Simone Adorinni, Marina Kurbasic, Ana M. Garcia, Slavko Kralj, Ottavia Bellotto, Erica Scarel, Paolo Pengo, Rita De Zorzi, Michele Melchionna, Attilivio V. Vargiu and Silvia Marchesan
{"title":"A water playground for peptide re-assembly from fibrils to plates†","authors":"Simone Adorinni, Marina Kurbasic, Ana M. Garcia, Slavko Kralj, Ottavia Bellotto, Erica Scarel, Paolo Pengo, Rita De Zorzi, Michele Melchionna, Attilivio V. Vargiu and Silvia Marchesan","doi":"10.1039/D4TB01727G","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D4TB01727G","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Short-peptide amyloid assembly and disassembly play crucial roles in various research fields, which range from addressing pathologies that lack therapeutic solutions to the development of innovative soft (bio)materials. Hydrogels from short peptides typically show thermo-reversible gel-to-sol transition, whereby fibrils disassemble upon heating, and re-assemble upon cooling down to room temperature (rt). Despite ongoing intense research studies in this area, the majority focus on peptide–peptide interaction and neglect the structuring role of water in peptide supramolecular behavior. This study describes an unprotected tetrapeptide gelator that forms highly stable fibrils which, upon heating, re-organize into plates that persist upon cooling to rt. All-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and experimental methods reveal water as a key player in the thermodynamics that accompany this irreversible morphological transition, and advance our understanding of supramolecular structures.</p>","PeriodicalId":83,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Chemistry B","volume":" 48","pages":" 12589-12596"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/tb/d4tb01727g?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142604546","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}
Eugenia Crisafulli, Annachiara Scalzone, Chiara Tonda-Turo, Joel Girón-Hernández and Piergiorgio Gentile
{"title":"Multimodal layer-by-layer nanoparticles: a breakthrough in gene and drug delivery for osteosarcoma†","authors":"Eugenia Crisafulli, Annachiara Scalzone, Chiara Tonda-Turo, Joel Girón-Hernández and Piergiorgio Gentile","doi":"10.1039/D4TB01541J","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D4TB01541J","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Osteosarcoma is one of the most common primary malignant bone tumours in children and adolescents, frequently arising from mesenchymal tissue in the distal femur. It is highly aggressive, often metastasising to the lungs. Current treatments, which include surgery combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy, are often unsatisfactory due to the inability of surgery to control metastasis and the side effects and drug resistance associated with chemotherapy. Thus, there is an urgent need for new treatment technologies. This study explored the use of nanoparticles for gene and drug delivery in osteosarcoma treatment. The nanoparticles were composed of biodegradable and biocompatible polymers, chitosan and PLGA, and were loaded with miRNA-34a, a short RNA molecule that functions as a tumour suppressor by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells. Recognising that the co-delivery of multiple drugs can enhance treatment efficacy while reducing systemic toxicity and drug resistance, three additional classes of nanoparticles were developed by adding doxorubicin and resveratrol to the chitosan-PLGA-miRNA-34a core. A layer-by-layer technique was employed to create a bilayer nanocoating using pectin and chitosan as polyelectrolytes, for encapsulating the therapeutic payloads. The manufactured nanoparticles were tested on U2OS and Saos-2 cells to assess cell viability, metabolic activity, and morphology before and after treatment. Cells were treated in both two-dimensional cultures and three-dimensional osteosarcoma spheroids, creating a biomimetic cellular model. Increased apoptotic activity and disruption of cellular functions were primarily observed with nanoparticles co-delivering miRNA-34a and drugs, particularly those functionalised with the LbL nanocoating, as confirmed by PCR analysis.</p>","PeriodicalId":83,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Chemistry B","volume":" 48","pages":" 12540-12552"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/tb/d4tb01541j?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142585367","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}
Krzysztof Berniak, Ahmadreza Moradi, Agata Lichawska-Cieslar, Weronika Szukala, Jolanta Jura and Urszula Stachewicz
{"title":"Controlled therapeutic cholesterol delivery to cells for the proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes†","authors":"Krzysztof Berniak, Ahmadreza Moradi, Agata Lichawska-Cieslar, Weronika Szukala, Jolanta Jura and Urszula Stachewicz","doi":"10.1039/D4TB01015A","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D4TB01015A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The challenge of enhancing wound healing and skin regeneration, particularly in conditions like burns and diabetic wounds, necessitates innovative solutions. Cholesterol, often associated with cardiovascular diseases, plays vital roles in cellular functions, maintaining skin integrity and preserving the skin barrier. Here, we explore cholesterol's significance, its influence on keratinocytes, and its potential application in skin regeneration. The study utilizes electrospun polyimide (PI) fibers as a cholesterol carrier model and investigates its impact on HaCaT keratinocytes, marking the first time tracked cholesterol delivery from the scaffold into cells. We demonstrate that an optimal concentration of 0.7 mM cholesterol in the medium enhances cell proliferation, while higher concentrations have negative effects. Cholesterol-enriched scaffolds significantly increase cell proliferation and replicative activity, especially in a 3D culture environment. Moreover, cholesterol influences keratinocyte differentiation, promoting early differentiation while inhibiting late differentiation. These findings suggest that cholesterol-loaded scaffolds can have applications in wound healing by promoting cell growth, regulating differentiation, and potentially accelerating wound closure. Further research in this area will lead to innovative wound management and tissue regeneration strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":83,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Chemistry B","volume":" 43","pages":" 11110-11122"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11515930/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142523973","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":"Nanomaterial-mediated photothermal therapy modulates tumor-associated macrophages: applications in cancer therapy","authors":"Yan Li, Yuhao Si and Heng Yin","doi":"10.1039/D4TB01928H","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D4TB01928H","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Complex pathogenesis and diverse clinical features pose many challenges in selecting appropriate cancer treatment strategies. Recent studies have shown that tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play dual roles in both promoting and inhibiting tumor growth. TAMs not only contribute to tumor survival and metastasis but also impact the response to therapy. Nanomaterial-based photothermal therapy (PTT) strategies have been widely used as ablative therapies for various cancers. Many studies have demonstrated that nanomaterial-mediated PTT effectively shifts TAMs towards an anticancer phenotype, thus inducing tumor apoptosis. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the tumor immune microenvironment will undoubtedly accelerate advancements in tumor therapy. This paper summarizes the application of nanomaterial-mediated PTT for cancer treatment by modulating TAMs. It highlights the types of nanomaterials and near-infrared laser modes used in the treatment process, analyzes the physicochemical factors that influence the distribution of different isoforms in TAMs, and finally explores the specific therapeutic parameters and mechanisms of nanomaterial-mediated PTT to guide future research in related fields.</p>","PeriodicalId":83,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Chemistry B","volume":" 46","pages":" 11867-11886"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142583400","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yungang Feng, Fangrui Xie, Rui Ding, Qingrong Zhang, Youzhi Zeng, Li Li, Lianbin Wu, Yunlong Yu and Linxuan Fang
{"title":"One-pot rapid preparation of long-term antioxidant and antibacterial biomedical gels based on lipoic acid and eugenol for accelerating cutaneous wound healing†","authors":"Yungang Feng, Fangrui Xie, Rui Ding, Qingrong Zhang, Youzhi Zeng, Li Li, Lianbin Wu, Yunlong Yu and Linxuan Fang","doi":"10.1039/D4TB01844C","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D4TB01844C","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The complex battlefield environment often puts great pressure on the treatment of open wounds caused by burns and trauma, which cannot heal for a long time due to the lack of medical resources. Once wounds are not sutured and severely infected, they can lead to infective endocarditis, sepsis, and even death. Therefore, it is urgent to develop advanced dressings to replace sutures and antibiotics, which can quickly seal wounds and maintain long-term stability of antibacterial and antioxidant properties. In this study, novel biobased antibacterial adhesive gels composed of natural small molecule lipoic acid and eugenol were prepared <em>via</em> a one-pot solvent-free reaction for wound management. The gels were crosslinked <em>via</em> the ring-opening polymerization of lipoic acid and hydrogen bond interaction. Due to its structure feature, the PLA-E1 gel displayed excellent flexibility, transparency, self-healing and adhesiveness. The gel system showed long-term high antioxidant activity (95%) after exposure to air at room temperature for one year. Meanwhile, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging efficacy was kept around 52%. Both trauma and burn <em>in vivo</em> experiments demonstrated that the PLA-E1 gel could accelerate wound healing through antibacterial, antioxidant, angiogenic and tissue regenerative effects, indicating the potential applications of cutaneous wound healing on the battlefield.</p>","PeriodicalId":83,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Chemistry B","volume":" 48","pages":" 12641-12651"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142583758","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dipankar Sahoo, Mihai Peterca, Mohammad R. Imam, Devendra S. Maurya and Virgil Percec
{"title":"Porous helical supramolecular columns self-organized via the fluorophobic effect of a semifluorinated tapered dendron","authors":"Dipankar Sahoo, Mihai Peterca, Mohammad R. Imam, Devendra S. Maurya and Virgil Percec","doi":"10.1039/D4TB01951B","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D4TB01951B","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The self-organizable dendron <strong>(4-3,4-3,5)12G2X</strong> with <strong>X = –CO<small><sub>2</sub></small>CH<small><sub>3</sub></small></strong> and <strong>–CH<small><sub>2</sub></small>OH</strong>, an already classic dendron, facilitating the formation of a large diversity of columnar hexagonal phases including crystalline, with intracolumnar order, and liquid crystalline, and providing access for the first time to mimics of the transmembrane protein water channel Aquaporin was semifluorinated at eight of the sp<small><sup>3</sup></small> hybridized carbons of its alkyl groups to provide <strong>(4-3,4-3,5)4F8G2X</strong>. The self-organization of <strong>(4-3,4-3,5)4F8G2X</strong> was analyzed by a combination of oriented fiber intermediate angle X-ray scattering, wide angle X-ray scattering, electron density maps, and reconstructed X-ray diffractograms by emplying molecular models. These experiments demonstrated that fluorophobic effect of <strong>(4-3,4-3,5)4F8G2X</strong> mediated mostly <em>via</em> the helical confiormation of the fluorinated fragments sharper miocrosegregation of the fluorinated fragments in the most ordered states of the resulting 12<small><sub>4</sub></small> helical porous columns. These results support the original model of self-organization of dendrons and provide access to new and simpler synthetic avenues for the construction of mimics of aquaporin channels which are of great interest for cell biology and for the next generation of membranes for water separation and water purification.</p>","PeriodicalId":83,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Chemistry B","volume":" 47","pages":" 12265-12281"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/tb/d4tb01951b?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142549782","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}
Zhonglian Wu, Jian Yang, Hui Chong, Xiaomei Dai, Haidi Sun, Junli Shi, Meijuan Yuan, Dianwei Liu, Mengbo Dang, Hang Yao and Wenyong Fei
{"title":"3D-printed biomimetic scaffolds loaded with ADSCs and BMP-2 for enhanced rotator cuff repair†","authors":"Zhonglian Wu, Jian Yang, Hui Chong, Xiaomei Dai, Haidi Sun, Junli Shi, Meijuan Yuan, Dianwei Liu, Mengbo Dang, Hang Yao and Wenyong Fei","doi":"10.1039/D4TB01073F","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D4TB01073F","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Rotator cuff tear repair poses significant challenges due to the complex gradient interface structure. In the face of disease-related disruptions in the tendon–bone interface (TBI), the strategy of constructing a biomimetic scaffold is a promising avenue. A novel 3D-printed rotator cuff scaffold loaded adipose stem cells (ADSCs), bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), and collagen type I (COL I). The efficiency of the slow-release BMP-2 design depended on the dopamine-hyaluronic acid (HAD) and BMP-2 reaction. The cumulative release of BMP-2 was 44.97 ± 5.45% at 4 weeks. The 3D-printed bilayer scaffold, incorporating COL I and BMP-2, effectively promoted the differentiation of ADSCs into osteogenic, tenogenic, and chondrogenic lineages <em>in vitro</em>. The combination of 3D-printed bioactive scaffolds and ADSCs demonstrated a superior repair effect on rotator cuff injuries <em>in vivo</em>. Therefore, these findings indicates that the 3D-printed biomimetic scaffold loaded with ADSCs and BMP-2 holds potential as a promising graft for TBI healing.</p>","PeriodicalId":83,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Chemistry B","volume":" 47","pages":" 12365-12377"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142559786","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shikha Gulati, Nabeela Ansari, Yamini Moriya, Kumud Joshi, Disha Prasad, Gargi Sajwan, Shefali Shukla, Sanjay Kumar and Rajender S. Varma
{"title":"Nanobiopolymers in cancer therapeutics: advancing targeted drug delivery through sustainable and controlled release mechanisms","authors":"Shikha Gulati, Nabeela Ansari, Yamini Moriya, Kumud Joshi, Disha Prasad, Gargi Sajwan, Shefali Shukla, Sanjay Kumar and Rajender S. Varma","doi":"10.1039/D4TB00599F","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D4TB00599F","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Nanobiopolymers have emerged as a transformative frontier in cancer treatment, leveraging nanotechnology to transform drug delivery. This review provides a comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted landscape of nano-based biopolymers, emphasizing their diverse sources, synthesis methods, and classifications. Natural, synthetic, and microbial nanobiopolymers are scrutinized, along with elucidation of their underlying mechanisms and impact on cancer drug delivery; the latest findings on their deployment as targeted drug delivery agents for cancer treatment are discussed. A detailed analysis of nanobiopolymer sources, including polysaccharides, peptides, and nucleic acids, highlights critical attributes like biodegradability, renewability, and sustainability essential for therapeutic applications. The classification of nanobiopolymers based on their origin and differentiation among natural, synthetic, and microbial sources are thoroughly examined for inherent advantages, challenges, and suitability for cancer therapeutics. The importance of targeted drug release at tumour sites, crucial for minimizing adverse effects on normal tissues, is discussed, encompassing various mechanisms. The role of polymer membrane coatings as a pivotal barrier for facilitating controlled drug release through diffusion is elucidated, providing further insight into efficient methods for cancer treatment and thus consolidating the current knowledge base for researchers and practitioners in the field of nanobiopolymers and cancer therapeutics.</p>","PeriodicalId":83,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Chemistry B","volume":" 46","pages":" 11887-11915"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142583202","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yu Xin, Cosimo Ligorio, Marie O’brien, Richard Collins, Siyuan Dong, Aline F. Miller, Alberto Saiani and Julie E. Gough
{"title":"Effect of supramolecular peptide hydrogel scaffold charge on HepG2 viability and spheroid formation†","authors":"Yu Xin, Cosimo Ligorio, Marie O’brien, Richard Collins, Siyuan Dong, Aline F. Miller, Alberto Saiani and Julie E. Gough","doi":"10.1039/D4TB01701C","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D4TB01701C","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Supramolecular bioinspired self-assembling peptide hydrogel (SAPH) scaffolds represent a class of fully defined synthetic materials whose chemical and mechanical properties can be finely engineered. In this study, the relationship between SAPHs physicochemical properties and HepG2 cells viability, spheroid formation and function are discussed. We first report that negatively charged SAPHs promote hepatocyte proliferation and spheroids formation <em>in vitro</em> 3D culture while positively charged SAPHs lead to hepatocyte death irrespective of the hydrogel mechanical properties. More specifically HepG2 cultured in 3D in E(FKFE)<small><sub>2</sub></small> negatively charged SAPH maintained a differentiated phenotype and assembled into well-defined spheroids with strong cell–cell interactions. Furthermore, HepG2 spheroids responded to acetaminophen exposure with upregulation of key CYP450 enzymes expression clearly showing their potential for drug toxicity testing. These findings demonstrate how fine-tuned functional SAPH scaffolds can be used to identify key scaffolds parameters affecting cells. In this case we demonstrated the potential of negatively charged SAPHs for the 3D culture of HepG2 with potential applications in drug screening.</p>","PeriodicalId":83,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Chemistry B","volume":" 48","pages":" 12553-12566"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2024/tb/d4tb01701c?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142585365","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}