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A new stem cell-scaffold construct based on poly-l-lactide (PLLA) nanofibers grafted with collagen (PLLA-COL) and cord blood-derived unrestricted somatic stem cells (USSC) were proposed to hold promising characteristics for bone tissue engineering. Fabricated nanofibers were characterized using SEM, ATR-FTIR, tensile and contact angle measurements. The capacity of PLLA, plasma-treated PLLA (PLLA-pl) and PLLA-COL scaffolds to support proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of USSC was evaluated using MTT assay and common osteogenic markers such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, calcium mineral deposition and bone-related genes. All three scaffolds showed nanofibrous and porous structure with suitable physical characteristics. Higher proliferation and viability of USSC was observe...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate how a combination of different scaffold architectures and rotational culture would influence the functional properties of thick cartilaginous tissues engineered using either chondrocytes or bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs). Expanded porcine chondrocytes and BM-MSCs were suspended in 2% agarose and cast in custom-designed moulds to produce either regular solid or channelled construct cylinders. The study consisted of three seperate experimental arms. First, chondrocyte and BM-MSC constructs were cultured in free swelling conditions for 9 weeks. Second, constructs were subjected to rotational culture for a period of 3 weeks. Finally, BM-MSC-seeded constructs were subjected to delayed rotational culture, in which cons...

KoreaScience (Korea)

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KoreaScience (Korea)

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UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The purpose of the present study was to prepare a novel domperidone hydrogel. The domperidone dispersion was prepared by the solvent evaporation method. The characteristics of domperidone dispersion...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

In a previous study we found that nanofibrous poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) scaffolds mimicking collagen fibers in size were superior to solid-walled scaffolds in promoting osteoblast differentiation...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

ObjectiveTo achieve osteochondral regeneration utilizing transplantation of cartilage-lineage cells and adequate scaffolds, it is essential to characterize the behavior of transplanted...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Hyaluronic acid (HA), a principal matrix molecule in many tissues, is present in high amounts in articular cartilage. HA contributes in unique ways to the physical behavior of the tissue, and has been shown to have beneficial effects on chondrocyte activity. The goal of this study was to incorporate graduated amounts of HA into type I collagen scaffolds for the control of chondrocyte-mediated contraction and chondrogenesis in vitro. The results demonstrated that the amount of contraction of HA/collagen scaffolds by adult canine articular chondrocytes increased with the HA content of the scaffolds. The greatest amount of chondrogenesis after two weeks was found in the scaffolds which had undergone the most contraction. HA can play a useful role in adjusting the mechanical behavior of tissue engineering scaffolds and chondrogenesis in chondrocyte-seeded scaffolds.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

A series of in situ gelable hydrogels were prepared from oxidized dextran (Odex) and N-carboxyethyl chitosan (CEC) without any extraneous crosslinking agent. The gelation readily...Full Text Available

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Herein, we fabricated MWCNT-OH adsorbed electrospun nylon 6,6 nanofibers by electrospinning and dip coating method. The amount of MWCNT-OH adsorbed to the pure electrospun nylon 6,6 nanofibers was 0.056wt%. The electrical conductivity of MWCNT-OH adsorbed electrospun nylon 6,6 nanofibers was 5.24x10^-^3Scm^-^1. We also investigated the sensing properties of MWCNT-OH adsorbed electrospun nylon 6,6 nanofibers by measuring its response upon exposure to low molecular weight alcohol vapours such as methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, and 1-butanol. The changes of the electrical resistance of MWCNT-OH adsorbed electrospun nylon 6,6 nanofibers were demonstrated on the basis of hydrogen bonds among the alcohol vapours and hydroxyl groups (-OH) on MWCNT-OH, and amide groups (-NHCO-) in nylon 6,6. The fa...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Background Photopolymerizable poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels offer a platform to deliver cells in vivo and support three-dimensional cell culture but should be designed to degrade in sync with neotissue development and endure the physiologic environment. Questions/purposes We asked whether (1) incorporation of degradation into PEG hydrogels facilitates tissue development comprised of essential cartilage macromolecules; (2) with early loading before pericellular matrix formation, the duration of load affects matrix production; and (3) dynamic loading in general influences macroscopic tissue development. Methods Primary bovine chondrocytes were encapsulated in hydrogels (n?=?3 for each condition). The independent variables were hydrogel degradation (nondegrading PEG and degrading olig...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

In this study, we report the physico-chemical and biological properties of a novel biodegradable composite scaffold made of nano-hydroxyapatite and natural derived polymers of chitosan and carboxymethyl...Full Text Available

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British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract A facile and efficient single-step mineralization approach was exploited for achieving nanoscopic hydroxyapatite (HAP) crystal layer in chitosan porous matrix, wherein a mixed water-ethanol solvent was used to control the growth of minerals. The crystallographic structure, morphology, and mechanical properties of the scaffold were analyzed with XRD, FTIR, environmental scanning electric microscopy (ESEM), TEM, and compression tests. The behaviors and responses of MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblast cells on the scaffolds were studied as well. The results showed that the scaffolds kept woodpile structure with predefined and controlled hierarchical structure after mineralization. The inorganic phase in the mineralized chitosan scaffolds was determined as pure rod-like HAP, which settled densely...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Protein hydrogels were prepared by substituting ovalbumin with different concentrations of ethyl vinyl sulfone (EVS) or acrylic acid (AA) and crosslinking with divinyl sulfone (DVS). Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic studies confirmed the addition of EVS, AA, and DVS onto the protein. Swelling was assessed as a function of pH in the range of 2.5 to 9.4 and ionic strength. The elastic modulus of the gels was determined in shear and compression. Stress relaxation was assessed in compression. The substituent highly affected swelling and modulus with both hydrogels displaying non-Gaussian behavior in the range of hydrogel environments studied. Acrylic acid substituted ovalbumin exhibited a decreasing modulus with increasing swelling behaving as a polyelectrolyte with low added s...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Current bioartificial extra-corporeal systems are bioreactors where cells are separated from the surrounding media by porous polymeric membranes. The present work focuses on the design of membranes that allow the differential diffusion of plasma metabolites and proteins such as immunoglobulin (IgG). This design will improve catabolites removal and reduce possible immune response and virus infection. We demonstrate the feasibility to synthesize the hydrogels confined to the macroporous structure of membranes by radiation-induced in situ polymerization. The hollow-fiber membranes were soaked in aqueous monomeric solution, rinsed and irradiated while submerged in oil. This procedure confined the hydrogel to the void internal volume of the pores of the membrane. Hydrogels of polyacrylamide and polyHEMA were synthesized this way by irradiation at 10 kGy. Hydraulic permeability and diffusion of glucose, albumin and IgG were ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Prokaryotic genomes can be annotated based on their structural, operational, and functional properties. These annotations provide the pivotal scaffold for understanding cellular functions on a genome-scale,...Full Text Available

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Polyurethane (PU) foam was combined with protein drug-loaded pH-sensitive alginate-bentonite hydrogel for wound dressings. Alginate is a linear copolymer composed of 1?4-linked ?-D-mannuronic acid (M) and its c-5-epimer ?-Lguluronic acid (G). The amount of (M) and (G) and their sequential distribution are varied depending on the alginate source. Soluble sodium alginate can become a hydrogel when cross-linked with divalent cations and has widespread applications in the food, drink, pharmaceutical and bioengineering industries. Recently, it has been also proposed as a biomaterial for drug delivery systems. Bentonites are the natural inorganic polymers consisting of a large proportion of expandable clay minerals with a three-layer structure such as montmorillonite, beidellite, nontronite, etc...

Science.gov (United States)

The reconstruction of segmental defect in long bone is a clinical challenge. Multiple surgeries are typically required to restore the structure and function of the affected defect site. In order to overcome this defect a biodegradable bone tissue engineering scaffold is used. This scaffold acts as a carrier of proteins and growth factors, while also supporting the load that the bone would normally sustain, until the natural bone can regenerate in its place. Work was done to optimize an existing solid free-form scaffold design. The goal of the optimization was to increase the porosity of the scaffold while maintaining the strength of a previously-tested prototype design. With this in mind, eight new designs were created. These designs were drawn using CAD software and then through the use of finite element analysis the theoretical ultimate compressive strength of each design was obtained. Each ...

Science.gov (United States)

The main objective of Phase I of this SBIR project was to demonstrate the feasibility for successful development of an antimicrobial wound dressing based on a hydrogel sustained release matrix. This goal has been achieved. In vitro studies of drug diffusi...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Alumina-reinforced carbon nanofiber nanocomposites were prepared using different routes; powders mixture, colloidal route and sol?gel process followed by spark plasma sintering (SPS). CNFs/xAl2O3 (x = 10?50 vol.%) were prepared through nanopowders mixing in a high-energy attrition milling. The main limitations in the preparation of this kind of nanocomposites are related to the difficulty in obtaining materials with a homogeneous distribution of both phases and the different chemical nature of CNFs and Al2O3, which causes poor interaction between them. A surface coating of CNFs by wet chemical routes with an alumina precursor is proposed as a very effective way to improve the interaction between CNFs and Al2O3. An improvement of 50% in fracture strength was found for similar nanocomposite ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Strategies to combine aspirated marrow cells with scaffolds to treat connective tissue defects are gaining increasing clinical attention and use. In situations such as large defects where initial...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Tendon reconstruction using grafts often results in adhesions that limit joint flexion. These adhesions are precipitated by inflammation, fibrosis, and paucity of tendon differentiation signals...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The tumor suppressor adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) is mutated in the majority of colorectal cancers and is best known for its role as a scaffold in a Wnt-regulated protein complex that determines...Full Text Available

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Ultra-fine ZnAl2O4 spinel hydrogel precursor synthesized from mixed salt solutions of Zn^2^+ and Al^3^+ ions using ammonium hydroxide-hexamethylenetetramine as basic media for co-precipitation was used as bonding material and sintering aid for pure alumina system. The hydrogel powder exhibited some well-defined ZnAl2O4 spinel phases at 800^oC. Alumina compacts were fabricated by incorporating small proportions of the precursor in alumina powder and firing at different temperatures (1350-1500^oC). The degree of densification was studied by measurement of fired shrinkage, apparent porosity, bulk density and cold crushing strength. Phase compositions and microstructural features of sintered samples were evaluated by XRD and SEM respectively. Addition of 0.2% hydrogel powder to alumina exhibit...

Science.gov (United States)

We present a femtosecond Laser Two-Photon Polymerization (LTPP) system of large scale three-dimensional structuring for applications in tissue engineering. The direct laser writing system enables fabrication of artificial polymeric scaffolds over a large area (up to cm in lateral size) with sub-micrometer resolution which could find practical applications in biomedicine and surgery. Yb:KGW femtosecond laser oscillator (Pharos, Light Conversion. Co. Ltd.) is used as an irradiation source (75 fs, 515 nm (frequency doubled), 80 MHz). The sample is mounted on wide range linear motor driven stages having 10 nm sample positioning resolution (XY--ALS130-100, Z--ALS130-50, Aerotech, Inc.). These stages guarantee an overall travelling range of 100 mm into X and Y directions and 50 mm in Z direction and support the linear scanning speed up to 300 mm/s. By moving the sample three-dimensionally the position of laser focus in the photopolymer is changed and one is able to write ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Urine is a potential source of diagnostic biomarkers for detection of diseases, and is a very attractive means of non-invasive biospecimen collection. Nonetheless, proteomic measurement in urine...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Carbon nanofiber (CNF) supported cobalt oxide composites as high-capacity anode materials were prepared through a facile, effective method for potential use in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The effects of the calcining temperature on the crystallinity, grain size, specific surface area of Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} and phase transformation from Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} to CoO were studied in detail. Both the specific surface area and CNF content in CNF-cobalt oxide composites strongly affect the electrochemical performance of these series composites. The CNF-Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} composite with 24.3% CNF pyrolyzed at 500{sup o}C in Ar shows an excellent cycling performance, retaining a specific capacity of 881 mAh g{sup -1} beyond 100 cycles. Homogeneous deposition and distribution of nanosized Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} particles on the surface of CNF can stabilize the electronic and ionic conductivity as well as the morphology of Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} phase, which may be the main reason ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

With the advent of computer technology, researchers and instructors are attempting to devise computer support for effective collaborative technical writing. In this study, a computer-supported environment for collaborative technical writing was developed. This system (Process-Writing Wizard) provides process-oriented scaffolds and a synchronous online chat room to facilitate real-time collaborative writing practice. It allows multiple students to work synchronously on collaborative writing tasks via the Internet. It also helps develop collaborative writing strategies, such as creating team agendas, brainstorming, creating team outlines, and generating team articles. An experiment was conducted to examine the effect of the system on EFL (English as a Foreign Language) students? collaborativ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

BackgroundMore than 11 million Americans live with chronic lung disease; in search for an alternative to donor organs, we attempted to regenerate lungs based on perfusion decellularized lung scaffolds that can be transplanted similar to a donor organ. MethodsCadaveric rat lungs were decellularized by detergent perfusion. Resulting scaffolds were mounted in bioreactors and seeded with endothelial and fetal lung cells. Biomimetic organ culture was maintained for 7 days. Resulting bioartificial left lungs were transplanted in orthotopic position after left pneumonectomy in rats. Cadaveric left lung transplants and pneumonectomies served as controls. Blood gas analyses, compliance testing, and fluoroscopies were performed on postoperative days 1, 7, and 14. Lungs were removed for final analysi...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The Sin3-histone deacetylase (HDAC) corepressor complex is conserved from yeast to humans. Mammals possess two highly related Sin3 proteins, mSin3A and mSin3B, which serve as scaffolds tethering HDAC...Full Text Available

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

We report the fabrication and characterization of glucose-tolerant Raney-platinum cathodes for oxygen reduction in potentially implantable glucose fuel. Fabricated by extraction of aluminum from 1mm thin platinum-aluminum bi-layers annealed at 300^oC, the novel cathodes show excellent resistance against hydrolytic and oxidative attack. This renders them superior over previous cathodes fabricated from hydrogel-bound catalyst particles. Annealing times of 60, 120, and 240min result in approximately 400-550nm thin porous films (roughness factors ~100-150), which contain platinum and aluminum in a ratio of ~9:1. Aluminum release during electrode operation can be expected to have no significant effect on physiological normal levels, which promises good biocompatibility. Annealing time has a dis...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The development of 'Green Chemistry' requires new materials to replace the conventional organic chemistry by biological catalysts, to produce fine chemicals in an environmentally friendly manner. Microbial whole cells can be directly used as biocatalysts, providing a simple and cheap methodology since enzyme isolation and purification are avoided. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is a very stable polymer though it can be activated by gamma radiation to induce grafting. Glycidyl methacrylate was grafted onto macroporous HDPE and PP in the range of 1-6%, proportional to the initial monomer concentration. Grafted polymers were further chemically modified with ethylenediamine to generate a cationic hydrogel of micron-size thickness onto the internal polymer surfaces. Modified polymers were able to immobilize Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria that can catalyze a chemical reaction as efficient as free cells do.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The extended mind thesis (EM) asserts that some cognitive processes are (partially) composed of actions consisting of the manipulation and exploitation of environmental structures. Might some processes at the root of social cognition have a similarly extended structure? In this paper, I argue that social cognition is fundamentally an interactive form of space management-the negotiation and management of "we-space"-and that some of the expressive actions involved in the negotiation and management of we-space (gesture, touch, facial and whole-body expressions) drive basic processes of interpersonal understanding and thus do genuine social-cognitive work. Social interaction is a kind of extended social cognition, driven and at least partially constituted by environmental (non-neural) scaffold...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Assembly of icosahedral capsids of proper size and symmetry is not understood. Residue F170 in bacteriophage P22 coat protein is critical for conformational switching during assembly. Substitutions at this site cause assembly of tubes of hexamerically arranged coat protein. Intragenic suppressors of the ts phenotype of F170A and F170K coat protein mutants were isolated. Suppressors were repeatedly found in the coat protein telokin-like domain at position 285, which caused coat protein to assemble into petite procapsids and capsids. Petite capsid assembly strongly correlated to the side chain volume of the substituted amino acid. We hypothesize that larger side chains at position 285 torque the telokin-like domain, changing flexibility of the subunit and intercapsomer contacts. Thus, a sing...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the functional properties of cartilaginous tissues generated by porcine MSCs isolated from different tissue sources, and to compare these properties to those derived from chondrocytes (CCs). MSCs were isolated from bone marrow (BM) and infrapatellar fat pad (FP), while CCs were harvested from the articular surface of the femoro-patellar joint. Culture-expanded CCs and MSCs were encapsulated in agarose hydrogels and cultured in the presence of TGF3. Samples were analysed biomechanically, biochemically and histologically at days 0, 21 and 42. After 42 days in free swelling culture, mean GAG content was 1.50% w/w in CC-seeded constructs, compared to 0.95% w/w in FP- and 0.43% w/w in BM-seeded constructs. Total collagen accumulation was hig...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Nanoimprinting is a fast-growing technique for nanoscale patterning. One of the remaining issues in nanoimprinting is the removal of the residual layer after nanoimprinting. Traditionally the residual layer is removed by an oxygen reactive-ion etching (RIE) step. The need for a vacuum environment and dedicated equipment in this step lowers the throughput and increases the cost of the nanoimprinting process. It also prevents the possibility of patterning isolated functional polymers because oxygen RIE destroys the functional materials. In this work, novel nanoimprinting schemes are developed to nondestructively remove the residual layer in thermal nanoimprinting by solvent developing and dewetting. Combined with a transfer-bonding technique, three-dimensional polymer scaffolds are achieved. The techniques developed here eliminate the RIE step in thermal nanoimprinting and are compatible with roller nanoimprinting for large-scale patterning of polymer micro- or ...

Science.gov (United States)

Natural bone consists of hard nanostructured hydroxyapatite (HA) in a nanostructured protein-based soft hydrogel template (ie, mostly collagen). For this reason, nanostructured HA has been an intriguing coating material on traditionally used titanium for improving orthopedic applications. In addition, helical rosette nanotubes (HRNs), newly developed materials which form through the self-assembly process of DNA base pair building blocks in body solutions, are soft nanotubes with a helical architecture that mimics natural collagen. Thus, the objective of this in vitro study was for the first time to combine the promising attributes of HRNs and nanocrystalline HA on titanium and assess osteoblast (bone-forming cell) functions. Different sizes of nanocrystalline HA were synthesized in this study through a wet chemical precipitation process following either hydrothermal treatment or sintering. Transmission electron microscopy images showed that HRNs aligned with ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A mesoscopically ordered lamellar gel phase of a polymer-grafted, lipid-based complex fluid is used as a scaffolding to spatially organize inorganic nanoparticles. The complex fluid provides both a highly anisotropic environment and a segregated aqueous and organic domains in which inorganic nanoparticles can be selectively placed by tailoring their size and surface characteristics. Three types of silver nanoparticles -- underivatized, surfactant-stabilized, and dodecanthiol-derivatized -- were evaluated. Comparison of the surface plasmon resonance of the various silver particles dispersed in conventional solvents to those contained within the complex fluid was used to determine the region of spatial localization in the lamellar gel phase. Silver particles rendered hydrophobic by capping with an alkane thiol insert into the hydrocarbon bilayer region. Surfactant-stabilized and underivatized silver nanoparticles reside in the aqueous channels, with the latter ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In this study, the cytocompatibility of new 'iron-modified/alpha-tricalcium phosphate (IM/alpha-TCP) and calcium sulfate dihydrate (CSD)' bone cement (IM/alpha-TCP/CSD-BC) intended for spinal applications has been approached. The objective was to investigate by direct-contact osteoblast-like cell cultures (from 1 to 14 days) the in vitro cell adhesion, proliferation, morphology and cytoskeleton organization of MG-63 cells seeded onto the new cements. The results were as follows: (a) quantitative MTT-assay and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that cell adhesion, proliferation and viability were not affected with time by the presence of iron in the cements; (b) double immunofluorescent labeling of F-actin and alpha-tubulin showed a dynamic interaction between the cell and its porous substrates sustaining the locomotion phenomenon on the cements' surface, which favored the colonization, and confirming the biocompatibility of the experimental cements; ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The behaviour of the packaging materials under radiation field has a great importance in radiation processing, because, in most cases, they are finally responsible for the preservation of the beneficent changes achieved in irradiated products. For example, in radiation sterilisation and food irradiation, the packages must preserve the sterilisation, respectively the sanitisation. They must preserve also the physical barrier feature. The radiation effects on plastics were extensively studied in the last decades for nuclear industry and more recently for radiation processing. The two major effects of nuclear radiation on polymeric materials are the degradation and cross-linking. The degradation consists in breaking of macromolecules after interaction with nuclear particles, amplified by the free radicals which persist long periods, especially in crystalline polymers. Oxygen could penetrate the sample and interact with free radicals so that the degradation process continues after the ...