Objective To investigate the ability of gene-loaded lipopolysaccharide-amine nanopolymersomes (LNPs) in inducing osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) by in vitro gene transfection, where LNPs were used as a non-viral cationic carrier, and their properties were optimized during synthesis. Methods LNPs were synthesized by a graft-copolymerization method, and the effects of different pH environments during synthesis on physicochemical properties of LNPs and LNPs/plasmid of bone morphogenetic protein 2-green fluorescent protein (pBMP-2-GFP) complexes were explored. Then, optimized LNPs with maximum transfection efficiency and safe cytotoxicity in rat BMSCs were identified by cytotoxicity and transfection experiments in vitro. Thereafter, the optimized LNPs were used to mediate pBMP-2-GFP to transfect rat BMSCs, and the influences of LNPs/pBMP-2-GFP on osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs were evaluated by monitoring the cell morphology, concentration of BMP-2 protein, activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and the formation of calcium nodules. Results The nitrogen content, particle size, and zeta potential of LNPs synthesized at pH 8.5 were lower than those of the other pH groups, with the lowest cytotoxicity (96.5%±1.4%) and the highest transfection efficiency (98.8%±0.1%). After transfection treatment, within the first 4 days, BMSCs treated by LNPs/pBMP-2-GFP expressed BMP-2 protein significantly higher than that treated by Lipofectamine2000 (Lipo)/pBMP-2-GFP, polyethylenimine 25K/pBMP-2-GFP, and the blank (non-treated). At 14 days after transfection, ALP activity in BMSCs treated by LNPs/pBMP-2-GFP was higher than that treated by Lipo/pBMP-2-GFP and the blank, comparable to that induced by osteogenic medium; with alizarin red staining, visible calcium nodules were found in BMSCs treated by LNPs/pBMP-2-GFP or osteogenic medium, but absent in BMSCs treated by Lipo/pBMP-2-GFP or the blank with apoptosis. At 21 days after transfection, transparent massive nodules were discovered in BMSCs treated by LNPs/pBMP-2-GFP, and BMSCs exhibited the morphologic features of osteoblasts. Conclusion LNPs synthesized at pH 8.5 has optimal transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity, they can efficiently mediate pBMP-2-GFP to transfect BMSCs, and successfully induce their directional osteogenic differentiation, whose inducing effect is comparable to the osteogenic medium. The results suggest that gene transfection mediated by LNPs may be a convenient and effective strategy in inducing directional differentiation of stem cells.
Objective To investigate the physicochemicalproperties of the calcium phosphate cement (CPC) containing Danshen composite injection and its drug release rate. Methods This experiment included 4 groups and each group contained 6 specimens. CPC (2 g) was mixed with the setting solution that served as thecontrol group; 0.1,0.5 and 1.0 ml of Danshen composites injection (concentration, 1 000 mg/ml; pH, 7.35) were respectively added to CPC (2 g), which were used as the experimental groups 1, 2 and 3. The resulting specimens were investigated by the X-ray diffraction (XRD), the fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy(FTIR), and the scanning electron microscope (SEM).ResultsThe XRD analysis showed that the control group had a typical diffraction pattern of the hydroxypatite (HAP), which was consistent with the standard patternof HAP. When more Danshen was added in the experimental groups, the diffractionpeaks of HAP gradually decreased; when the diffraction angle 2θ was about 25.92°, the HAP peaks disappeared. Based on the FTIR analysis, with an increase of the drug concentration, the absorption peak of the hydroxy groups decreased. The SEM showed that the size of the CPC particle was related to the drug concentration; with an increase of the drug concentration, the CPC particle increased in number, resulting in an increasing trend of coacervation. The elution test showed that the drugrelease rate and capacity varied with the different concentrationsof Danshen. The initial release rate was relatively great, but after 96 hours the rate slowed down, lasting for a long time. Conclusion The physicochemical properties of CPC do not change when a proper dose (0.1 ml/2 g) of Danshen isadded to CPC. The Danshen composite can be effectively released from CPC, and so CPCcan be used as an ideal drugdelivery carrier for Danshen composite.
Objective To introduce an injectable andin situ gelling gelatin hydrogel, and to explore the possibility as a carrier for demineralized bone matrix (DBM) powder delivery. Methods First, thiolated gelatin was prepared and the thiol content was determined by Ellman method, and then the injectable andin situ gelling gelatin hydrogel (Gel) was formed by crosslinking of the thiolated gelatin and poly (ethylene oxide) diacrylate and the gelation time was determined by inverted method. Finally, the DBM-Gel composite was prepared by mixing Gel and DBM powder. The cytotoxicity was tested by live/dead staining and Alamar blue assay of the encapsulated cells in the DBM-Gel. Forin vitro cell induction, C2C12 cells were firstly incubated onto the surface of the DBM and then the composite was prepared. The experiment included two groups: DBM-Gel and DBM. The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was determined at 1, 3, 5,and 7 days after culture.In vivo osteoinductivity was evaluated using ectopic bone formation model of nude rats. Histological observation and the ALP activity was measured in DBM-Gel and DBM groups at 4 weeks after implantation. Results The thiol content in the thiolated gelatin was (0.51±0.03) mmol/g determined by Ellman method. The gelation time of the hydrogel was (6±1) minutes. DBM powder can be mixed with the hydrogel and injected into the implantation site within the gelation time. The cells in the DBM-Gel exhibited spreading morphology and connected each other in part with increasing culture time. The viability of the cells was 95.4%±1.9%, 97.3%±1.3%, and 96.1%±1.6% at 1, 3, and 7 days after culture, respectively. The relative proliferation was 1.0±0.0, 1.1±0.1, 1.5±0.1, and 1.6±0.1 at 1, 3, 5, and 7 days after culture respectively.In vitro induction showed that the ALP activity of the DBM-Gel group was similar to that of the DBM group, showing no significant difference (P>0.05). With increasing culture time, the ALP activities in both groups increased gradually and the activity at 5 and 7 days was significantly higher than that at 1 and 3 days (P<0.05), while there was no significant difference between at 1 and 3 days, and between 5 and 7 days (P>0.05). At 4 weeks after implantationin vivo, new bone and cartilage were observed, but no bone marrow formation in DBM-Gel group; in DBM group, new bone, new cartilage, and bone marrow formation were observed. The histological osteoinduction scores of DBM-Gel and DBM groups were 4.0 and 4.5, respectively. The ALP activities of DBM-Gel and DBM groups were respectively (119.4±22.7) and (146.7±13.0) μmol/mg protein/min, showing no significant difference (t=–2.085,P=0.082). Conclusion The injectable andin situ gelling gelatin hydrogel for delivery of DBM is feasible.
Polymeric hydrogels have been widely researched as drug delivery systems, wound dressings and tissue engineering scaffolds due to their unique properties such as good biocompatibility, shaping ability and similar properties to extracellular matrix. However, further development of conventional hydrogels for biomedical applications is still limited by their poor mechanical properties and self-healing properties. Currently, nanocomposite hydrogels with excellent properties and customized functions can be obtained by introducing nanoparticles into their network, and different types of nanoparticles, including carbon-based, polymer-based, inorganic-based and metal-based nanoparticle, are commonly used. Nanocomposite hydrogels incorporated with polymeric micelles can not only enhance the mechanical properties, self-healing properties and chemical properties of hydrogels, but also improve the in vivo stability of micelles. Therefore, micelle-hydrogel nanocomposites have been recently considered as promising biomaterials. In this paper, the structure, properties and methods for preparation of the micelle-hydrogel nanocomposite systems are introduced, and their applications in drug delivery, wound treatment and tissue engineering are reviewed, aiming to provide reference for further development and application of the nanocomposites.
Objective To summarize recent research advancement on gene therapy for hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Methods Relevant references about basic and clinical researches of hepatic IRI were collected and reviewed. Results Recent experimental researches indicated that the expression of several genes and cytokines could protect hepatic cells by suppressing cell apoptosis, decreasing the production of oxyradical, remaining and improving portal venous flow, promoting bilifaction, self immunoloregulation and decreasing inflammatory reaction, so that it could decrease IRI. Conclusion IRI could be decreased by regulating the expressing of target genes or transducing relative genes in vivo, but the path of gene transfer and the selection and optimization of gene carrier still need more basic and clinical researches to prove.
Objective Bioactive borate glass (BG) has good biocompatibil ity and biodegradation. To investigate the feasibilty of bioactive borate glass as a carrier of the antibiotic controlled-releasing by implanting vancomycin-loaded BG (VBG)into the focus of tibia chronic osteomyel itis after debridement. Methods VBG and vancomycin-loaded calcium sulfate (VCS) were prepared with a vancomycin content of 80 mg/g. Sixty-five New Zealand white rabbits, weighing 2.12-3.91 kg (mean, 2.65 kg), were used. The tibia chronic osteomyel itis rabbit models were establ ished by injecting methicill in-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, 0.1 mL, 1 × 109 cfu/mL) into the right tibia of 65 rabbits. After 3 weeks of injection, 54 rabbits of successful models were randomly divided into groups A (n=11), B (n=11), C (n=16), and D (n=16). Simple debridement was performed in group A; BG, VCS, and VBG were implanted into the infection sites of groups B, C, and D respectively after thorough debridement. A sample of the debrided tissues was harvested for bacterial examination. The vancomycin serum levels were determined in groups C and D at 1, 2, 4, 10, 24, and 48 hours after operation. The boron serum levels were determined in groups B and D at 10, 24, 48, 72, and 120 hours after operation. After 8 weeks, the effectiveness was assessed radiographically, bacteriologically, and histopathol ogically. Results Ten rabbits died after operation. No vancomycin was detected in group C; the vancomycin level increased gradually, reached the highest level at 4 hours after operation, and then decreased rapidly in group D. No boron was detected in group B; the boron reached the highest serum level at 10 hours after operation, and then decreased gradually in group D. At 8 weeks, calcium sulfate degraded in group C; BG degraded partially in group D; and no obvious degradation was observedin group B. The repair effect was better in group D than in group C. There was no significant difference in radiograph scoring between groups A, B, C and D (P gt; 0.05) before operation, but there was significant difference between group D and groups A, B, C (P lt; 0.05) at 8 weeks after operation. The bacterial culture showed that all the MRSA results were positive in 4 groups. At 8 weeks, the negative rates of MRSA examination were 36.36%, 18.18%, 73.33%, and 81.25% respectively in groups A, B, C, and D, showing significant differences between group D and groups A, B (P lt; 0.05). The histopathological observation showed that a large number of new bones formed and no foreign body reaction occurred in group D. The histopathologic scores of groups A, B, C, and D were 6.45 ± 3.62, 7.55 ± 3.36, 4.27 ± 2.91, and 3.81 ± 3.04 respectively, showing significant differences between group D and groups A, B, and between group C and group B (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion VBG can improve the repair of bone defect in the treatment of chronic osteomyel itis.
Polymer micelles formed by self-assembly of amphiphilic polymers are widely used in drug delivery, gene delivery and biosensors, due to their special hydrophobic core/hydrophilic shell structure and nanoscale. However, the structural stability of polymer micelles can be affected strongly by environmental factors, such as temperature, pH, shear force in the blood and interaction with non-target cells, leading to degradations and drug leakage as drug carriers. Therefore, researches on the structural integrity and in vivo distribution of micelle-based carriers are very important for evaluating their therapeutic effect and clinical feasibility. At present, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technology has been widely used in real-time monitoring of aggregation, dissociation and distribution of polymer micelles (in vitro and in vivo). In this review, the polymer micelles, characteristics of FRET technology, structure and properties of the FRET-polymer micelles are briefly introduced. Then, methods and mechanism for combinations of several commonly used fluorescent probes into polymer micelles structures, and progresses on the stability and distribution studies of FRET-polymer micelles (in vitro and in vivo) as drug carriers are reviewed, and current challenges of FRET technology and future directions are discussed.
Objective To investigate the growth, expansion, and metabolic characteristics of the human dermal fibroblasts cultured in a bioreactor with batch and medium exchange modes. Methods Human dermal fibroblasts separated from foreskin were seeded into a 1.5 liter CelliGen bioreactor with 5mg/ml of microcarriers. The cell growth, glucose consumption and lactate accumulation in both batch and medium exchange cultures were measured. Results The growth density of fibroblasts cultured in the bioreactor with medium-exchange mode reached 2.08×106 cell/ml, expande 29.7 folds, which was 1.81 times as high as that in batch culture. By comparison with the results obtained in T-flasks and spinners under the same medium-exchange conditions, the cell density in the bioreactor was 9.16 and 1.43 times as high as those in T-flasks and spinners respectively owing to that the limitation effect the attachment surface, nutrient exhaust, and by-product accumulation on the growth of fibroblasts in the bioreactor by using microcarriers, medium-exchange, as well as gas aeration was elimnated. Conclution The above results indicate that suspended cultures with microcarriers in bioreactors are an effective approach to rpovide large amounts of seeding cells for tissue engineering.
Objective To develop an in vitro three-dimensional angiogenesis system and analyze the expression and function of CD105 in angiogenesis. Methods After primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were purified and cultured, the microcarriers were coated with HUVEC and then embedded and cultured into fibrin gel. The angiogenesis process of HUVEC on the microcarriers was formed. The expression of CD105 during this process was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ASODN) was used to inhibit the expression of CD105 and the changes of the angiogenesis process were analyzed quantitatively. Results HUVEC on the microcarriers which were embedded into the fibrin gel, occurred the angiogenesis process of sprouts, branches and capillary networks with lumina. During this process, CD105 was over expressed in the periods of forming sprouts and branches, and depressed in the relatively steady periods including the periods before forming sprouts and after forming capillary networks. While the expression of CD105 was inhibited by ASODN, the angiogenesis process was significantly inhibited. Conclusions The expression of CD105 is varied within the angiogenesis process, over expressing during the sprouts and branches forming periods. Inhibiting the expression of CD105 could efficiently inhibit angiogenesis.
ObjectiveTo observe intervention effect of Shenlingcao oral liquid on asymptomatic chronic hepatitis B virus carriers (AsC). MethodsA self control before-after trial was conducted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Ninth People's Hospital of Nanchang City from November 2011 to May 2012. A total of 64 AsCs were treated by Shenlingcao oral liquid (1 bottle/d, 200 mL, once daily for 6 months). Serum HBV viral load, six specific serum markers of HBV and 11 liver function index were tested and recorded before and at the 1th, 3th, 6th months of the treatment. Analysis of variance of repeated data was conducted. ResultsAfter one month of the treatment, 35/57 (61.40%) AsCs' serum HBV-DNA loads decreased, 1 log decrease was observed in 15 cases, 2 log decrease was observed in 4 cases, and decrease under the detection limit was observed in 12 cases. 41/57 (71.93%) AsCs' serum HBV-DNA loads decreased after 3 months of treatment, 1 log decrease was observed in 21 cases, 2 log decrease was observed in 5 cases, and decrease under the detection limit was observed in 15 cases. 31/49 (63.26%) AsCs' serum HBV-DNA loads decreased after 6 months of the treatment, 1 log decrease was observed in 19 cases, decrease more than 2 log was observed in 7 cases, and decrease under the detection limit was observed in 12 cases. The serum HBV viral loads at different time points of the treatment were significantly different (P<0.001). As medication time went, AsCs' serum HBV viral loads presented a decrease trend after taking Shenlingcao oral liquid, especially obvious at the 3th month. ConclusionShenlingcao oral liquid could help promote AsCs' ability of clearing virus and controlling serum HBVDNA loads.