Objective To investigate the physicochemicalproperties of the calcium phosphate cement (CPC) containing Danshen composite injection and its drug release rate. Methods This experiment included 4 groups and each group contained 6 specimens. CPC (2 g) was mixed with the setting solution that served as thecontrol group; 0.1,0.5 and 1.0 ml of Danshen composites injection (concentration, 1 000 mg/ml; pH, 7.35) were respectively added to CPC (2 g), which were used as the experimental groups 1, 2 and 3. The resulting specimens were investigated by the X-ray diffraction (XRD), the fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy(FTIR), and the scanning electron microscope (SEM).ResultsThe XRD analysis showed that the control group had a typical diffraction pattern of the hydroxypatite (HAP), which was consistent with the standard patternof HAP. When more Danshen was added in the experimental groups, the diffractionpeaks of HAP gradually decreased; when the diffraction angle 2θ was about 25.92°, the HAP peaks disappeared. Based on the FTIR analysis, with an increase of the drug concentration, the absorption peak of the hydroxy groups decreased. The SEM showed that the size of the CPC particle was related to the drug concentration; with an increase of the drug concentration, the CPC particle increased in number, resulting in an increasing trend of coacervation. The elution test showed that the drugrelease rate and capacity varied with the different concentrationsof Danshen. The initial release rate was relatively great, but after 96 hours the rate slowed down, lasting for a long time. Conclusion The physicochemical properties of CPC do not change when a proper dose (0.1 ml/2 g) of Danshen isadded to CPC. The Danshen composite can be effectively released from CPC, and so CPCcan be used as an ideal drugdelivery carrier for Danshen composite.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are considered as an ideal treatment for multiple diseases including ocular disease. Recent studies have demonstrated that MSCs-derived exosomes have similar functions with MSCs. Exosomes are nanovesicles surrounded by a phospholipid layer that shuttle active cargo between different cells. They are capable of passing the biological barrier and have potentials to be utilized as natural carrier for the ocular drug delivery.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of silk fibroin-poly-L-lactic acid (SF-PLLA) microcarriers on the expansion and differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs).MethodsADSCs were extracted from adipose tissue donated voluntarily by patients undergoing liposuction by enzymatic digestion. The 3rd generation ADSCs were inoculated on CultiSpher G and SF-PLLA microcarriers (set up as groups A and B, respectively), and cultured in the rotary cell culture system. ADSCs cultured in normal two-dimensional plane were used as the control group (group C). Scanning electron microscope was used to observe the microcarriers structure and cell growth. Live/Dead staining and confocal fluorescence microscope was used to observe the distribution and survival condition of cells on two microcarriers. DNA quantification was used to assess cell proliferation on two microcarriers. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect chondrogenesis, osteogenesis, and adipogenesis related gene expression of ADSCs in 3 groups cultured for 18 days. Flow cytometry was used to identify the MSCs surface markers of ADSCs in 3 groups cultured for 18 days, and differential experiments were made to identify differentiation ability of the harvested cells.ResultsADSCs could be adhered to and efficiently amplified on the two microcarriers. After 18 days of cultivation, the total increment of ADSCs of the two microcarriers were similar (P>0.05). qRT-PCR results showed that chondrogenesis related genes (aggrecan, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein, SOX9) were significantly up-regulated for ADSCs on SF-PLLA microcarriers and adipogenesis related genes (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, lipoprotein lipase, ADIPOQ) were significantly up-regulated for ADSCs on CultiSpher G microcarriers, all showing significant differences (P<0.05). Flow cytometry and differentiation identification proved that the harvested cells of the two groups were still ADSCs.ConclusionThe ADSCs can be amplified by SF-PLLA microcarriers, and the chondrogenic differential ability of harvested cells was up-regulated while the adipogenic differential was down-regulated.
Objective
To reviewe the research progress of liposomes as antibiotic carriers.
Methods
Domestic and abroad literature concerning liposomes as antibiotic carriers was reviewed and analyzed thoroughly.
Results
Liposomes as antibiotic carriers can significantly improve drug distribution, enhance antibacterial activity, and reduce the side effects of antibiotics during treatment. But it also has some problems, such as poor physical and chemical stabilities and low encapsulation efficiency.
Conclusion
Liposomes as antibiotic carriers can reduce the drug toxicity, improve drug biodistribution, and pharmacokinetics, and bring the dawn to completely curing infections disease.
Objective
To investigate the ability of gene-loaded lipopolysaccharide-amine nanopolymersomes (LNPs) in inducing osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) by in vitro gene transfection, where LNPs were used as a non-viral cationic carrier, and their properties were optimized during synthesis.
Methods
LNPs were synthesized by a graft-copolymerization method, and the effects of different pH environments during synthesis on physicochemical properties of LNPs and LNPs/plasmid of bone morphogenetic protein 2-green fluorescent protein (pBMP-2-GFP) complexes were explored. Then, optimized LNPs with maximum transfection efficiency and safe cytotoxicity in rat BMSCs were identified by cytotoxicity and transfection experiments in vitro. Thereafter, the optimized LNPs were used to mediate pBMP-2-GFP to transfect rat BMSCs, and the influences of LNPs/pBMP-2-GFP on osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs were evaluated by monitoring the cell morphology, concentration of BMP-2 protein, activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and the formation of calcium nodules.
Results
The nitrogen content, particle size, and zeta potential of LNPs synthesized at pH 8.5 were lower than those of the other pH groups, with the lowest cytotoxicity (96.5%±1.4%) and the highest transfection efficiency (98.8%±0.1%). After transfection treatment, within the first 4 days, BMSCs treated by LNPs/pBMP-2-GFP expressed BMP-2 protein significantly higher than that treated by Lipofectamine2000 (Lipo)/pBMP-2-GFP, polyethylenimine 25K/pBMP-2-GFP, and the blank (non-treated). At 14 days after transfection, ALP activity in BMSCs treated by LNPs/pBMP-2-GFP was higher than that treated by Lipo/pBMP-2-GFP and the blank, comparable to that induced by osteogenic medium; with alizarin red staining, visible calcium nodules were found in BMSCs treated by LNPs/pBMP-2-GFP or osteogenic medium, but absent in BMSCs treated by Lipo/pBMP-2-GFP or the blank with apoptosis. At 21 days after transfection, transparent massive nodules were discovered in BMSCs treated by LNPs/pBMP-2-GFP, and BMSCs exhibited the morphologic features of osteoblasts.
Conclusion
LNPs synthesized at pH 8.5 has optimal transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity, they can efficiently mediate pBMP-2-GFP to transfect BMSCs, and successfully induce their directional osteogenic differentiation, whose inducing effect is comparable to the osteogenic medium. The results suggest that gene transfection mediated by LNPs may be a convenient and effective strategy in inducing directional differentiation of stem cells.
Objective To review the progress and clinical application of malleable bone paste/putty. MethodsRecent literature about malleable bone paste/putty was reviewed and analyzed. ResultsThe preparation and clinical application of malleable bone paste/putty have become increasingly mature. Many kinds of malleable bone paste/putty have been applied extensively and the good clinical results have been achieved in the treatment of the irregular bone defects. The materials and methods for preparing malleable bone paste/putty are different. Then they have different bone repair abilities. ConclusionMalleable bone paste/putty provides effective method to treat irregular bone defects. But the malleable bone paste/putty still has some shortage, so further researches should be carried out.
Polymer micelles formed by self-assembly of amphiphilic polymers are widely used in drug delivery, gene delivery and biosensors, due to their special hydrophobic core/hydrophilic shell structure and nanoscale. However, the structural stability of polymer micelles can be affected strongly by environmental factors, such as temperature, pH, shear force in the blood and interaction with non-target cells, leading to degradations and drug leakage as drug carriers. Therefore, researches on the structural integrity and in vivo distribution of micelle-based carriers are very important for evaluating their therapeutic effect and clinical feasibility. At present, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technology has been widely used in real-time monitoring of aggregation, dissociation and distribution of polymer micelles (in vitro and in vivo). In this review, the polymer micelles, characteristics of FRET technology, structure and properties of the FRET-polymer micelles are briefly introduced. Then, methods and mechanism for combinations of several commonly used fluorescent probes into polymer micelles structures, and progresses on the stability and distribution studies of FRET-polymer micelles (in vitro and in vivo) as drug carriers are reviewed, and current challenges of FRET technology and future directions are discussed.
Objective To introduce an injectable andin situ gelling gelatin hydrogel, and to explore the possibility as a carrier for demineralized bone matrix (DBM) powder delivery. Methods First, thiolated gelatin was prepared and the thiol content was determined by Ellman method, and then the injectable andin situ gelling gelatin hydrogel (Gel) was formed by crosslinking of the thiolated gelatin and poly (ethylene oxide) diacrylate and the gelation time was determined by inverted method. Finally, the DBM-Gel composite was prepared by mixing Gel and DBM powder. The cytotoxicity was tested by live/dead staining and Alamar blue assay of the encapsulated cells in the DBM-Gel. Forin vitro cell induction, C2C12 cells were firstly incubated onto the surface of the DBM and then the composite was prepared. The experiment included two groups: DBM-Gel and DBM. The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was determined at 1, 3, 5,and 7 days after culture.In vivo osteoinductivity was evaluated using ectopic bone formation model of nude rats. Histological observation and the ALP activity was measured in DBM-Gel and DBM groups at 4 weeks after implantation. Results The thiol content in the thiolated gelatin was (0.51±0.03) mmol/g determined by Ellman method. The gelation time of the hydrogel was (6±1) minutes. DBM powder can be mixed with the hydrogel and injected into the implantation site within the gelation time. The cells in the DBM-Gel exhibited spreading morphology and connected each other in part with increasing culture time. The viability of the cells was 95.4%±1.9%, 97.3%±1.3%, and 96.1%±1.6% at 1, 3, and 7 days after culture, respectively. The relative proliferation was 1.0±0.0, 1.1±0.1, 1.5±0.1, and 1.6±0.1 at 1, 3, 5, and 7 days after culture respectively.In vitro induction showed that the ALP activity of the DBM-Gel group was similar to that of the DBM group, showing no significant difference (P>0.05). With increasing culture time, the ALP activities in both groups increased gradually and the activity at 5 and 7 days was significantly higher than that at 1 and 3 days (P<0.05), while there was no significant difference between at 1 and 3 days, and between 5 and 7 days (P>0.05). At 4 weeks after implantationin vivo, new bone and cartilage were observed, but no bone marrow formation in DBM-Gel group; in DBM group, new bone, new cartilage, and bone marrow formation were observed. The histological osteoinduction scores of DBM-Gel and DBM groups were 4.0 and 4.5, respectively. The ALP activities of DBM-Gel and DBM groups were respectively (119.4±22.7) and (146.7±13.0) μmol/mg protein/min, showing no significant difference (t=–2.085,P=0.082). Conclusion The injectable andin situ gelling gelatin hydrogel for delivery of DBM is feasible.
Hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) is a kind of blood substitutes. It is a separated, ultra-purified, modified human or bovine hemoglobin in a balanced saline solution. After modification, it has longer half-time, less renal toxicity, and better delivery of O2 even at low temperature and pH. Its shelf life is long and it dose not require cross-matching. In the field of cardiac surgery, the use of HBOCs can reduce the amount of transfusion postoperatively, and can be used in cardiopulmonary bypass priming and myocardial protection.
Objective To prepare chitosan microcarriers and to use it to cultivate rat primary hepatocytes. Methods The crosslinked chitosan microcarrier was prepared by the reaction of glutaraldehyde with chitosan. Various factors that influence the preparation were studied and the reaction conditions were optimized. Rat primary hepatocytes cultured on chitosan microcarrier were observed by using phase contrast microscope and scanning electron microscope. Results Chitosan microcarriers with good properties could be prepared by adjusting the concentration of chitosan solution and the quantity of glutaraldehyde. Rat hepatocytes cultured on chitosan microcarriers retained the spherical shape as they have in vivo. And albumin secretion can last over one week. The highest albumin secretion rate reached 26.7μg/24h/ml. Conclusion Chitosan microcarriers is a promising scaffold for hepatocyte attachment, which can be used in bioartificial liver support system.
