No abstract

The chitosan-based hydrogel could support matrix accumulation of chondrocytes and could repair sheep cartilage defects in 24 weeks. This study showcased the success of a new technique in its ability to repair articular cartilage defects.

An aryl phosphinate dianhydride 1,4-bis(phthalic anhydride-4-carbonyl)-2-(6-oxido-6H-dibenz [c,e][1,2]-oxaphosphorin-6-yl)-phenylene ester (BPAODOPE) was synthesized and its structure was identified by FTIR and 1 H-NMR. BPAODOPE was used as hardener and flame retardant for preparing halogen-free flame-retarded epoxy resins when coupled with another curing agent. Thermal stability, morphologies of char layer, flame resistance and mechanical properties of flame-retarded epoxy resins were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis, SEM, limiting oxygen index (LOI), UL-94 test, tensile, and charpy impact test. The results showed that the novel BPAODOPE had a better flame resistance, the flame resistance and char yield of flame-retarded epoxy resins increased with an increase of phosphorus content, tensile strength and impact strength of samples gradually decreased with the addition of BPAODOPE. The flame-retarded sample with phosphorus contents of 1.75% showed best combination properties, LOI value was 29.3, and the vertical burning test reached UL-94 V-0 level, tensile strength and impact strength were 30.78 MPa and 3.53 kJ/m 2 , respectively.

Recently, the presence of telocytes was demonstrated in human and mammalian tissues and organs (digestive and extra-digestive organs, genitourinary organs, heart, placenta, lungs, pleura, striated muscle). Noteworthy, telocytes seem to play a significant role in the normal function and regeneration of myocardium. By cultures of telocytes in two- and three-dimensional environment we aimed to study the typical morphological features as well as functionality of telocytes, which will provide important support to understand their in vivo roles. Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were isolated and cultured as seeding cells in vitro in two-dimensional environment. Furthermore, engineered myocardium tissue was constructed from isolated cells in three-dimensional collagen/Matrigel scaffolds. The identification of telocytes was performed by using histological and immunohistochemical methods. The results showed that typical telocytes are distributed among cardiomyocytes, connecting them by long telopodes. Telocytes have a typical fusiform cell body with two or three long moniliform telopodes, as main characteristics. The vital methylene blue staining showed the existence of telocytes in primary culture. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that some c-kit or CD34 immuno-positive cells in engineered heart tissue had the morphology of telocytes, with a typical fusiform cell body and long moniliform telopodes. Also, a significant number of vimentin+ telocytes were present within engineered heart tissue. We suggest that the model of three-dimensional engineered heart tissue could be useful for the ongoing research on the functional relationships of telocytes with cardiomyocytes. Because the heart has the necessary potential of changing the muscle and non-muscle cells during the lifetime, telocytes might play an active role in the heart regeneration process. Moreover, telocytes might be a useful tool for cardiac tissue engineering.

This study investigated the effects of a newly-developed scaffold, nano-hydroxyapatite/collagen/poly(L-lactide) (nHAC/PLA), on the attachment, proliferation and osteogenic capability of dog periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) in vitro and in vivo. Hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate (HA/TCP), a commonly used bone substitute, was used as a positive control. PDLSCs isolated from dog molar were incubated in an osteogenic medium to evaluate their osteogenic differentiation in vitro, and then seeded onto nHAC/PLA and HA/TCP scaffolds. In vitro cell attachment, proliferation and differentiation were assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cell counting, 3-[4,5-dimethythiazol-2-yl]-5-[3-carboxy-phenyl]-2-[4-sulfophenyl]-2H-tetrazolium and alkaline phosphate activity, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Finally, the constructs were implanted subcutaneously into dogs to investigate their osteogenic capacity. After osteogenic induction for 21 days, PDLSCs differentiated into osteogenic lineage, as indicated by the expressions of osteoblastic differentiation genes CoL-I, OCN and OPN mRNA, and the formation of mineral deposits. When seeded onto scaffolds, the cells attached and spread well, and retained their osteogenic phenotypes on both scaffolds. Comparatively, cell number and proliferative viability on nHAC/PLA constructs were greater than those on HA/TCP constructs (P < 0.05). Histological results showed that new bone and osteoid was formed in both groups, and histomorphometric analysis demonstrated that the amount of newly formed bone in the nHAC/PLA group was higher than that in the HA/TCP group (P < 0.05). This study suggests that nHAC/PLA can be used as a potent scaffold for alveolar bone regeneration.