l-Arginine intercedes bio-crosslinking of a collagen–chitosan 3D-hybrid scaffold for tissue engineering and regeneration: in silico, in vitro, and in vivo studies

AbstractSkeletal muscle is capable of regeneration following minor damage, more significant volumetric muscle loss (VML) however results in permanent functional impairment. Current multimodal treatment methodologies yield variable functional recovery, with reconstructive surgical approaches restricted by limited donor tissue and significant donor morbidity. Tissue-engineered skeletal muscle constructs promise the potential to revolutionise the treatment of VML through the regeneration of functional skeletal muscle. Herein, we review the current status of tissue engineering approaches to VML; firstly the design of biocompatible tissue scaffolds, including recent developments with electroconductive materials. Secondly, we review the progenitor cell populations used to seed scaffolds and their relative merits. Thirdly we review in vitro methods of scaffold functional maturation including the use of three-dimensional bioprinting and bioreactors. Finally, we discuss the technical, regulatory and ethical barriers to clinical translation of this technology. Despite significant advances in areas, such as electroactive scaffolds and three-dimensional bioprinting, along with several promising in vivo studies, there remain multiple technical hurdles before translation into clinically impactful therapies can be achieved. Novel strategies for graft vascularisation, and in vitro functional maturation will be of particular importance in order to develop tissue-engineered constructs capable of significant clinical impact.

Download Full-text

Three-Dimensional-Printed Scaffolds for Meniscus Tissue Engineering: Opportunity for the Future in the Orthopaedic World

Journal of Functional Biomaterials ◽

10.3390/jfb12040069 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 69

Author(s):

Angelo V. Vasiliadis ◽

Nikolaos Koukoulias ◽

Konstantinos Katakalos

Keyword(s):

Tissue Engineering ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Cell Based Therapy ◽

Meniscus Tissue ◽

The Future ◽

Healthy Knee ◽

3D Printed

The meniscus is a critical component of a healthy knee joint. It is a complex and vital fibrocartilaginous tissue that maintains appropriate biomechanics. Injuries of the meniscus, particularly in the inner region, rarely heal and usually progress into structural breakdown, followed by meniscus deterioration and initiation of osteoarthritis. Conventional therapies range from conservative treatment, to partial meniscectomy and even meniscus transplantation. All the above have high long-term failure rates, with recurrence of symptoms. This communication presents a brief account of in vitro and in vivo studies and describes recent developments in the field of 3D-printed scaffolds for meniscus tissue engineering. Current research in meniscal tissue engineering tries to combine polymeric biomaterials, cell-based therapy, growth factors, and 3D-printed scaffolds to promote the healing of meniscal defects. Today, 3D-printing technology represents a big opportunity in the orthopaedic world to create more specific implants, enabling the rapid production of meniscal scaffolds and changing the way that orthopaedic surgeons plan procedures. In the future, 3D-printed meniscal scaffolds are likely to be available and will also be suitable substitutes in clinical applications, in an attempt to imitate the complexity of the native meniscus.

Download Full-text

Recent In Vitro and In Silico Advances in the Understanding of Intranasal Drug Delivery

Current Pharmaceutical Design ◽

10.2174/1381612826666201112143230 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 ◽

Author(s):

John Chen ◽

Andrew Martin ◽

Warren H. Finlay

Keyword(s):

Drug Delivery ◽

In Silico ◽

Local Drug Delivery ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Intranasal Drug Delivery ◽

Nasal Sprays ◽

In Silico Studies ◽

Drug Delivery Devices

Background: Many drugs are delivered intranasally for local or systemic effect, typically in the form of droplets or aerosols. Because of the high cost of in vivo studies, drug developers and researchers often turn to in vitro or in silico testing when first evaluating the behavior and properties of intranasal drug delivery devices and formulations. Recent advances in manufacturing and computer technologies have allowed for increasingly realistic and sophisticated in vitro and in silico reconstructions of the human nasal airways. Objective: To perform a summary of advances in understanding of intranasal drug delivery based on recent in vitro and in silico studies. Conclusion: The turbinates are a common target for local drug delivery applications, and while nasal sprays are able to reach this region, there is currently no broad consensus across the in vitro and in silico literature concerning optimal parameters for device design, formulation properties and patient technique which would maximize turbinate deposition. Nebulizers are able to more easily target the turbinates, but come with the disadvantage of significant lung deposition. Targeting of the olfactory region of the nasal cavity has been explored for potential treatment of central nervous system conditions. Conventional intranasal devices, such as nasal sprays and nebulizers, deliver very little dose to the olfactory region. Recent progress in our understanding of intranasal delivery will be useful in the development of the next generation of intranasal drug delivery devices.

Download Full-text

In-silico Studies of Isolated Phytoalkaloid Against Lipoxygenase: Study Based on Possible Correlation

Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening ◽

10.2174/1386207321666180220125406 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 21 (3) ◽

pp. 215-221

Author(s):

Haroon Khan ◽

Muhammad Zafar ◽

Helena Den-Haan ◽

Horacio Perez-Sanchez ◽

Mohammad Amjad Kamal

Keyword(s):

In Silico ◽

Docking Studies ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

In Vitro Assays ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Lipoxygenase Inhibitors ◽

Lipoxygenase Inhibition ◽

In Silico Studies

Aim and Objective: Lipoxygenase (LOX) enzymes play an important role in the pathophysiology of several inflammatory and allergic diseases including bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, allergic conjunctivitis, rheumatoid arthritis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Inhibitors of the LOX are believed to be an ideal approach in the treatment of diseases caused by its over-expression. In this regard, several synthetic and natural agents are under investigation worldwide. Alkaloids are the most thoroughly investigated class of natural compounds with outstanding past in clinically useful drugs. In this article, we have discussed various alkaloids of plant origin that have already shown lipoxygenase inhibition in-vitro with possible correlation in in silico studies. Materials and Methods: Molecular docking studies were performed using MOE (Molecular Operating Environment) software. Among the ten reported LOX alkaloids inhibitors, derived from plant, compounds 4, 2, 3 and 1 showed excellent docking scores and receptor sensitivity. Result and Conclusion: These compounds already exhibited in vitro lipoxygenase inhibition and the MOE results strongly correlated with the experimental results. On the basis of these in vitro assays and computer aided results, we suggest that these compounds need further detail in vivo studies and clinical trial for the discovery of new more effective and safe lipoxygenase inhibitors. In conclusion, these results might be useful in the design of new and potential lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitors.

Download Full-text

Predicting Absorption-Distribution Properties of Neuroprotective Phosphine-Borane Compounds Using In Silico Modeling and Machine Learning

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26092505 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (9) ◽

pp. 2505

Author(s):

Raheem Remtulla ◽

Sanjoy Kumar Das ◽

Leonard A. Levin

Keyword(s):

Machine Learning ◽

Neural Networks ◽

In Silico ◽

Disulfide Bonds ◽

Oral Absorption ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Drug Candidates ◽

In Silico Methods

Phosphine-borane complexes are novel chemical entities with preclinical efficacy in neuronal and ophthalmic disease models. In vitro and in vivo studies showed that the metabolites of these compounds are capable of cleaving disulfide bonds implicated in the downstream effects of axonal injury. A difficulty in using standard in silico methods for studying these drugs is that most computational tools are not designed for borane-containing compounds. Using in silico and machine learning methodologies, the absorption-distribution properties of these unique compounds were assessed. Features examined with in silico methods included cellular permeability, octanol-water partition coefficient, blood-brain barrier permeability, oral absorption and serum protein binding. The resultant neural networks demonstrated an appropriate level of accuracy and were comparable to existing in silico methodologies. Specifically, they were able to reliably predict pharmacokinetic features of known boron-containing compounds. These methods predicted that phosphine-borane compounds and their metabolites meet the necessary pharmacokinetic features for orally active drug candidates. This study showed that the combination of standard in silico predictive and machine learning models with neural networks is effective in predicting pharmacokinetic features of novel boron-containing compounds as neuroprotective drugs.

Download Full-text

Three-Dimensional Zirconia-Based Scaffolds for Load-Bearing Bone-Regeneration Applications: Prospects and Challenges

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma14123207 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (12) ◽

pp. 3207

Author(s):

Kumaresan Sakthiabirami ◽

Vaiyapuri Soundharrajan ◽

Jin-Ho Kang ◽

Yunzhi Peter Yang ◽

Sang-Won Park

Keyword(s):

Bone Regeneration ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

High Mechanical Strength ◽

Real World Applications ◽

3D Fabrication ◽

Dental Applications

The design of zirconia-based scaffolds using conventional techniques for bone-regeneration applications has been studied extensively. Similar to dental applications, the use of three-dimensional (3D) zirconia-based ceramics for bone tissue engineering (BTE) has recently attracted considerable attention because of their high mechanical strength and biocompatibility. However, techniques to fabricate zirconia-based scaffolds for bone regeneration are in a stage of infancy. Hence, the biological activities of zirconia-based ceramics for bone-regeneration applications have not been fully investigated, in contrast to the well-established calcium phosphate-based ceramics for bone-regeneration applications. This paper outlines recent research developments and challenges concerning numerous three-dimensional (3D) zirconia-based scaffolds and reviews the associated fundamental fabrication techniques, key 3D fabrication developments and practical encounters to identify the optimal 3D fabrication technique for obtaining 3D zirconia-based scaffolds suitable for real-world applications. This review mainly summarized the articles that focused on in vitro and in vivo studies along with the fundamental mechanical characterizations on the 3D zirconia-based scaffolds.

Download Full-text

In silico identification of viper phospholipaseA2 inhibitors: validation by in vitro, in vivo studies

Journal of Molecular Modeling ◽

10.1007/s00894-011-0994-7 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 17 (12) ◽

pp. 3063-3073 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Amit Nargotra ◽

Sujata Sharma ◽

Mohd Iqbal Alam ◽

Zabeer Ahmed ◽

Asha Bhagat ◽

...

Keyword(s):

In Silico ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

In Silico Identification

Download Full-text

TRENDS AND CHALLENGES OF CARTILAGE TISSUE ENGINEERING

Biomedical Engineering Applications Basis and Communications ◽

10.4015/s1016237209001209 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 21 (03) ◽

pp. 149-155 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Hsu-Wei Fang

Keyword(s):

Tissue Engineering ◽

Stem Cells ◽

Growth Factors ◽

Bone Cells ◽

Cartilage Tissue Engineering ◽

Bioactive Molecules ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Cartilage Tissue

Cartilage injuries may be caused by trauma, biomechanical imbalance, or degenerative changes of joint. Unfortunately, cartilage has limited capability to spontaneous repair once damaged and may lead to progressive damage and degeneration. Cartilage tissue-engineering techniques have emerged as the potential clinical strategies. An ideal tissue-engineering approach to cartilage repair should offer good integration into both the host cartilage and the subchondral bone. Cells, scaffolds, and growth factors make up the tissue engineering triad. One of the major challenges for cartilage tissue engineering is cell source and cell numbers. Due to the limitations of proliferation for mature chondrocytes, current studies have alternated to use stem cells as a potential source. In the recent years, a lot of novel biomaterials has been continuously developed and investigated in various in vitro and in vivo studies for cartilage tissue engineering. Moreover, stimulatory factors such as bioactive molecules have been explored to induce or enhance cartilage formation. Growth factors and other additives could be added into culture media in vitro, transferred into cells, or incorporated into scaffolds for in vivo delivery to promote cellular differentiation and tissue regeneration.Based on the current development of cartilage tissue engineering, there exist challenges to overcome. How to manipulate the interactions between cells, scaffold, and signals to achieve the moderation of implanted composite differentiate into moderate stem cells to differentiate into hyaline cartilage to perform the optimum physiological and biomechanical functions without negative side effects remains the target to pursue.

Download Full-text

Tissue Engineering of Muscles and Cartilages Using Polyelectrolyte Hydrogels

Advances in Materials Science and Engineering ◽

10.1155/2014/154071 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Hyuck Joon Kwon

Keyword(s):

Tissue Engineering ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Current Status ◽

Polyelectrolyte Gel ◽

Polyelectrolyte Gels ◽

Joint Surfaces ◽

Functional Replacement ◽

And Cartilage

The prevalent nature of osteoarthritis that causes the erosion of joint surfaces and loss of mobility and muscle dystrophy that weakens the musculoskeletal system and hampers locomotion underlies the importance of developing functional replacement or regeneration of muscle and cartilage tissues. Polyelectrolyte gels have high potential as cellular scaffolds due to characteristic properties similar to biological matrixes. A number of in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that polyelectrolyte gels are useful for replacement and regeneration of muscle and cartilage tissues. In addition, it was also found that polyelectrolyte gels have high biocompatibility, durability, and resistance to biodegradation. Moreover, polyelectrolyte gels can overcome their drawbacks of mechanical behavior by introducing double network into the gel. This paper reviews the current status and recent progress of polyelectrolyte gel-based tissue engineering for repairs of muscle and cartilage tissues.

Download Full-text