{"title":"Ultrasound-Enhanced Tumor Penetration of Carrier-Free Nanodrugs for High-Efficiency Chemo-Photodynamic Therapy of Breast Cancer.","authors":"Yun Xiang, Shiyu Liang, Ping Wang","doi":"10.3390/jfb16060206","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfb16060206","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In recent years, chemo-photodynamic combinational therapy has become increasingly popular in treating breast cancer. However, the limited accumulation of nanodrugs into tumors (less than 1% of the injected dose) impacts therapeutic efficacy to an extreme extent. Herein, the photosensitizer Chlorin e6 (Ce6) and the chemotherapeutic drug rhein were self-assembled to form a carrier-free nanodrug (RC NPs) with good stability and a high drug loading rate (nearly 100%). In vitro, the phototoxicity of RC NPs resulted in a mere 17.8% cell viability. Ultrasound (US) irradiation was applied to increase the permeability of tumor blood vessels, thus greatly enhancing the drug accumulation of RC NPs in tumor tissues (1.5 times that of the control group). After uptake by tumor cells, Ce6 could produce a significant amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) when exposed to laser irradiation, while rhein could inhibit tumor cell proliferation and affect mitochondrial membrane potential, inducing tumor cell apoptosis through the mitochondria-dependent apoptosis pathway, thus effectively realizing the combined effect of PDT and chemotherapy. The final tumor inhibition rate reached 93.7%. Taken together, RC NPs strengthen the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect when exposed to US irradiation and exhibit better tumor suppression, which provides new insights into chemo-photodynamic combination treatment for clinical breast cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":15767,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Biomaterials","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12194217/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144484654","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Karla Pollyanna Vieira de Oliveira, Michael Yilma Yitayew, Ana Paula Almeida Bastos, Stefanie Cristine Nied Mandrik, Luismar Marques Porto, Maryam Tabrizian
{"title":"Transparent 3-Layered Bacterial Nanocellulose as a Multicompartment and Biomimetic Scaffold for Co-Culturing Cells.","authors":"Karla Pollyanna Vieira de Oliveira, Michael Yilma Yitayew, Ana Paula Almeida Bastos, Stefanie Cristine Nied Mandrik, Luismar Marques Porto, Maryam Tabrizian","doi":"10.3390/jfb16060208","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfb16060208","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models are widely used to provide a more physiologically relevant microenvironment in which to host and study desired cell types. These models vary in complexity and cost, ranging from simple and inexpensive to highly sophisticated and costly systems. In this study, we introduce a novel translucent multi-compartmentalized stacked multilayered nanocellulose scaffold and describe its fabrication, characterization, and potential application for co-culturing multiple cell types. The scaffold consists of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) layers separated by interlayers of a lower density of nanocellulose fibers. Using this system, we co-cultured the MDA-MB-231 cell line with two tumor-associated cell types, namely BC-CAFs and M2 macrophages, to simulate the tumor microenvironment (TME). Cells remained viable and metabolically active for up to 15 days. Confocal microscopy showed no signs of cell invasion. However, BC-CAFs and MDA-MB-231 cells were frequently observed within the same layer. The expression of breast cancer-related genes was analyzed to assess the downstream functionality of the cells. We found that the E-cadherin expression was 20% lower in cancer cells co-cultured in the multi-compartmentalized scaffold than in those cultured in 2D plates. Since E-cadherin plays a critical role in preventing the initial dissociation of epithelial cells from the primary tumor mass and is often downregulated in the tumor microenvironment in vivo, this finding suggests that our scaffold more effectively recapitulates the complexity of a tumor microenvironment.</p>","PeriodicalId":15767,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Biomaterials","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12194138/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144484653","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jakub Fiegler-Rudol, Dariusz Skaba, Aleksandra Kawczyk-Krupka, Rafał Wiench
{"title":"Antibacterial and Bactericidal Effects of the Er: YAG Laser on Oral Bacteria: A Systematic Review of Microbiological Evidence.","authors":"Jakub Fiegler-Rudol, Dariusz Skaba, Aleksandra Kawczyk-Krupka, Rafał Wiench","doi":"10.3390/jfb16060209","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfb16060209","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The Er:YAG laser has gained attention in dentistry for its potential to enhance microbial disinfection through targeted photothermal and photoacoustic mechanisms.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This systematic review aimed to evaluate the antibacterial and bactericidal efficacy of Er:YAG laser therapy across clinically relevant oral pathogens in in vitro models.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library was conducted for studies published between 2015 and 2025. The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD420251031368). Eligibility criteria included in vitro or animal studies assessing the bactericidal effects of the Er:YAG laser on oral bacteria or fungi, either alone or in combination with chemical disinfectants. Study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment were conducted independently by multiple reviewers.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ten in vitro studies met inclusion criteria. The Er:YAG laser demonstrated significant antibacterial effects against <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i>, <i>Streptococcus mutans</i>, <i>Porphyromonas gingivalis</i>, <i>Candida albicans</i>, and other species. Greater bacterial reduction was consistently observed when the laser was combined with adjunctive irrigants such as sodium hypochlorite or hydrogen peroxide. The laser was effective in reducing biofilm biomass and viable counts, particularly in complex anatomical settings. Most studies were rated as low risk of bias.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Er:YAG laser therapy is a promising adjunctive tool for microbial disinfection in dentistry, particularly in challenging anatomical sites. Further well-designed in vivo and clinical studies are needed to confirm its efficacy and determine optimal treatment parameters.</p>","PeriodicalId":15767,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Biomaterials","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12194413/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144484619","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tareq Hajaj, Diana Marian, Cristian Zaharia, Serban Talpos Niculescu, Radu Marcel Negru, Florina Titihazan, Mihai Rominu, Cosmin Sinescu, Andreea Codruta Novac, Gabriel Dobrota, Ioana Veja
{"title":"Fracture Resistance of CAD/CAM-Fabricated Zirconia and Lithium Disilicate Crowns with Different Margin Designs: Implications for Digital Dentistry.","authors":"Tareq Hajaj, Diana Marian, Cristian Zaharia, Serban Talpos Niculescu, Radu Marcel Negru, Florina Titihazan, Mihai Rominu, Cosmin Sinescu, Andreea Codruta Novac, Gabriel Dobrota, Ioana Veja","doi":"10.3390/jfb16060205","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfb16060205","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the influence of cervical margin design-tangential versus chamfer-on the fracture resistance of monolithic crowns fabricated from lithium disilicate and zirconia ceramics.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Forty extracted human molars were randomly assigned to two preparation types: chamfer and tangential. Each group was restored with CAD/CAM-fabricated crowns made from either zirconia (IPS e.max<sup>®</sup> ZirCAD Prime) or lithium disilicate (IPS e.max<sup>®</sup> CAD), resulting in four subgroups (<i>n</i> = 10). Standardized adhesive cementation protocols were applied. After 24 h storage in distilled water, the specimens underwent static load-to-failure testing using a ZwickRoell ProLine Z005 universal testing machine.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Zirconia crowns with chamfer margins exhibited the highest mean fracture resistance (2658 N), while lithium disilicate crowns with tangential margins showed the lowest (1862 N). Chamfer preparation significantly increased the fracture resistance of lithium disilicate crowns (<i>p</i> < 0.01), whereas margin design had no significant effect on zirconia. All restorations exceeded physiological masticatory forces, confirming their clinical viability.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Cervical margin design significantly affected the fracture performance of lithium disilicate crowns but not zirconia. Chamfer preparations are recommended when using lithium disilicate to optimize mechanical strength. These findings underscore the importance of preparation geometry in guiding material selection for CAD/CAM ceramic restorations.</p>","PeriodicalId":15767,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Biomaterials","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12193716/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144484634","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Benjamin Walch, Alexander Gaggl, Gian Battista Bottini, Johannes Hachleitner, Florian Huber, Hannes Römhild, Martin Geroldinger, Maximilian Götzinger
{"title":"Comparison of Anatomical Maxillary Sinus Implant and Polydioxanone Sheets in Treatment of Orbital Floor Blowout Fractures: A Retrospective Cohort Study.","authors":"Benjamin Walch, Alexander Gaggl, Gian Battista Bottini, Johannes Hachleitner, Florian Huber, Hannes Römhild, Martin Geroldinger, Maximilian Götzinger","doi":"10.3390/jfb16060204","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfb16060204","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Orbital floor blowout fractures (OFBF) can have serious consequences for the patient. Selecting the right treatment method and materials is essential. Krenkel's maxillary sinus implant has been used successfully for more than 40 years in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of this implant compared to polydioxanone (PDS) sheets.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>This retrospective study examined a cohort of 82 OFBF patients over a seven-year period. Clinical and geometric data were collected. Defect size, location, and the volume of the herniated tissue were measured from conventional computer tomography (CT) or cone beam computer tomography (CBCT) scans. The relationship between ophthalmologic rehabilitation and treatment modality was analyzed using logistic regression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study included 82 patients, 28% female and 72% male, with a median age of 45.2 years. Defect size and hernia volume correlated with preoperative ophthalmological symptoms. At follow-up, 14.8% in the implant group and 28.6% in the PDS group showed mild visual impairment, with no severe diplopia.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our results suggest this method is a reliable and effective solution for repairing OFBFs and ophthalmologic rehabilitation. However, further research in a clinical controlled trial is needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":15767,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Biomaterials","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12194180/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144484623","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anna Skurska, Marek Chwiedosik, Anna Justyna Milewska, Robert Milewski, Michał Pawłowski, Jennifer Alberichi, Violetta Dymicka-Piekarska, Martina Stefanini
{"title":"The Influence of Injectable Platelet-Rich Fibrin on the Clinical Parameters and the Levels of MMP-8 in the GCF in Non-Surgical Treatment of Periodontitis-Randomized Trial.","authors":"Anna Skurska, Marek Chwiedosik, Anna Justyna Milewska, Robert Milewski, Michał Pawłowski, Jennifer Alberichi, Violetta Dymicka-Piekarska, Martina Stefanini","doi":"10.3390/jfb16060202","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfb16060202","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study evaluates non-surgical therapy combined with injectable platelet-rich fibrin (i-PRF) on the clinical parameters and the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) in patients with periodontitis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Forty subjects diagnosed with periodontitis were randomly divided into two groups. In the test group, scaling and root planing (SRP) was performed with the subsequent application of i-PRF into periodontal pockets, while in the control group SRP was performed alone. Clinical examination was performed before and 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment. For MMP-8 level determination, the ELISA method was used.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In both groups, a statistically significant reduction in full mouth probing depth (FMPD), full mouth clinical attachment level (FMCAL), full mouth bleeding on probing (FMBOP), full mouth plaque index (FMPI) and full mouth marginal bleeding index FMMBI (<i>p</i> < 0.001) was observed. In the test group, the reduction in FMPD and FMBOP was statistically significantly greater than in the control group (<i>p</i> = 0.049 and <i>p</i> < 0.001, respectively). A significantly greater reduction of probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) in pockets > 5 mm between baseline and examination after 3 and 6 months was noted in the test group. The level of MMP-8 was statistically significantly reduced in both groups (<i>p</i> = 0.007 and <i>p</i> = 0.009).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>SRP significantly improves the clinical parameters and reduces MMP-8 levels in patients with periodontitis. Addition of i-PRF may further enhance the positive effects of periodontal treatment on clinical parameters, without significant influence on MMP-8 levels. The results of the research require confirmation in a more homogeneous group, taking into account the elimination of the specified limitations.</p>","PeriodicalId":15767,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Biomaterials","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12194271/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144484590","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ana Sofia Pádua, Manuel Pedro Fernandes Graça, Jorge Carvalho Silva
{"title":"Polycaprolactone/Doped Bioactive Glass Composite Scaffolds for Bone Regeneration.","authors":"Ana Sofia Pádua, Manuel Pedro Fernandes Graça, Jorge Carvalho Silva","doi":"10.3390/jfb16060200","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfb16060200","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Critical-size bone defects do not heal spontaneously and require external support, making bone regeneration a central challenge in tissue engineering. Polymeric/ceramic composite scaffolds offer a promising approach to mimic the structural and biological properties of bone. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of different doping oxides in bioactive glass (BG) on the performance of polycaprolactone (PCL)-based composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications. Composite scaffolds were fabricated using solvent casting, hot pressing, and salt-leaching techniques, combining PCL with 25 wt% of BG or doped BG containing 4 mol% of tantalum, zinc, magnesium, or niobium oxides, and 1 mol% of copper oxide. The scaffolds were characterized in terms of morphology, mechanical properties, and in vitro biological performance. All scaffolds exhibited a highly porous, interconnected structure. Mechanical compression tests indicated that elastic modulus increased with ceramic content, while doping had no measurable effect. Cytotoxicity assays confirmed biocompatibility across all scaffolds. Among the tested materials, the Zn-doped BG/PCL scaffold uniquely supported cell adhesion and proliferation and significantly enhanced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity-an early marker of osteogenic differentiation-alongside the Nb-doped scaffold. These results highlight the Zn-doped BG/PCL composite as a promising candidate for bone regeneration applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":15767,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Biomaterials","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12193905/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144484583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Synthesis of ε-Fe<sub>2-3</sub>N Particles for Magnetic Hyperthermia.","authors":"Soichiro Usuki, Tomoyuki Ogawa, Masaya Shimabukuro, Taishi Yokoi, Masakazu Kawashita","doi":"10.3390/jfb16060203","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfb16060203","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Little research has focused on using iron nitride as thermoseed particles in magnetic hyperthermia, although magnetite (Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>) is commonly used for this purpose. In the present study, we focus on iron nitride, especially ε-Fe<sub>2-3</sub>N. ε-Fe<sub>2-3</sub>N particles were synthesized from hematite (α-Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>) and sodium amide (NaNH<sub>2</sub>) under various synthesis conditions, and the heat-generation properties of the particles were investigated to reveal the synthesis conditions that lead to particles with notable heat-generation performance. The particles synthesized at 250 °C for 12 h increased the temperature of an agar phantom by approximately 20 °C under an alternating magnetic field (100 kHz, 125 Oe, 600 s), suggesting that ε-Fe<sub>2-3</sub>N particles can be used for magnetic hyperthermia. The analysis results for the particles synthesized under different conditions suggest that the heat-generation properties of ε-Fe<sub>2-3</sub>N were affected by several factors, including the nitrogen content, particle size, crystallite size, saturation magnetization, and coercive force.</p>","PeriodicalId":15767,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Biomaterials","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12193898/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144484587","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Development of a Sustainable Bone Regeneration Material Using Apatite Paste Derived from Eggshell Waste.","authors":"Masatsugu Hirota, Chihiro Mochizuki, Toshitsugu Sakurai, Hiroyuki Mishima, Chikahiro Ohkubo, Takatsugu Yamamoto","doi":"10.3390/jfb16060201","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfb16060201","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Apatite pastes derived from eggshell waste (BAp) were implanted onto the calvarial bone of rats, and bone formation was evaluated using X-ray μ-computed tomography (CT) and histological evaluation. BAp was mixed with distilled water to prepare a paste. Monoclinic hydroxyapatite of mineral resources (HAp) was used as a control. A 5 mm diameter PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) tube was filled with apatite pastes and implanted in the calvarial bone of 9-week-old Sprague Dawley rats for 8 weeks. A larger radiopaque area, similar to that of native bone, was observed in the BAp paste-implanted specimens than that of HAp paste. The bone mineral density (BMD) value of the BAp paste was significantly higher than that of the HAp paste (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In the histological evaluation, new bone formation was noticed from the calvarial side for both apatite specimens, and HAp remained in the PTFE unlike BAp. The bone mass (BM) value of the BAp paste was significantly higher than that of the HAp paste (<i>p</i> < 0.05). SEM and XRD analyses revealed that BAp was microcrystalline and poorly crystalline. The promotion of new bone formation may contribute to the crystallinity and Mg content of BAp. BAp was found to be useful as a bone regeneration material.</p>","PeriodicalId":15767,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Biomaterials","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12194258/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144484626","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mateusz M Urbaniak, Mariusz Tszydel, Konrad Szustakiewicz, Aleksandra Szwed-Georgiou, Bartłomiej Kryszak, Marcin Włodarczyk, Sylwia Michlewska, Piotr Jóźwiak, Tomislav Ivankovic, Mikołaj K Cybulski, Karolina Rudnicka
{"title":"Caddisfly Silk-Polycaprolactone Foams: Physicochemical and Biological Properties of Nature-Inspired Biomaterials.","authors":"Mateusz M Urbaniak, Mariusz Tszydel, Konrad Szustakiewicz, Aleksandra Szwed-Georgiou, Bartłomiej Kryszak, Marcin Włodarczyk, Sylwia Michlewska, Piotr Jóźwiak, Tomislav Ivankovic, Mikołaj K Cybulski, Karolina Rudnicka","doi":"10.3390/jfb16060199","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfb16060199","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The unique properties of insect silk have attracted attention for years to develop scaffolds for tissue engineering. Combining natural silks with synthetic polymers may benefit biocompatibility, mechanical strength, and elasticity. Silk-modified biomaterials are a promising choice for tissue engineering due to their versatility, biocompatibility, and many processing methods. This study investigated the physicochemical and biological properties of biocomposites formed by combining caddisfly silk (<i>Hydropsyche angustipennis</i>) and polycaprolactone (PCL). The PCL foams modified with caddisfly silk demonstrated full cytocompatibility and enhanced fibroblast adhesion and proliferation compared to unmodified PCL. These silk-modified PCL foams also induced NF-κB signaling, which is crucial for initiating tissue regeneration. Notably, the antimicrobial properties of the silk-modified PCL foams remained consistent with those of unmodified PCL, suggesting that the addition of silk did not alter this aspect of performance. The findings suggest that caddisfly silk-modified PCL foams present a promising solution for future medical and dental applications, emphasizing the potential of alternative silk sources in tissue engineering.</p>","PeriodicalId":15767,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Biomaterials","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12194660/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144484621","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}