•AFM is characterised by superior resolution and possible interaction mapping in pN range.•AFM has become an essential technique in biomedical applications.•Recent progress in AFM use has enabled ...significant breakthroughs in biomedicine.•There is an increase in the number of studies using AFM as the crucial technique.
In recent years, a great deal of interest has been focused on the development of novel atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based methods. From first being an unstable method, AFM has emerged as the perfect tool for the study of phenomena at the nanoscale, which includes quantitative single molecule studies. Numerous novel AFM methods play a crucial role in the invention of novel drugs, their delivery systems, based on either polymers or inorganic/metallic matrices, and in the examination of disease-related tissue changes. Such contemporary progressive studies are a perfect example of interdisciplinary research, which results in exemplary findings and discoveries. This review focuses especially on the literature published in the last decade; however the most important earlier discoveries are also included.
Due to their many excellent properties, aerogels attract much interest in various applications, ranging from construction to medicine. Over the last decades, their potential was practically exploited ...only in non-medical fields of use, although many aerogel materials, either organic, inorganic or hybrid, were proven biocompatible. Some aerogel compositions have been patented at the verge of the millennium, but the clinical use of aerogels remains very limited. This review intends to shed some more light in regard to their potential in biomedical applications as can be deduced from the more recent progressive research of their capabilities in regard to different compositions. The review covers many recent studies, but includes older research that significantly affected the development of aerogel-based materials over the years, as well. After a short introduction, covering the common aerogel properties and their possible classification options, the review is structured based on their different possible biomedical applications. Finally, it focuses on the potential of aerogels in regenerative medicine.
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Limitations in wound management have prompted scientists to introduce bioprinting techniques for creating constructs that can address clinical problems. The bioprinting approach is renowned for its ...ability to spatially control the three-dimensional (3D) placement of cells, molecules, and biomaterials. These features provide new possibilities to enhance homology to native skin and improve functional outcomes. However, for the clinical value, the development of hydrogel bioink with refined printability and bioactive properties is needed. In this study, we combined the outstanding viscoelastic behavior of nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) with the fast cross-linking ability of alginate (ALG), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and encapsulated human-derived skin fibroblasts (hSF) to create a bioink for the 3D bioprinting of a dermis layer. The shear thinning behavior of hSF-laden bioink enables construction of 3D scaffolds with high cell density and homogeneous cell distribution. The obtained results demonstrated that hSF-laden bioink supports cellular activity of hSF (up to 29 days) while offering proper printability in a biologically relevant 3D environment, making it a promising tool for skin tissue engineering and drug testing applications.
Magnetic nanoparticles became increasingly interesting in recent years as a result of their tailorable size-dependent properties, which enable their use in a wide range of applications. One of their ...emerging applications is biomedicine; in particular, bimetallic nickel/copper magnetic nanoparticles (NiCu MNPs) are gaining momentum as a consequence of their unique properties that are suitable for biomedicine. These characteristics include stability in various chemical environments, proven biocompatibility with various cell types, and tunable magnetic properties that can be adjusted by changing synthesis parameters. Despite the obvious potential of NiCu MNPs for biomedical applications, the general interest in their use for this purpose is rather low. Nevertheless, the steadily increasing annual number of related papers shows that increasingly more researchers in the biomedical field are studying this interesting formulation. As with other MNPs, NiCu-based formulations were examined for their application in magnetic hyperthermia (MH) as one of their main potential uses in clinics. MH is a treatment method in which cancer tissue is selectively heated through the localization of MNPs at the target site in an alternating magnetic field (AMF). This heating destroys cancer cells only since they are less equipped to withstand temperatures above 43 °C, whereas this temperature is not critical for healthy tissue. Superparamagnetic particles (e.g., NiCu MNPs) generate heat by relaxation losses under an AMF. In addition to MH in cancer treatment, which might be their most beneficial potential use in biomedicine, the properties of NiCu MNPs can be leveraged for several other applications, such as controlled drug delivery and prolonged localization at a desired target site in the body. After a short introduction that covers the general properties of NiCu MNPs, this review explores different synthesis methods, along with their main advantages and disadvantages, potential surface modification approaches, and their potential in biomedical applications, such as MH, multimodal cancer therapy, MH implants, antibacterial activity, and dentistry.
Stable and (bio)-compatible nanofibrous matrices showing effective incorporation and release of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) hold a huge potential in tissue regeneration and wound ...healing. Herein, a two-step, water-based and needleless electrospinning method is used to fabricate thermally cross-linked multifunctional nanofibrous substrates from a hydrophilic cellulose derivative,
i.e.
carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and polyethylene glycol (PEG) with an
in situ
incorporated NSAID, diclofenac (DCF). Electrospun bi-component blend nanofibers, strongly linked together by ester bonds, with different degrees of cross-linking density are achieved by varying the concentrations of butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA, a green polycarboxylic cross-linker) and the sodium hypophosphite (SHP) catalyst, and the temperature. The results demonstrated that not only the dimensional stability and swelling properties could be better controlled but also the morphology, fiber diameter, surface area, pore volume, pore size, and functionality of the cross-linked nanofibers. Release kinetics of DCF from the nanofibrous substrates are controlled and prolonged up to 48 h, and the overall released mass of DCF decreased linearly with increasing cross-linking degree of BTCA and SHP. Fitting of release data using various kinetic models revealed that the release of DCF follows a non-Fickian (diffusion and erosion controlled) to Fickian mechanism (only diffusion-controlled process). Cell viability testing based on crystal violet dyeing showed that the DCF-incorporating nanofibers have excellent biocompatibility and no toxic effect on human skin fibroblast cells. Overall, the reported DCF-incorporating nanofibrous substrate demonstrates high potential to be used as a smart drug delivery system in wound healing, especially due to its noninvasive characteristics.
Stable and (bio)-compatible nanofibrous matrices showing effective incorporation and release of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) hold a huge potential in tissue regeneration and wound healing.
Covalent conjugation of (bis)phosphonate group-containing molecules, sodium Alendronate (Aln) and 3-AminoropylPhosphoric Acid (ApA), to Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) was performed via ...oxidation/Shiff-base reaction. Further fluorescent labelling with Rhodamine B Iso ThioCyanate (RBITC) was performed to follow CNCs interaction and potential internalization with/in human osteoblasts by confocal microscopy. Complementary analyses were applied to identify the conjugation (Atenuated Total Reflectance–Fourier Transform Infrared and UV–VIS spectroscopies), physico-chemical (Dynamic Light Scattering and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis) and morphological (Transmission Electron Microscopy) features of native and ApA/Aln-modified CNCs in physiologically relevant environments (Phosphate Buffer Saline, Advanced Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium). While conjugation did not affect the CNCs` size, the RBITC-labelling promotes their aggregation. Faster (1 h
vs.
2 h) uptake by osteoblasts of RBITC-CNCoxAln, compared to RBITC-CNCoxApA, and no-internalization (in 24 h) of native RBITTC-CNC, indicate a higher affinity of Aln-modified CNCs to the cells, while all CNCs (in 0.25–0.06 wt%) promote the cell growth. Aln/Apa-modified CNCs shows high potential in drug-delivery for bone therapies, and theranostics.
The hair research field has seen great improvement in recent decades, with in vitro hair follicle (HF) models being extensively developed. However, due to the cellular complexity and number of ...various molecular interactions that must be coordinated, a fully functional in vitro model of HFs remains elusive. The most common bioengineering approach to grow HFs in vitro is to manipulate their features on cellular and molecular levels, with dermal papilla cells being the main focus. In this study, we focus on providing a better understanding of HFs in general and how they behave in vitro. The first part of the review presents skin morphology with an emphasis on HFs and hair loss. The remainder of the paper evaluates cells, materials, and methods of in vitro growth of HFs. Lastly, in vitro models and assays for evaluating the effects of active compounds on alopecia and hair growth are presented, with the final emphasis on applications of in vitro HFs in hair transplantation. Since the growth of in vitro HFs is a complicated procedure, there is still a great number of unanswered questions aimed at understanding the long-term cycling of HFs without losing inductivity. Incorporating other regions of HFs that lead to the successful formation of different hair classes remains a difficult challenge.
The unprecedented aging of the world's population will boost the need for orthopedic implants and expose their current limitations to a greater extent due to the medical complexity of elderly ...patients and longer indwelling times of the implanted materials. Biocompatible metals with multifunctional bioactive coatings promise to provide the means for the controlled and tailorable release of different medications for patient-specific treatment while prolonging the material's lifespan and thus improving the surgical outcome. The objective of this work is to provide a review of several groups of biocompatible materials that might be utilized as constituents for the development of multifunctional bioactive coatings on metal materials with a focus on antimicrobial, pain-relieving, and anticoagulant properties. Moreover, the review presents a summary of medications used in clinical settings, the disadvantages of the commercially available products, and insight into the latest development strategies. For a more successful translation of such research into clinical practice, extensive knowledge of the chemical interactions between the components and a detailed understanding of the properties and mechanisms of biological matter are required. Moreover, the cost-efficiency of the surface treatment should be considered in the development process.
This study presents the development and characterisation of two novel bioactive coatings deposited on TiAlV and AISI 316LVM substrates. The coatings were prepared using 3D printing and ...electrospinning. The 3D-printed coating consisted of the cellulose nanofibril suspension, alginate, and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), while CMC and polyethylene oxide were used to prepare the electrospun coating. Both coatings were loaded with the antibiotic clindamycin (CLIN), which is a bacteriostatic lincosamide known for its activity against streptococci, staphylococci, pneumococci, Bacteroides species, and other anaerobes. Initial characterisation of the coatings was performed by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Furthermore, the contact angle measurements, swelling rate, and biodegradability of the coatings were investigated. The released concentration of CLIN in PBS (pH = 7.4 at 25 °C) was determined by UV-VIS spectrophotometry. The coatings' biocompatibility was determined using an MTT (3(4,5 dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay using an osteoblast cell culture (hFOB 1.19, ATCC CRL 11372).
The application of hydrogels coupled with 3-dimensional (3D) printing technologies represents a modern concept in scaffold development in cartilage tissue engineering (CTE). Hydrogels based on ...natural biomaterials are extensively used for this purpose. This is mainly due to their excellent biocompatibility, inherent bioactivity, and special microstructure that supports tissue regeneration. The use of natural biomaterials, especially polysaccharides and proteins, represents an attractive strategy towards scaffold formation as they mimic the structure of extracellular matrix (ECM) and guide cell growth, proliferation, and phenotype preservation. Polysaccharide-based hydrogels, such as alginate, agarose, chitosan, cellulose, hyaluronan, and dextran, are distinctive scaffold materials with advantageous properties, low cytotoxicity, and tunable functionality. These superior properties can be further complemented with various proteins (e.g., collagen, gelatin, fibroin), forming novel base formulations termed "proteo-saccharides" to improve the scaffold's physiological signaling and mechanical strength. This review highlights the significance of 3D bioprinted scaffolds of natural-based hydrogels used in CTE. Further, the printability and bioink formation of the proteo-saccharides-based hydrogels have also been discussed, including the possible clinical translation of such materials.
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