Collagen-based materials in reproductive medicine and engineered reproductive tissues

Collagen, the main component of mammal skin, has been traditionally used in leather manufacturing for thousands of years due to its diverse physicochemical properties. Collagen is the most abundant protein in mammals and the main component of the extracellular matrix (ECM). The properties of collagen also make it an ideal building block for the engineering of materials for a range of biomedical applications. Reproductive medicine, especially human fertility preservation strategies and reproductive organ regeneration, has attracted significant attention in recent years as it is key in resolving the growing social concern over aging populations worldwide. Collagen-based biomaterials such as collagen hydrogels, decellularized ECM (dECM), and bioengineering techniques including collagen-based 3D bioprinting have facilitated the engineering of reproductive tissues. This review summarizes the recent progress in applying collagen-based biomaterials in reproductive. Furthermore, we discuss the prospects of collagen-based materials for engineering artificial reproductive tissues, hormone replacement therapy, and reproductive organ reconstruction, aiming to inspire new thoughts and advancements in engineered reproductive tissues research. Graphical abstract

Tissue Engineering and Regeneration of the Human Hair Follicle in Androgenetic Alopecia: Literature Review

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is an androgen-dependent process and represents the most frequent non-scarring alopecia. Treatments for AGA do not always achieve a satisfactory result for the patient, and sometimes cause side effects that lead to discontinuation of treatment. AGA therapeutics currently includes topical and oral drugs, as well as follicular unit micro-transplantation techniques. Tissue engineering (TE) is postulated as one of the possible future solutions to the problem and aims to develop fully functional hair follicles that maintain their cyclic rhythm in a physiological manner. However, despite its great potential, reconstitution of fully functional hair follicles is still a challenge to overcome and the knowledge gained of the key processes in hair follicle morphogenesis and biology has not yet been translated into effective replacement therapies in clinical practice. To achieve this, it is necessary to research and develop new approaches, techniques and biomaterials. In this review, present and emerging hair follicle bioengineering strategies are evaluated. The current problems of these bioengineering techniques are discussed, as well as the advantages and disadvantages, and the future prospects for the field of TE and successful hair follicle regeneration.

Improvement of the Plantation Success in a Crib Wall in a Mediterranean Hydro-Meteorological Risks Scenario—Practical Results

Due to the clime change scenario, severe hydro-meteorological phenomena are having a high impact on the ecosystems of the earth. Some strategies based on the use of natural communities associated with geomorphological changes that restore the natural landscape are gaining success due the resistance and resilience against damages. All of these strategies are known as nature-based solutions (NBS). Soil and water bioengineering techniques are one of the most appreciated tools to reach effectiveness for slope stabilization. They are based on the capacity of some plants to consolidate the soil with his rooting system in special conditions (high slope, flooding impact). Slope stabilization solutions with soil and water bioengineering techniques need to be adapted to this new scenario. Crib wall is one of the most complete soil and water bioengineering technique for structural slope stabilization. It is based on a wooden box full of live plants that in the future will grow and gain stability at the same time that wood decays. The crib wall box is full of soil, and the front area is traditionally stabilized with some branches of fascines to let plants grow, maintaining the structure. Fascines are made of branches of riparian species with the capacity for vegetative propagation. Their diameter can change due to the humidity variation, so the stiffness of the system is at risk against severe hydro-meteorological phenomena. This study aims to assess that the introduction of HDCL in crib walls improves planting success and makes them more resistant to adverse weather events in Mediterranean areas. Four experiments were performed in controlled and natural conditions with this proposal. The results show that the use of natural fibers instead of branch fascine helps to maintain the humidity conditions and increase the resistance capacity. High-density coir logs (HDCL) are not affected by volume changes for humidity conditions. HDCL maintains the plant’s humidity conditions longer and makes plants grow faster, bigger and increase their survival. This method of Crib wall construction increases the associated biodiversity. The most important results are that the use of HDCL in crib walls has an effect on the growth of planted shrub, the development of roots, the colonization of native vegetation and ultimately, the resistance of the structure to the floods. The results also show that crib walls are a good technique for the stabilization of slopes with considerable gradients and high hydraulic impacts. HDCL can reduce the water stress of plantations, and they can be a good system to retain runoff and provide it to the plants. Finally, the HDCL allows the revegetation of a crib wall 30% faster than with branch fascine.

Cell Transplantation Therapies to Reverse Type 1 Diabetes: A review

Stem cell technology is demonstrating promising advancements in cure of diseases due its differentiation ability. Type 1 diabetes is mainly caused by autoimmune ? cells destruction. In this review, we focus on treatment procedures of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) with numerous stem cells (SCs) i.e hPSCs, MSCs, hESCs, BMSCs, AFSCs, HSCs and islet cells (that are not stem cells but they are approved worldwide and are being successfully used to permanently reverse T1D). A brief overview of this disease along with the advancements in treatment of T1D with stem cells is discussed. Biomaterial encapsulation to avoid immune rejection and improved immunomodulation and immune tolerance via drugs /bioengineering techniques makes the outcomes of SC therapies more efficient and productive, hence, proving to be another future milestone of completely reversing type 1 diabetes especially in those patients who got clinically diagnosed at an early stage and then received prompt treatment of either restoration of already available ? cells functionality or transplantation of purified and functional SCs differentiated insulin producing cells to normalize the glycemic control and homeostasis. Keywords: Type 1 Diabetes, ?-cells, Stem cells, Biomaterial

Application of Ovarian Cancer Organoids in Precision Medicine: Key Challenges and Current Opportunities

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the leading cause of death among gynecologic malignances. Over the past decades, human-derived models have advanced from monolayer cell cultures to three-dimensional (3D) organoids that could faithfully recapitulate biological characteristics and tumor heterogeneity of primary tissues. As a complement of previous studies based on cell lines or xenografts, organoids provide a 3D platform for mutation–carcinogenesis modeling, high-throughput drug screening, genetic engineering, and biobanking, which might fulfill the gap between basic research and clinical practice. Stepwise, cutting-edge bioengineering techniques of organoid-on-a-chip and 3D bioprinting might converge current challenges and contribute to personalized therapy. We comprehensively reviewed the advantages, challenges, and translational potential of OC organoids. Undeniably, organoids represent an excellent near-physiological platform for OC, paving the way for precision medicine implementation. Future efforts will doubtlessly bring this innovative technique from bench to bedside.

Soil bioengineering in northeastern Brazil: An Overview

This article presents an overview of the application of soil bioengineering techniques, also modeled as natural engineering, in the state of Sergipe, northeastern Brazil, showing the importance of integrating living and inert elements to protect river banks from erosion. The employed techniques are different, ranging from the characterization of susceptibility to erosion to the use of biotechniques, considering knowledge in the areas of agronomic engineering, forestry engineering, civil engineering, biology, pedology, geology, geomorphology and geotechnics. It is an approach that uses techniques and methodologies in a multidisciplinary way, seeking to maximize synergies (for example, natural engineering techniques to combine inert materials in ways that help plants to develop increasingly efficient systems). This approach also considers maintenance-cost optimization in the conduction of the works, using different materials, differing from traditional engineering, which uses predominantly inert materials. The research work carried out in different locations sought the availability of local materials such as rocks, geotextiles made from fibers from the native flora or even available on the market, in addition to the use of native species to recovery of the banks or slopes, according to the ecological conditions of the northeastern Brazil. Size and technological and ecological reach were also considered, in addition to different biotechnical aesthetic objectives adapted to different situations.

Sediment input from the São Francisco River bank, Northeast Brazil, under low discharge period

The objective of this study was to evaluate the input of suspended sediment from the slope toe in the São Francisco River channel, in Northeast Brazil, under different soil bioengineering techniques. Sediments were collected in the years of 2013, 2014 and 2015, in five transects crossing the river channel. Sediment input in the sampling points was higher in the year of 2013, i.e., the year of the highest river discharge. Sediment supply to the river channel for a period of 3 years (2013, 2014 and 2015), was evaluated at 20, 40 and 60% depth, along five different transects (P1= riverbank, P2= beginning of the thalweg, P3= middle of the thalweg, P4= end of the thalweg, and P5 = margin of the side sandybar), oriented by the presence or absence of erosion control techniques (treatments) such as: 1-Natural Vegetated Slope; 2-Vegetated Riprap; 3-Eroded Slope; 4-Live Cribwall and 5-Vetiver grass Contour Line. Sediments input was different in all evaluated transects, and the one identified as Eroded Slope at 20% depth presented the lowest amount of suspended sediment load. There was a decrease in the total amount of suspended sediment in the evaluated periods, probably due to the progressive decrease in the river discharge, and the protection provided by the soil bioengineering techniques.

Membrane Disruption Properties of Essential Oils—A Double-Edged Sword?

The emerging literature has suggested essential oils (EOs) as new possible weapons to fight antimicrobial resistance due to their inherent antimicrobial properties. However, the potential pharmaceutical use of EOs is confronted by several limitations, including being non-specific in terms of drug targeting, possessing a high cytotoxicity as well as posing a high risk for causing skin irritation. Furthermore, some EOs have been demonstrated to adversely affect the cellular lipid profiles and permeability of the cell membrane, which may result in undesirable outcomes for the cells. Nevertheless, owing to their naturally complex compositions, EOs still hold undiscovered potential to mitigate antimicrobial resistance, as an alternative to existing antibiotics. To address the issue of overuse in antibiotics for crops which have led to the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance globally, EOs have also been proposed as potential biopesticides. Since the perceived advantages of antimicrobial attributes in EOs remain largely unexplored, this review aims to provide a discourse into its current practical usefulness in the agricultural setting. Finally, updated bioengineering techniques with emphasis of the biopesticide potential of EOs as a means to alleviate antimicrobial resistance will be included.

Effect of Parameters on the Runoff Erosion Control Performance of Structurally Modified Jute and Coir Geomeshes over Loamy Sand

Soil erosion is a serious environmental problem that can be controlled using bioengineering techniques. In using a bioengineering technique, temporary reinforcement is performed with geomeshes until vegetation takes root. In this study, structurally modified jute and coir geomeshes were tested for runoff erosion control and runoff volume over loamy sand at different slope angles. The laboratory results revealed that all parameters (slope angle, type of weave and type of material) had a significant effect on the erosion control performance of geomeshes. The slope angle contributed most (52.34%) to runoff erosion control, followed by weave type (25.79%) and type of material (12.28%). At lower and medium slope angles (of 15o and 30o, respectively) the twill-woven structure of coir geomeshes provided better erosion control than plain- and satin-woven structures, while plain-woven jute geomeshes demonstrated better erosion control at all slope angles. To understand the overall impact, a germination test was also conducted. According to the germination test results, the twill weave of jute geomeshes provided the highest rooting length. In general, plain-woven jute geomeshes are preferred for better erosion control on a high slope angle, while plain and twill can be used on a low slope angle.