Objective Bioactive borate glass (BG) has good biocompatibil ity and biodegradation. To investigate the feasibilty of bioactive borate glass as a carrier of the antibiotic controlled-releasing by implanting vancomycin-loaded BG (VBG)into the focus of tibia chronic osteomyel itis after debridement. Methods VBG and vancomycin-loaded calcium sulfate (VCS) were prepared with a vancomycin content of 80 mg/g. Sixty-five New Zealand white rabbits, weighing 2.12-3.91 kg (mean, 2.65 kg), were used. The tibia chronic osteomyel itis rabbit models were establ ished by injecting methicill in-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, 0.1 mL, 1 × 109 cfu/mL) into the right tibia of 65 rabbits. After 3 weeks of injection, 54 rabbits of successful models were randomly divided into groups A (n=11), B (n=11), C (n=16), and D (n=16). Simple debridement was performed in group A; BG, VCS, and VBG were implanted into the infection sites of groups B, C, and D respectively after thorough debridement. A sample of the debrided tissues was harvested for bacterial examination. The vancomycin serum levels were determined in groups C and D at 1, 2, 4, 10, 24, and 48 hours after operation. The boron serum levels were determined in groups B and D at 10, 24, 48, 72, and 120 hours after operation. After 8 weeks, the effectiveness was assessed radiographically, bacteriologically, and histopathol ogically. Results Ten rabbits died after operation. No vancomycin was detected in group C; the vancomycin level increased gradually, reached the highest level at 4 hours after operation, and then decreased rapidly in group D. No boron was detected in group B; the boron reached the highest serum level at 10 hours after operation, and then decreased gradually in group D. At 8 weeks, calcium sulfate degraded in group C; BG degraded partially in group D; and no obvious degradation was observedin group B. The repair effect was better in group D than in group C. There was no significant difference in radiograph scoring between groups A, B, C and D (P gt; 0.05) before operation, but there was significant difference between group D and groups A, B, C (P lt; 0.05) at 8 weeks after operation. The bacterial culture showed that all the MRSA results were positive in 4 groups. At 8 weeks, the negative rates of MRSA examination were 36.36%, 18.18%, 73.33%, and 81.25% respectively in groups A, B, C, and D, showing significant differences between group D and groups A, B (P lt; 0.05). The histopathological observation showed that a large number of new bones formed and no foreign body reaction occurred in group D. The histopathologic scores of groups A, B, C, and D were 6.45 ± 3.62, 7.55 ± 3.36, 4.27 ± 2.91, and 3.81 ± 3.04 respectively, showing significant differences between group D and groups A, B, and between group C and group B (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion VBG can improve the repair of bone defect in the treatment of chronic osteomyel itis.
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 summarize recent research advancement on gene therapy for hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Methods Relevant references about basic and clinical researches of hepatic IRI were collected and reviewed. Results Recent experimental researches indicated that the expression of several genes and cytokines could protect hepatic cells by suppressing cell apoptosis, decreasing the production of oxyradical, remaining and improving portal venous flow, promoting bilifaction, self immunoloregulation and decreasing inflammatory reaction, so that it could decrease IRI. Conclusion IRI could be decreased by regulating the expressing of target genes or transducing relative genes in vivo, but the path of gene transfer and the selection and optimization of gene carrier still need more basic and clinical researches to prove.
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 growth, expansion, and metabolic characteristics of the human dermal fibroblasts cultured in a bioreactor with batch and medium exchange modes. Methods Human dermal fibroblasts separated from foreskin were seeded into a 1.5 liter CelliGen bioreactor with 5mg/ml of microcarriers. The cell growth, glucose consumption and lactate accumulation in both batch and medium exchange cultures were measured. Results The growth density of fibroblasts cultured in the bioreactor with medium-exchange mode reached 2.08×106 cell/ml, expande 29.7 folds, which was 1.81 times as high as that in batch culture. By comparison with the results obtained in T-flasks and spinners under the same medium-exchange conditions, the cell density in the bioreactor was 9.16 and 1.43 times as high as those in T-flasks and spinners respectively owing to that the limitation effect the attachment surface, nutrient exhaust, and by-product accumulation on the growth of fibroblasts in the bioreactor by using microcarriers, medium-exchange, as well as gas aeration was elimnated. Conclution The above results indicate that suspended cultures with microcarriers in bioreactors are an effective approach to rpovide large amounts of seeding cells for tissue engineering.
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.
Paclitaxel (PTX)-loaded self-assembling nano-micelles (PTX/NMs) were prepared based on amphiphilic cholesterol-bearing γ-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA-graft-CH). The properties of PTX/NMs in vitro and in vivo were investigated. The results indicated that PTX could be entrapped in γ-PGA-graft-CH NMs. PTX/NMs was characterized with a size of (343.5 ± 7.3) nm, drug loading content of 26.9% ± 0.8% and entrapment efficiency of 88.6% ± 1.7% at the optimized drug/carrier ratio of 1/10, and showed a pH-sensitive sustainable drug-release and less cytotoxicity in vitro. In vivo release and the pharmacokinetics study in mice showed that the elimination half-life (t1/2β) and area under curve (AUC) of PTX/NMs were significantly higher than those of PTX/polyoxyethylene castor oil (PTX/PCO), and less clearance (CL) of PTX/NMs was also observed. PTX/NMs were distributed higher in liver and tumor than PTX/PCO, and showed a good tumor-inhibiting activity in tumor-bearing mice. This study would lay a foundation on the potential application of γ-PGA-graft-CH NMs were the antitumor drug-delivery.
Objective To develop an in vitro three-dimensional angiogenesis system and analyze the expression and function of CD105 in angiogenesis. Methods After primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were purified and cultured, the microcarriers were coated with HUVEC and then embedded and cultured into fibrin gel. The angiogenesis process of HUVEC on the microcarriers was formed. The expression of CD105 during this process was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ASODN) was used to inhibit the expression of CD105 and the changes of the angiogenesis process were analyzed quantitatively. Results HUVEC on the microcarriers which were embedded into the fibrin gel, occurred the angiogenesis process of sprouts, branches and capillary networks with lumina. During this process, CD105 was over expressed in the periods of forming sprouts and branches, and depressed in the relatively steady periods including the periods before forming sprouts and after forming capillary networks. While the expression of CD105 was inhibited by ASODN, the angiogenesis process was significantly inhibited. Conclusions The expression of CD105 is varied within the angiogenesis process, over expressing during the sprouts and branches forming periods. Inhibiting the expression of CD105 could efficiently inhibit angiogenesis.