Search Results (9,706)

Directed cell migration is crucial for numerous biological processes, including tissue regeneration and cancer metastasis. However, conventional symmetrical micropatterns typically result in bidirectional cell migration guidance instead of unidirectional guidance. In this study, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based platforms with asymmetrical arrowhead micropatterns, nanopillars, and selective fibronectin coating were developed to enhance unidirectional cell migration. The platforms were fabricated using nanoimprint lithography and PDMS replication techniques, allowing for precise control over surface topography and biochemical modification. The MC3T3 osteoblastic cells cultured on these platforms demonstrated significantly enhanced directional migration, characterized by increased displacement, and directional alignment with micropattern orientation compared to symmetrical patterns. Quantitative analyses revealed that asymmetrical arrowheads combined with nanopillars induced more focal adhesions and F-actin polarization at cell front regions, supporting the observed unidirectional cell migration enhancement. These results confirm that integrating micropattern asymmetry, nanoscale features, and biochemical functionalization synergistically promotes unidirectional cell migration. The developed platforms offer valuable insights and practical strategies for designing advanced biomaterials capable of precise spatial cell guidance that can be applied to the designs of organ-on-a-chip systems. Full article

Rosa roxburghii Tratt., a fruit crop known for its high Vitamin C content and other nutritional compounds, has not yet been studied for its auxin response factor (ARF) family members. ARFs are important proteins in auxin-mediated pathways, playing a vital role in plant physiological and biochemical processes such as plant development, and flower and fruit maturation. In the present study, we identified 14 ARF genes (designated as RrARFs) in R. roxburghii, which are distributed across seven chromosomes and grouped into four subfamilies. An analysis of cis-acting elements revealed that these genes might be involved in various biological processes, including plant development, flower development, light responses, cell cycle regulation, phytohormone responses, and responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. A gene expression analysis demonstrated differential expression of RrARF genes across different tissues and stages of fruit development, with four members showing higher expression during the fruit ripening stages. Furthermore, a coexpression analysis identified that RrARF5 was highly coexpressed with RrMDHAR1, a key enzyme involved in Vitamin C biosynthesis. Moreover, transactivation assays and transient overexpression experiments confirmed that RrARF5 activates the transcription of RrMDHAR1. The findings of this study suggest a potential role of the ARF gene family in Vitamin C accumulation in R. roxburghii and enhance our understanding of the diverse regulatory function of the ARF gene family in plants. Full article

Background: Periodontal disease is a common chronic inflammatory disease affecting the oral cavity involving the tissues supporting teeth. It is a significant oral health concern worldwide, particularly amongst individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Biological aging is associated with a natural decline in the immune system, which can also affect the severity of periodontitis and other potential risk factors. In people living with HIV (PLWH), the contribution of both the HIV infection and the aging process can lead to increased susceptibility to periodontal disease. Objectives: This paper aims to review the recent literature about the relationships between HIV infection and early aging and their impact on periodontitis, and to inform interested clinicians about the current literature on the intersection between and within these topics. Methods: This review explores the recent literature on the complex relationship between HIV, aging, and periodontitis. The PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Medline databases were used to find clinical research studies within the last 10 years to identify significant correlations between HIV, aging, and periodontitis. Results: These studies identify key pathogens, molecules, or cellular pathways that contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the pathophysiologic processes that link HIV, aging, and periodontitis. This complex relationship is multifactorial, involving immune dysfunction, microbial dysbiosis, and inflammatory pathways that still need further research. Conclusions: Overall, this exploration through molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the relationships between aging, HIV, and periodontitis can provide therapeutic implications for dental clinicians to prevent and treat their affected patients. Full article

Surgical procedures trigger dynamic inflammatory responses that influence postoperative pain, wound healing, and long-term outcomes. Conventional therapies rely on the systemic delivery of anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents, which often lack spatiotemporal precision and carry significant side effects. Inflammation-responsive hydrogels offer a promising alternative by enabling localized, stimulus-adaptive drug release aligned with the evolving biochemical milieu of surgical wounds. These smart biomaterials respond to endogenous triggers, such as reactive oxygen species, acidic pH, and proteolytic enzymes, allowing precise modulation of inflammation and tissue repair. This narrative review outlines the pathophysiological features of perioperative inflammation and the design principles of responsive hydrogel systems, including pH-, reactive oxygen species-, enzyme-sensitive, and multi-stimuli platforms. We evaluated the integration of key payloads, NSAIDs, corticosteroids, α₂-adrenergic agonists, and biologics, highlighting their therapeutic synergy and translational relevance. Preclinical studies across soft tissue, orthopedic, thoracic, and abdominal models have demonstrated the efficacy of these systems in modulating immune responses, reducing pain, and enhancing regeneration. Despite these encouraging results, challenges remain, including trigger fidelity, surgical compatibility, and regulatory readiness. Future advances in biosensor integration, logic-based design, and artificial intelligence-guided formulation may accelerate clinical translation. Inflammation-responsive hydrogels represent a transformative strategy for precise perioperative care. Full article

Adipose tissue micrografts (ATM) and dermis micrografts (DMG) have emerged as promising autologous therapies in regenerative wound care, leveraging mechanically disaggregated cell–matrix constructs to modulate the wound microenvironment and promote tissue repair. This scoping review systematically analyzed clinical studies investigating ATMs and DMGs in acute and chronic wounds. Eight studies, comprising randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and case series, were identified, involving diverse wound types such as burns, ulcers, surgical dehiscence, and posttraumatic defects. All interventions utilized mechanical disaggregation (Rigenera^® system) to produce micrografts, which were applied via perilesional injection, scaffold-assisted delivery, or topical administration. Outcomes consistently demonstrated accelerated re-epithelialization, enhanced angiogenesis, improved scar remodeling, and low complication rates. In select studies, micrografts were combined with platelet-rich fibrin or stromal vascular fraction, suggesting potential synergistic effects. While one randomized trial showed superior healing outcomes with DMGs over collagen scaffolds, others yielded mixed results, likely reflecting heterogeneity in methodology and outcome measures. Overall, the available clinical evidence supports the safety, feasibility, and biological activity of micrograft-based therapies. However, larger, standardized, and mechanistically driven studies are required to validate their efficacy and define optimal protocols across wound etiologies. Full article

Ultrasonic wave attenuation in biological tissues arises from complex interactions between mechanical, structural, and fluidic properties, making it essential to identify dominant mechanisms for accurate simulation and device design. This work introduces a novel integration of experimentally measured tissue parameters into time-explicit nonlinear acoustic wave simulations, in which the equations are directly solved in the time domain using an explicit solver. This approach captures the full transient waveform without relying on frequency-domain simplifications, offering a more realistic representation of ultrasound propagation in heterogeneous media. The study estimates both sound diffusivity and viscous damping parameters (dynamic and bulk viscosity) for a broad range of ex vivo tissues (skin, adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, trabecular/cortical bone, liver, myocardium, kidney, tendon, ligament, cartilage, and gray/white brain matter). Four regression models (power law, linear, exponential, logarithmic) were applied to characterize their frequency dependence between 0.5 and 5 MHz. Results show that attenuation is more strongly driven by bulk viscosity than dynamic viscosity, particularly in fluid-rich tissues such as liver and myocardium, where compressional damping dominates. The power-law model consistently provided the best fit for all attenuation metrics, revealing a scale-invariant frequency relationship. Tissues such as cartilage and brain showed weaker viscous responses, suggesting the need for alternative modeling approaches. These findings not only advance fundamental understanding of attenuation mechanisms but also provide validated parameters and modeling strategies to improve predictive accuracy in therapeutic ultrasound planning and the design of non-invasive, tissue-specific acoustic devices. Full article

Acute inflammation is frequently triggered by pathogen infections and contributes to host mortality. In this study, a new exopolysaccharide (ObEPS) was isolated from the moss endophyte Ovatospora brasiliensis and characterized for its structure and biological activity. Monosaccharide composition analysis revealed that ObEPS was mainly composed of galactose, glucose, mannose, and glucuronic acid. Multi-angle light scattering and conformation analysis showed a molar mass of 10⁵–10⁶ Da and a compact chain conformation. In vitro experiments showed that ObEPS markedly inhibited nitric oxide production and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. In a systemic Candida albicans infection model, ObEPS combined with fluconazole significantly reduced fungal colony-forming units (CFUs)/g kidney from 3.8 × 10⁵ to 0.1 × 10⁵, with the reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and tissue damage compared with the EPS-free groups suffering from C. albicans infection. Overall, these findings indicate that ObEPS has potent anti-inflammatory activity and may serve as a promising natural adjunct for mitigating infection-associated inflammatory damage. Full article

Arthroscopic Superior Capsular Reconstruction has emerged as a promising surgical intervention for irreparable massive rotator cuff tears, aiming to restore glenohumeral joint stability and improve patient outcomes. A critical determinant of ASCR success is the selection of an appropriate graft material. This review explores the spectrum of grafts utilized in ASCR, including autografts, allografts, xenografts, and synthetic materials. The primary focus is on how the inherent biological properties of these grafts—such as cellularity, vascularity, immunogenicity, and extracellular matrix composition—profoundly influence the processes of graft healing, integration into host tissues, and ultimately, the rates of re-tearing. Autografts, particularly fascia lata, often demonstrate superior biological incorporation due to their viable cells and non-immunogenic nature, leading to high healing rates. Allografts, while offering advantages like reduced donor site morbidity, present biological challenges related to decellularization processes and slower remodeling, resulting in more variable healing outcomes. Xenografts face significant immunological hurdles, often leading to rejection and poor integration. Synthetic grafts provide an off-the-shelf option but interact with host tissue primarily as a scaffold, without true biological integration. Understanding the nuanced biological characteristics of each graft type is paramount for surgeons aiming to optimize healing environments and minimize re-tear rates, thereby enhancing the long-term efficacy of ASCR. Full article

Wound healing in oral surgery is influenced by systemic conditions (aging, diabetes) and habits (smoking, alcoholism), which can hinder the natural regenerative capacity of the oral mucosa. The human amniotic membrane (hAM), long recognized for its wound-healing properties, has gained attention as a valuable biomaterial in regenerative dentistry. Its biological composition—including epithelial and mesenchymal stem cells, collagen, growth factors, cytokines, and proteins with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties—supports anti-inflammatory, angiogenic, immunomodulatory, and pro-epithelializing effects. These elements work synergistically to enhance tissue repair, reduce scarring, and promote rapid healing. The hAM can be preserved through cryopreservation, dehydration, or freeze-drying, maintaining its structural and functional integrity for diverse clinical uses. In oral surgery, the hAM has been applied with significant success to surgical wound coverage, treatment of periodontal and bone defects, and implant site regeneration, as well as management of complex conditions like medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). Clinical studies and meta-analyses support its safety, efficacy, and adaptability. Despite its proven therapeutic benefits, the hAM remains underutilized in dentistry due to challenges related to its preparation and storage. This review aims to highlight its potential and encourage broader clinical adoption in regenerative oral surgical practices. Full article

Thallium (Tl) is a non-essential and highly toxic heavy metal capable of replacing potassium (K⁺) in biological systems, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inhibition of protein synthesis. In humans, the estimated oral lethal dose ranges from 10 to 15 mg/kg, with acute mortality rates of 6–15% and chronic neurological sequelae in up to 55% of survivors. Environmental releases of thallium of up to 5000 metric tons annually from industrial and mining activities, combined with its high oral bioavailability and nonspecific multisystemic symptoms, underscore the urgent need for more effective therapeutic strategies. This review summarizes current evidence on Tl toxicity, including its mechanisms of action, clinical manifestations, and available treatments. It emphasizes the strategic selection of biological models: simple organisms such as Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster enable high-throughput screening and early biomarker detection; zebrafish (Danio rerio) provide vertebrate-level evaluation of multi-organ effects; and rodent models offer systemic toxicokinetic and therapeutic validation. Human-derived organoids and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) systems recreate tissue-specific microenvironments, allowing translational assessment of mitochondrial, neuronal, and cardiac toxicity. Integrating these models within a tiered and complementary framework, alongside environmental and clinical surveillance, can accelerate the development of targeted treatments and strengthen public health responses to Tl exposure. Full article

The Dof (DNA binding with one finger) protein is one of the unique transcription factors in plants, and it plays an important role in plant growth and stress response. Sesame is an oil-bearing crop with high oil content and rich nutrition. In this study, 34 Dof genes were identified in the sesame genome using bioinformatics technology, and their physicochemical properties, gene structure, conserved motifs, tissue-specific expression and functions in fatty acid synthesis were preliminarily analyzed. The results showed that although there were differences in sequence length, molecular weight and isoelectric point, SiDofs all contained a conservative zinc finger structure, which could be divided into three categories in phylogeny. All 34 SiDof genes contain 1–2 exons, and the conserved motifs among subfamilies are similar. Tissue-specific expression analysis showed that the expression levels of SiDof8, SiDof10 and SiDof34 were the highest in seeds 24 days after pollination. Overexpression of SiDof8, SiDof10 and SiDof34 could significantly increase the contents of C18:0, C18:1, C18:2 and C18:3, and all of them are located in the nucleus. There were Dof DNA binding elements in the promoter region of fatty acid synthesis genes. These results provide a theoretical basis for further study on the function of the sesame Dof genes and biological breeding. Full article

Macrophages are critical to the formation of infection- and non-infection-associated immune structures such as cancer spheroids, pathogen-, and non-pathogen-associated granulomas, contributing to the spatiotemporal and chemical immune response and eventual outcome of disease. While well established in cancer immunology, the prevalence of using three-dimensional (3D) cultures to characterize later-stage structural immune response in pathogen-associated granulomas continues to increase, generating valuable insights for empirical and computational analysis. To enable integration of data from 3D in vitro studies with the vast bibliome of standard two-dimensional (2D) tissue culture data, methods that determine concordance between 2D and 3D immune response need to be established. Focusing on macrophage migration and oxidative species production, we develop experimental and computational methods to enable concurrent spatiotemporal and biochemical characterization of 2D versus 3D macrophage–mycobacterium interaction. We integrate standard biological sampling methods, time-lapse confocal imaging, and 4D quantitative image analysis to develop a 3D ex vivo model of Mycobacterium smegmatis infection using bone-marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) embedded in reconstituted basement membrane (RBM). Comparing features of 2D to 3D macrophage response that contribute to control and resolution of bacteria infection, we determined that macrophages in 3D environments increased production of reactive species, motility, and differed in cellular volume. Results demonstrate a viable and extensible approach for comparison of 2D and 3D datasets and concurrent biochemical plus spatiotemporal characterization of initial macrophage structural response during infection. Full article

Diffuse astrocytoma is a primary brain tumor known for its gradual and diffuse infiltration into the surrounding brain tissue. Given this characteristic, the investigation of the peritumoral region holds potential biological and clinical relevance. In this study, ion mobility spectrometry mass spectrometry (IMS MS) was optimized and applied for the first time for the analysis of gangliosides present in the peritumoral tissue of diffuse astrocytoma. Ganglioside profiling and structural characterization were conducted using high-resolution nanoelectrospray ionization (nanoESI) IMS MS, along with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) via low-energy collision-induced dissociation (CID) in the negative ion mode. Using IMS MS-based separation and screening, we observed a greater diversity of ganglioside species in the peritumoral tissue than previously reported. Notably, an elevated expression was detected for several species, including GT1(d18:1/18:0), GT1(d18:1/20:0), GM2(d18:1/16:2), GD1(d18:1/16:0), GD2(d18:1/20:0), Fuc-GT3(d18:1/24:4), and Fuc-GD1(d18:1/18:2). Although preliminary, these observations prompt consideration of whether these species could be implicated in processes such as microenvironmental modulation, tumor cell infiltration and invasion, maintenance of cellular interactions, or regulation of immune responses. Additionally, their potential utility as biomarkers may merit further exploration. In the subsequent phase of the study, structural analysis using IMS MS, CID tandem MS, and fragmentation data supported the identification of GT1b(d18:1/20:0) isomer in the peritumoral tissue. However, given the exploratory nature of the study and reliance on limited sampling, further investigation across broader sample sets is necessary to extend these findings. Full article

Background/Objectives: The use of collagen-based scaffolds in dentition tissue engineering has gained significance and importance in the field as they are structurally equivalent and biologically compatible with the native extracellular matrix (ECM). In this review, collagen-composite scaffolds for pulp, alveolar bone, and periodontal regeneration are analyzed in terms of materials, fabrication techniques, and clinical outcomes. Methods: Recent developments in collagen scaffolds are highlighted in this review, with a focus on type I collagen due to its structural strength and arginine–glycine–aspartic acid (RGD) motifs, which promote cell adhesion and differentiation. Composite materials, freeze-drying, electrospinning, and 3D bioprinting, which are used to improve the functionality of the scaffold, are key developments. Results: This review shows progress in collagen-based scaffolds for restoring dental tissues, such as dentin, gingival tissue, or bone, in humans. Electrospinning and 3D bioprinting are new manufacturing techniques that enhance the functionality of scaffold devices, and incorporating bioactive molecules increases the regenerative capacity; however, stability and long-term efficacy are still problems. Conclusions: Although they have a lot of potential, collagen-composite scaffolds face challenges like rapid degradation and limited mechanical strength. To make long-lasting, tailored dental regeneration therapies feasible, future research needs to improve smart biomaterials, gene delivery, and personalized designs for dental regenerative therapy. Full article

Hydrogel-based vitreous substitutes have been considered as a potential solution for the treatment of retinal disorders, especially when the natural vitreous body is damaged due to trauma, disease, or surgery. With their high-water content, biocompatibility, and tunable mechanical properties, these hydrogels offer a promising alternative to traditional vitreous substitutes. This review explores the role of polymers and crosslinkers in the development of hydrogel-based substitutes, focusing on how these components contribute to the structure and function of hydrogels. The choice of natural polymers, such as hyaluronic acid and collagen, or synthetic ones, such as polyethylene glycol and polyvinyl alcohol, is crucial to mimic the transparency and flexibility of the vitreous body. Crosslinking methods, including physical, chemical, and enzymatic approaches, help control the gelation process and enhance the mechanical strength of the hydrogel. Furthermore, this review demonstrates how these hydrogels interact with biological tissues, which enhances biocompatibility, cell growth, and tissue repair. This review also discusses the challenges and future directions in improving these hydrogels, particularly in terms of long-term stability, integration with ocular tissues, and appropriate mechanical properties. Overall, hydrogel-based vitreous substitutes have significant potential to improve surgical outcomes and restore vision for patients with vitreous injury. Full article