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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.
  • 658
  • 09 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Glycan Modifications as Regulators of Stem Cell Fate
Glycosylation is a process where proteins or lipids are modified with glycans. The presence of glycans determines the structure, stability, and localization of glycoproteins, thereby impacting various biological processes, including embryogenesis, intercellular communication, and disease progression. Glycans can influence stem cell behavior by modulating signaling molecules that govern the critical aspects of self-renewal and differentiation. Furthermore, being located at the cell surface, glycans are utilized as markers for stem cell pluripotency and differentiation state determination.
  • 655
  • 07 Feb 2024
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. 
  • 654
  • 09 Aug 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. 
  • 653
  • 18 Mar 2022
Topic Review
CRISPR Gene Therapy
β-Thalassemia is an inherited hematological disorder that results from genetic changes in the β-globin gene, leading to the reduced or absent synthesis of β-globin. The emergence of the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing platform has opened the door for precision gene editing and can serve as an effective molecular treatment for a multitude of genetic diseases. Investigational studies were carried out to treat β-thalassemia patients utilizing CRISPR-based CTX001 therapy targeting the fetal hemoglobin silencer BCL11A to restore γ-globin expression in place of deficient β-globin.
  • 640
  • 23 Feb 2023
Topic Review
FGF-18 in Bone Regeneration
The fibroblast growth factor family contains 22 members. Fibroblast growth factors such as 2, 9, and 18 are mainly associated with the differentiation of osteoblasts and in bone regeneration. FGF-18 stimulates the PI3K/ERK pathway and smad1/5/8 pathway mediated via BMP-2 by blocking its antagonist, which is essential for bone formation.
  • 636
  • 11 Sep 2023
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.
  • 634
  • 18 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Application of Microfluidic Systems for Neural Studies
Whereas the axons of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) spontaneously regenerate after an injury, the occurring regeneration is rarely successful because axons are usually directed by inappropriate cues. Therefore, finding successful ways to guide neurite outgrowth, in vitro, is essential for neurogenesis. Microfluidic systems reflect more appropriately the in vivo environment of cells in tissues such as the normal fluid flow within the body, consistent nutrient delivery, effective waste removal, and mechanical stimulation due to fluid shear forces. At the same time, it has been well reported that topography affects neuronal outgrowth, orientation, and differentiation.
  • 631
  • 07 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Exosomes as Biomarkers for Cancer Progression
In the endosome compartment, exosome synthesis occurs when multivesicular bodies mature into intraluminal vesicles. Upon fusion with the plasma membrane, intraluminal vesicles release exosomes into the extracellular space. Exosomes can be retrieved by endocytosis or receptor-mediated uptake, suggesting a selective intercellular communication between the donor and recipient cells. They are contain nucleic acids or proteins, which appear to be strategically used to modify the recipient cell’s function in a way that benefits the donor cell. This process is vital for cell-to-cell communication and for the transfer of genetic information. Uniquely positioning exosomes to serve as messengers of information which can be used to gain insight into a multitude of diseases. By isolating exosomes, researching their components and understanding their intended destination, these small vesicles of information become invaluable for diagnosing and treating conditions, making them a powerful tool in biomedical research.
  • 626
  • 14 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy in Lung Transplantation
Lung transplantation is often the only viable treatment option for a patient with end-stage lung disease. Lung transplant results have improved substantially over time, but ischemia-reperfusion injury, primary graft dysfunction, acute rejection, and chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) continue to be significant problems. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) are pluripotent cells that have anti-inflammatory and protective paracrine effects and may be beneficial in solid organ transplantation. 
  • 626
  • 30 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Allogeneic CAR-T Therapy Technologies
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has become a real treatment option for patients with B-cell malignancies, while multiple efforts are being made to extend this therapy to other malignancies and broader patient populations. However, several limitations remain, including those associated with the time-consuming and highly personalized manufacturing of autologous CAR-Ts. Technologies to establish “off-the-shelf” allogeneic CAR-Ts with low alloreactivity are currently being developed, with a strong focus on gene-editing technologies. Although these technologies have many advantages, they have also strong limitations, including double-strand breaks in the DNA with multiple associated safety risks as well as the lack of modulation. As an alternative, non-gene-editing technologies provide an interesting approach to support the development of allogeneic CAR-Ts in the future, with possibilities of fine-tuning gene expression and easy development.
  • 624
  • 18 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Clinical Applications of PEF in Musculoskeletal Conditions
The newer generation products, including leukocyte-platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) and advanced platelet-rich fibrin (A-PRF), have shown superior biological properties in musculoskeletal regeneration than the first-generation concentrates, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and plasma rich in growth factors. These newer platelet concentrates have a complete matrix of physiological fibrin that acts as a scaffold with a three-dimensional (3D) architecture. Further, it facilitates intercellular signaling and migration, thereby promoting angiogenic, chondrogenic, and osteogenic activities. A-PRF with higher leukocyte inclusion possesses antimicrobial activity than the first generations. both L-PRF and A-PRF are used in the management of musculoskeletal conditions, such as chondral injuries, tendinopathies, tissue regeneration, and other sports-related injuries. 
  • 623
  • 28 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Patient-Derived Xenografts for Cancer Research
The patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model is the in vivo standard for cancer research as a preclinical platform.
  • 622
  • 03 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Immunopathogenesis of COVID-19
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the infection of the novel highly contagious severe acute respiratory syndrome virus (SARS-CoV-2), viral infection can cause acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and, in severe cases, can even be lethal. Behind the inflammatory process lies the so-called cytokine storm (CS), which activates various inflammatory cytokines that damage numerous organ tissues.
  • 617
  • 26 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Soft Tissue Regenerative Medicine
Soft tissue regeneration holds significant promise for addressing various clinical challenges, ranging from craniofacial and oral tissue defects to blood vessels, muscle, and fibrous tissue regeneration. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as a promising tool in regenerative medicine due to their unique characteristics and potential to differentiate into multiple cell lineages.
  • 609
  • 19 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Bone Regeneration Medicine
Bone regenerative medicine is a clinical approach combining live osteoblast progenitors, such as mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), with a biocompatible scaffold that can integrate into host bone tissue and restore its structural integrity. 
  • 599
  • 29 May 2023
Topic Review
Electrospun Fiber-Coated Human Amniotic Membrane
Cardiac patch implantation helps maximize the paracrine function of grafted cells and serves as a reservoir of soluble proangiogenic factors required for the neovascularization of infarcted hearts. Researchers have previously fabricated a cardiac patch, EF-HAM, composed of a human amniotic membrane (HAM) coated with aligned PLGA electrospun fibers (EF).
  • 596
  • 29 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Advantages and Risks of Nanocomposite Hydrogels
Hydrogels can be considered as mimics of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Through integrins, the cytoskeleton is connected to the ECM, and cytoskeleton tension depends on ECM stiffness. A number of age-related diseases depend on cellular processes related to cytoskeleton function. Some examples of cancer initiation and progression and heart disease in relation to ECM stiffness have been analyzed. The incorporation of rigid particles into the ECM can increase ECM stiffness and promote the formation of internal residual stresses. Water migration, changes in water binding energy to biomactomolecules, and changes in the state of water from tightly bound water to free and loosely bound water lead to changes in the stiffness of the ECM. 
  • 590
  • 22 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Strategies to Potentiate the Therapeutic Properties of MSCs
Beneficial properties of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have prompted their use in preclinical and clinical research. Accumulating evidence has been provided for the therapeutic effects of MSCs in several pathologies, including neurodegenerative diseases, myocardial infarction, skin problems, liver disorders and cancer, among others. Although MSCs are found in multiple tissues, the number of MSCs is low, making in vitro expansion a required step before MSC application. However, culture-expanded MSCs exhibit notable differences in terms of cell morphology, physiology and function, which decisively contribute to MSC heterogeneity. The changes induced in MSCs during in vitro expansion may account for the variability in the results obtained in different MSC-based therapy studies, including those using MSCs as living drug delivery systems. 
  • 589
  • 24 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Clinical Applications of Amnion-Derived Membranes
Biological tissues from various anatomical sources have been utilized for tissue transplantation and have developed into an important source of extracellular scaffolding material for regenerative medicine applications. Tissue scaffolds ideally integrate with host tissue and provide a homeostatic environment for cellular infiltration, growth, differentiation, and tissue resolution. The human amniotic membrane is considered an important source of scaffolding material due to its 3D structural architecture and function and as a source of growth factors and cytokines. This tissue source has been widely studied and used in various areas of tissue repair including intraoral reconstruction, corneal repair, tendon repair, microvascular reconstruction, nerve procedures, burns, and chronic wound treatment. 
  • 585
  • 15 Nov 2023
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