Search results for "Hydrogel"

Synthesis and characterization of redox-sensitive polyurethanes based on L-glutathione oxidized and poly(ether ester) triblock copolymers

2021

Abstract Segmented polyurethanes, based on PCL-PEG-PCL copolymers, 1,4-diisocyanatobutane and l -glutathione oxidized, used as chain extender, were synthetized. Three different reactions conditions were investigated using three different copolymers having ɛ-CL/polyethylene glycol molar ratios equal to 12, 24 and 36 and three different reaction conditions. As investigated by size exclusion chromatography analyses and quantification of l -glutathione, the polymerization and the extension phase's efficiency depended on the ɛ-CL/PEG ratio and the extension phase's operating temperature. Three selected polyurethanes were characterized by spectroscopic, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and…

Bioengineered endometrial hydrogels with growth factors promote tissue regeneration and restore fertility in murine models

2021

Extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogels obtained from decellularized tissues are promising biocompatible materials for tissue regeneration. These biomaterials may provide important options for endometrial pathologies such as Asherman's syndrome and endometrial atrophy, which lack effective therapies thus far. First, we performed a proteomic analysis of a decellularized endometrial porcine hydrogel (EndoECM) to describe the specific role of ECM proteins related to regenerative processes. Furthermore, we investigated the ability of a bioengineered system-EndoECM alone or supplemented with growth factors (GFs)-to repair the endometrium in a murine model of endometrial damage. For this model, the …

Signal-Processing and Adaptive Prototissue Formation in Metabolic DNA Protocells

2021

Abstract The fundamental life-defining processes in living cells, such as replication, division, adaptation, and tissue formation, take place via intertwined metabolic reaction networks orchestrating downstream signal processing in a confined, crowded environment with high precision. Hence, it is crucial to understand and reenact some of these functions in wholly synthetic cell-like entities (protocells) to envision designing soft-materials with life-like traits. Herein, we report on a programmable all-DNA protocell (PC) composed of a liquid DNA interior and a hydrogel-like shell, harboring DNAzyme active sites in the interior whose catalytic bond-cleaving activity leads to a downstream phe…

Poly(vinyl alcohol)/κ-Carrageenan-based hydrogels enriched with the adhesive mussel protein Pvfp5β as 3D cell culture scaffold for tissue engineering…

2021

Many marine organisms such as sandcastle worms, barnacles and mussels, produce natural adhesives to attach to wet surfaces in aqueous tidal environments. In mussels, the adhesion is possible through the secretion of a protein-based water-resistant glue, composed of a mixture of proteins called mussel adhesive proteins (MAPs) or mussel foot proteins (mfps), that allow anchoring to almost any kind of surface in wet conditions [1]. The proteins confined to adhesive plaques are mfp-2, -3, -4, -5, and -6. All these proteins contain an atypically high concentration of the catecholic amino acid 3,4- dihydroxy-l-phenylalanine (DOPA), obtained by the post-translational enzymatic hydroxylation of tyr…

Nanomolar pyrophosphate detection in water and in a self-assembled hydrogel of a simple terpyridine-Zn2+ complex.

2014

A simple terpyridine-Zn(II) complex is shown to act as an efficient and highly selective fluorescent sensor for pyrophosphate in water at physiological pH. The sensor complex showed an unprecedented fluorescence response (∼500 fold increase) and a record nanomolar sensitivity (detectable fluorescent response at 20 nM and LOD ∼ 0.8 nM). It has successfully been used to stain and record confocal fluorescence microscopy images of HeLa cells. Moreover, the complex was found to self-assemble into a hydrogel which was subsequently used to coat disposable paper strips for easy, low-cost detection of pyrophosphate.

Uptake of silica covered Quantum Dots into living cells: Long term vitality and morphology study on hyaluronic acid biomaterials

2015

Quantum Dots (QDs) are promising very bright and stable fluorescent probes for optical studies in the biological field but water solubility and possible metal bio-contamination need to be addressed. In this work, a simple silica-QD hybrid system is prepared and the uptake in bovine chondrocytes living cells without any functionalization of the external protective silica shield is demonstrated. Moreover, long term treated cells vitality (up to 14 days) and the transfer of silica-QDs to the next cell generations are here reported. Confocal fluorescence microscopy was also used to determine the morphology of the so labelled cells and the relative silica-QDs distribution. Finally, we employ sil…

Radiation engineering of functional biomaterials: from smart hydrogels to theragnostic nanodevices

2009

Remineralization potential of grape seed extract hydrogels on bleached enamel compared to fluoride gel : an in vitro study

2019

Background Remineralizing of bleached enamel is a common procedure that aims to compensate enamel mineral lose. This study aimed to evaluate the remineralization effectiveness of experimentally prepared grape seed extract hydrogels (GSE) compared to fluoride gel on bleached enamel. Material and methods Thirty extracted maxillary incisor were bleached using white smile bleaching agent. Bleached specimens were divided into three groups (10/group) according to the remineralizing agents tested: [GSE 6%, GSE 10%, or fluoride gel]. After bleaching and remineralization procedure, the specimens were stored in artificial saliva at 37°C. Micro-hardness and Energy-Dispersive X-ray and ultra-morphologi…

The use of hydrogels in bone-tissue engineering

2010

Many different types of scaffold materials have been used for tissue engineering applications, and hydrogels form one group of materials that have been used in a wide variety of applications. Hydrogels are hydrophilic polymer networks and they represent an important class of biomaterials in biotechnology and medicine because many hydrogels exhibit excellent biocompatibility with minimal inflammatory responses and tissue damage. Many studies have demonstrated the use of hydrogels in bone-tissue engineering applications. In this report, the summary was conducted on various kinds of polymers and different modification methods of hydrogels to enhance bone formation. The results revealed that hy…

Development of a morphogenetically active scaffold for three-dimensional growth of bone cells: biosilica-alginate hydrogel for SaOS-2 cell cultivation

2013

Polymeric silica is formed from ortho-silicate during a sol–gel formation process, while biosilica is the product of an enzymatically driven bio-polycondensation reaction. Both polymers have recently been described as a template that induces an increased expression of the genes encoding bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) and osteoprotegerin in osteoblast-related SaOS-2 cells; simultaneously or subsequently the cells respond with enhanced hydroxyapatite formation. In order to assess whether the biocompatible polymeric silica/biosilica can serve as a morphogenetically active matrix suitable for three-dimensional (3D) cell growth, or even for 3D cell bioprinting, SaOS-2 cells were embedded i…