The use of synthetically derived poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) scaffold and naturally derived materials in regeneration of intervertebral disks has been reported in many previous studies. However, the potential effect of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) in combination with atelocollagen or fibrin or both atelocollagen and fibrin bioscaffold composite have not been mentioned so far. This study aims to fabricate and characterize three-dimensional poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) scaffold incorporated with (1) atelocollagen, (2) fibrin, and (3) both atelocollagen and fibrin combination for intervertebral disk tissue engineering application. The poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) without any natural, bioscaffold composites was used as control. The chemical conformation, morphology, cell–scaffold attachment, porosity, water uptake capacity, thermal properties, mechanical strength, and pH level were evaluated on all scaffolds using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscope, gravimetric analysis, swelling test, differential scanning calorimetry, and Instron E3000, respectively. Biocompatibility test was conducted to assess the intervertebral disk, annulus fibrosus cells viability using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared results demonstrated notable peaks of amide bond suggesting interaction of atelocollagen, fibrin, and both atelocollagen and fibrin combination into the poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) scaffold. Based on the scanning electron microscope observation, the pore size of the poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) structure significantly reduced when it was incorporated with atelocollagen and fibrin. The poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)–atelocollagen scaffolds demonstrated higher significant swelling ratios, mechanical strength, and thermal stability than the poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) scaffold alone. All the three bioscaffold composite groups exhibited the ability to reduce the acidic poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) by-product. In this study, the biocompatibility assessment using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide cells proliferation assay demonstrated a significantly higher annulus fibrosus cells viability in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)–atelocollagen–fibrin compared to poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) alone. The cellular attachment is comparable in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)–atelocollagen–fibrin and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)–fibrin scaffolds. Overall, these results may suggest potential use of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) combined with atelocollagen and fibrin bioscaffold composite for intervertebral disk regeneration.

Aims: Andrographis paniculata (AP), a medicinal herb was selected to investigate the antifungal activity on selected dermatophyte fungi. The phytochemical screening was also carried out to evaluate its chemical constituents. Methodology and results:The potato dextrose agar (PDA) incorporated with aqueous, ethanol and methanol AP extracts at concentrations 0.99% (v/v), 1.96% (v/v) and 7.41% (v/v) were used for selected fungi culturing; Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. rubrum, T. interdigitale, Microsporum fulvum, M. nanum, M. gypseum, M. canis, Fusarium solani and Aspergillus fumigatus. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of flavonoids, saponins and tannins in the ethanol extract and flavonoids alone in both aqueous and methanol extracts. Studies on antifungal effects indicated that the ethanol extract significantly increased the mycelial inhibition percentage of all tested fungi, especially at a concentration of 7.41% (v/v). All ethanol AP extract concentrations inhibited M. gypseum and M. canis (p<0.05) with at least 36.00% mycelial inhibition. In aqueous AP extract, it significantly increased the mycelial inhibition of T. mentagrophytes, T. interdigitale and M. gypseum (p<0.05), while the methanol AP extract significantly inhibited all fungi at a concentration of 7.41% (v/v) except for T. rubrum, M. gypseum and F. solani (p<0.05). No spore sedimentation was recorded for the fungal spores of T. rubrum, M. nanum, T. mentagrophytes, M. gypseum and T. interdigitale at 7.41% (v/v) ethanol AP. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: It is concluded that the ethanol AP extract contained phytochemical constituents and showed the highest antifungal activity. In addition, this extract has a great potential to treat dermatophytes effectively.