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- Amagat, Jordi, et al.
(author)
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Injectable 2D flexible hydrogel sheets for optoelectrical/biochemical dual stimulation of neurons
- 2023
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In: Biomaterials Advances. - : Elsevier BV. - 2772-9516 .- 2772-9508. ; 146
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Major challenges in developing implanted neural stimulation devices are the invasiveness, complexity, and cost of the implantation procedure. Here, we report an injectable, nanofibrous 2D flexible hydrogel sheet-based neural stimulation device that can be non-invasively implanted via syringe injection for optoelectrical and biochemical dual stimulation of neuron. Specifically, methacrylated gelatin (GelMA)/alginate hydrogel nanofibers were mechanically reinforced with a poly(lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) core by coaxial electrospinning. The lubricant hydrogel shell enabled not only injectability, but also facile incorporation of functional nanomaterials and bioactives. The nanofibers loaded with photocatatlytic g-C3N4/GO nanoparticles were capable of stimulating neural cells via blue light, with a significant 36.3 % enhancement in neurite extension. Meanwhile, the nerve growth factor (NGF) loaded nanofibers supported a sustained release of NGF with well-maintained function to biochemically stimulate neural differentiation. We have demonstrated the capability of an injectable, hydrogel nanofibrous, neural stimulation system to support neural stimulation both optoelectrically and biochemically, which represents crucial early steps in a larger effort to create a minimally invasive system for neural stimulation.
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| 2. |
- Azadpour, Behnam, et al.
(author)
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Magnetically-assisted viral transduction (magnetofection) medical applications : An update
- 2023
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In: Biomaterials Advances. - : Elsevier BV. - 2772-9516 .- 2772-9508. ; 154
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Gene therapy involves replacing a faulty gene or adding a new gene inside the body's cells to cure disease or improve the body's ability to fight disease. Its popularity is evident from emerging concepts such as CRISPR-based genome editing and epigenetic studies and has been moved to a clinical setting. The strategy for therapeutic gene design includes; suppressing the expression of pathogenic genes, enhancing necessary protein production, and stimulating the immune system, which can be incorporated into both viral and non-viral gene vectors. Although non-viral gene delivery provides a safer platform, it suffers from an inefficient rate of gene transfection, which means a few genes could be successfully transfected and expressed within the cells. Incorporating nucleic acids into the viruses and using these viral vectors to infect cells increases gene transfection efficiency. Consequently, more cells will respond, more genes will be expressed, and sustained and successful gene therapy can be achieved. Combining nanoparticles (NPs) and nucleic acids protects genetic materials from enzymatic degradation. Furthermore, the vectors can be transferred faster, facilitating cell attachment and cellular uptake. Magnetically assisted viral transduction (magnetofection) enhances gene therapy efficiency by mixing magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) with gene vectors and exerting a magnetic field to guide a significant number of vectors directly onto the cells. This research critically reviews the MNPs and the physiochemical properties needed to assemble an appropriate magnetic viral vector, discussing cellular hurdles and attitudes toward overcoming these barriers to reach clinical gene therapy perspectives. We focus on the studies conducted on the various applications of magnetic viral vectors in cancer therapies, regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, cell sorting, and virus isolation.
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| 3. |
- Rangasami, Vignesh K., et al.
(author)
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Biomimetic polyelectrolyte coating of stem cells suppresses thrombotic activation and enhances its survival and function
- 2023
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In: Biomaterials Advances. - : Elsevier. - 2772-9516 .- 2772-9508. ; 147
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) therapy is a promising approach for treating inflammatory diseases due to their immunosuppressive and tissue repair characteristics. However, allogenic transplantation of MSCs induces thrombotic complications in some patients which limits its potential for clinical translation. To address this challenge, we have exploited the bioactivity of heparin, a well-known anticoagulant and immunosuppressive polysaccharide that is widely used in clinics. We have developed a smart layer-by-layer (LbL) coating strategy using gelatin and heparin polymers exploiting their overall positive and negative charges that enabled efficient complexation with the MSCs' glycocalyx. The stable coating of MSCs suppressed complement attack and miti-gated thrombotic activation as demonstrated in human whole blood. Gratifyingly, the MSC coating retained its immunosuppressive properties and differentiation potential when exposed to inflammatory conditions and dif-ferentiation factors. We believe the simple coating procedure of MSCs will increase allogenic tolerance and circumvent the major challenge of MSCs transplantation.
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