investigation, Mg- and Zn-based biodegradable materials and their alloys demonstrate the ability to provide necessary support during tissue regeneration while gradually degrading over time. Furthermore, as essential elements in the human body, Mg and Zn offer additional benefits, including promoting wound healing, facilitating cell growth, and participating in gene generation while interacting with various vital biological functions. 
  • 708
  • 10 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Tissue Nanotransfection Chips for In Vivo Tissue Reprogramming
Tissue nanotransfection (TNT), a cutting-edge technique of in vivo gene therapy, has gained substantial attention in various applications ranging from in vivo tissue reprogramming in regenerative medicine, and wound healing to cancer treatment. This technique harnesses the advancements in the semiconductor processes, facilitating the integration of conventional transdermal gene delivery methods—nanoelectroporation and microneedle technologies. TNT silicon chips have demonstrated considerable promise in reprogramming fibroblast cells of skin in vivo into vascular or neural cells in preclinical studies to assist in the recovery of injured limbs and damaged brain tissue.
  • 690
  • 25 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Spinal Cord Injury
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a promising option for developing new treatments for spinal cord injury (SCI). They can help repair damaged tissue, making them an exciting area of research in regenerative medicine. It is important to study the safety, effectiveness, and best ways to use MSC-based therapies while addressing challenges in bringing these treatments to the clinic. Challenges include finding the best source of MSCs, determining when and how to administer them, and creating standardized methods for handling MSCs.
  • 689
  • 16 May 2023
Topic Review
Application of Nanocellulose-Based Aerogels in BTE
Based on the principles of biology and engineering, bone tissue engineering (BTE) has been widely used to construct substitutes for repairing and improving bone function. The skeletal system is a highly mineralized, vascularized, and connective tissue, which provides significant mechanical strength, fracture toughness, and weight-bearing capacity to protect internal organs. An ideal bone substitute should mimic the microstructure of natural bone tissue and provide a biological environment for bone regeneration and tissue repair. Furthermore, the design and preparation of hybrid nanocellulose hydrogels should fully understand the structure and composition of natural bone tissue.
  • 685
  • 05 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Human Amnion Epithelial Cells
hAECs were isolated from human placentas, and dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) and dentin matrix proteins (eDMPs) were obtained from human teeth. Both hAECs and hDPSCs were cultured with 10% FBS, eDMPs and an osteogenic differentiation medium (StemPro). Viability was assessed by MTT and cell adherence to dentin was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy.
  • 684
  • 17 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Cartilage Regeneration
Articular cartilage defects commonly result from trauma and are associated with significant morbidity. Since cartilage is an avascular, aneural, and alymphatic tissue with a poor intrinsic healing ability, the regeneration of functional hyaline cartilage remains a difficult clinical problem. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells with multilineage differentiation potential, including the ability to differentiate into chondrocytes. Due to their availability and ease of ex vivo expansion, clinicians are increasingly applying MSCs in the treatment of cartilage lesions.
  • 681
  • 21 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation
Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) respond to the characteristics of their surrounding microenvironment, i.e., their extracellular matrix (ECM). The possibility of mimicking the ECM offers the opportunity to elicit specific cell behaviors. The control of surface properties of a biomaterial at the scale level of the components of the ECM has the potential to effectively modulate cell response. Ordered nanoscale silicon pillar arrays were fabricated using reverse micelles of block copolymers on full wafers, with standard deviations lower than 15%. Bioactive synthetic peptides were covalently grafted on nanoarrays to evaluate possible synergies between chemistry and topography on osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs. Functionalization with RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) and BMP-2 (bone morphogenetic protein-2) mimetic peptides lead to an enhancement of osteogenic differentiation. Bare nanopillar arrays of reduced pitch were found to promote faster hMSC differentiation. These findings highlight the relevance of investigating possibilities of engineering in vitro systems which can be fine-tuned according to the envisaged cell response. 
  • 680
  • 07 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Modelling Ischaemic Stroke In Vitro
Most of the knowledge on the pathophysiological mechanisms of an ischaemic stroke is derived from animal-based in vitro and in vivo models. Over the past decades, different animal models of stroke have been developed, induced by emboli, intraluminal suture, photothrombosis or endothelin-1, typically in rodents. The rat is one of the most commonly used species in stroke research, among other reasons, due to the similarity of the cerebral vasculature and physiology with that of humans. Moreover, mice are often used, since they are helpful in unravelling the function of certain genes in the pathophysiology of stroke by means of the creation of transgenic mice. Animal stroke models have been an indispensable tool, as they can model different aspects of the complex pathophysiology of ischaemic stroke that cannot be modelled (yet) in simple in vitro models lacking intact blood vessels and blood flow. However, simplified, highly controlled in vitro systems are required and preferred when investigating specific basic mechanisms and cell type-specific responses under ischaemia-like conditions. Besides, in the context of testing potential neuroprotective compounds, working in vitro allows high-throughput screenings, even on a human-based background.
  • 674
  • 19 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Neurodegenerative Diseases
Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are receiving much attention in the field of tissue regeneration. They can be differentiated into any cell type in the human body and subsequently developed into heterogeneous tissues or organs in vitro for implantation. Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease are types of neurodegenrative conditions resulting in which the build up of harmful protein aggregates leads to neural cell death. IPSC technology offers promise for in vitro modeling pathophysiology and the treatment of these diseases.
  • 672
  • 08 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Cardiac Telocytes in Heart Disease
A cell population called telocytes (TCs) described only 16 years ago largely contributed to the research area of cardiovascular regeneration. TCs are cells with small bodies and extremely long cytoplasmic projections called telopodes, described in all layers of the heart wall.
  • 669
  • 09 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Full-Thickness Skin Regeneration
The process of full-thickness skin regeneration is complex and has many parameters involved, which makes it difficult to use a single dressing to meet the various requirements of the complete regeneration at the same time. Therefore, developing hydrogel dressings with multifunction, including tunable rheological properties and aperture, hemostatic, antibacterial and super cytocompatibility, is a desirable candidate in wound healing.
  • 669
  • 29 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Cell Behavioral Dynamics in Pluripotent Stem Cells Bioprocessing
Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are important for future regenerative medicine therapies. However, in the production of PSCs and derivatives, the control of culture-induced fluctuations in the outcome of cell quality remains challenging. A detailed mechanistic understanding of how PSC behaviors are altered in response to biomechanical microenvironments within a culture is necessary for rational bioprocessing optimization.
  • 667
  • 29 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Translational Immuno-Oncology Research with Organoids
As the complexity of tumour microenvironment (TME) has called for more sophisticated human-based tumour models, organoids have allowed the dynamic study of spatiotemporal interactions between tumour cells and individual TME cell types. Here, the researchers discuss how organoids can study the TME across cancers and how these features may improve precision I/O. 
  • 656
  • 25 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Cancer Models for Testing Immunotherapies
Immunotherapies are emerging as promising strategies to cure cancer and extend patients’ survival. Efforts should be focused, however, on the development of preclinical tools better able to predict the therapeutic benefits in individual patients. In this context, the availability of reliable preclinical models capable of recapitulating the tumor milieu while overcoming the limitations of traditional systems is mandatory. 
  • 650
  • 18 Mar 2022
Topic Review
SC and TE Treatment of Neurogenic Bladder Dysfunction
Tissue engineering (TE) is a rapidly evolving biomedical discipline that can play an important role in treating neurogenic bladder dysfunction and compensating for conventional options’ shortcomings. 
  • 644
  • 09 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Applications of Bioprinting on Pathological Liver Models
Significant progress has been made in liver tissue engineering through the use of 3D bioprinting technology. This technology offers the ability to create personalized biological structures with precise geometric design capabilities. The complex and multifaceted nature of liver diseases underscores the need for advanced technologies to accurately mimic the physiological and mechanical characteristics, as well as organ-level functions, of liver tissue in vitro. Bioprinting stands out as a superior option over traditional two-dimensional cell culture models and animal models due to its stronger biomimetic advantages.
  • 634
  • 17 May 2023
Topic Review
Biomaterials for Dry Eye Diseases Treatment
Dry eye disease (DED) is an emerging health issue affecting millions of individuals annually. Ocular surface disorders, such as DED, are characterized by inflammation triggered by various factors. This condition can lead to tear deficiencies, resulting in the desiccation of the ocular surface, corneal ulceration/perforation, increased susceptibility to infections, and a higher risk of severe visual impairment and blindness. The history of ophthalmic biomaterials is relatively short. The primary objective of advancing successive generations of biomaterials is to address the shortcomings of previous versions and enhance safety, effectiveness, and comfort. Innovations have been made to elevate quality standards and production efficiency, ultimately reducing costs. Market demands to enhance competitiveness and accessibility have further intensified the pressure to cut expenses. Ophthalmic biomaterials have evolved into highly sophisticated devices, significantly increasing their utility in recent years. These materials must fulfill several crucial requirements, such as delivering oxygen to tissues, managing refractive changes, safeguarding tissues during surgery, facilitating tissue integration, and modulating the healing process. The recent advancements in biomaterials for treating DED include scaffolds, nanosystems, hydrogels, and drug-eluting contact lenses.
  • 632
  • 09 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Organoids in Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer (PCa) has been known as the most prevalent cancer disease and the second leading cause of cancer mortality in men almost all over the globe. There is an urgent need for establishment of PCa models that can recapitulate the progress of genomic landscapes and molecular alterations during development and progression of this disease. Notably, several organoid models have been developed for assessing the complex interaction between PCa and its surrounding microenvironment. PCa organoids have been emerged as powerful in vitro 3D model systems that recapitulate the molecular features (such as genomic/epigenomic changes and tumor microenvironment) of PCa metastatic tumors. In addition, application of organoid technology in mechanistic studies (i.e., for understanding cellular/subcellular and molecular alterations) and translational medicine has been recognized as a promising approach for facilitating the development of potential biomarkers and novel therapeutic strategies.
  • 630
  • 26 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Ammonia and the Muscle on Hepatic Encephalopathy
The link between the presence of muscular alterations and hepatic encephalopathy (HE), both minimal and overt, has been deeply studied. The pathophysiological background supporting the relationship between muscle depletion, and HE is characterized by an imbalance between the capacity of muscle in ammonia metabolism and trafficking and the inability of the liver in removing ammonia through urea synthesis due to liver failure and/or the presence of porto-systemic shunts.
  • 627
  • 18 Feb 2022
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