Therapeutic potential of placenta-derived stem cells cultivated on noggin-loaded nanochitosan/polypyrrole-alginate conductive scaffold to restore spinal cord injury.

Objective: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe and permanent nerve damage condition that poses significant burdens on individuals and society. Various therapeutic approaches have been explored to mitigate the consequences of SCI. Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine have emerged as a promising avenue for addressing this issue.

Integrating natural compounds and nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems: A novel strategy for enhanced efficacy and selectivity in cancer therapy.

Cancer remains a leading cause of death worldwide, necessitating the development of innovative and more effective treatment strategies. Conventional cancer treatments often suffer from limitations such as systemic toxicity, poor pharmacokinetics, and drug resistance. Recently, there has been growing attention to utilizing natural compounds derived from various sources as possible cancer therapeutics.

Retinoic acid loaded with chitosan nanoparticles improves spermatogenesis in scrotal hyperthermia in mice.

Objective: High temperatures can trigger cellular oxidative stress and disrupt spermatogenesis, potentially leading to male infertility. We investigated the effects of retinoic acid (RA), chitosan nanoparticles (CHNPs), and retinoic acid loaded with chitosan nanoparticles (RACHNPs) on spermatogenesis in mice induced by scrotal hyperthermia (Hyp).

Methods: Thirty mice (weighing 25 to 30 g) were divided into five experimental groups of six mice each.

Anti-cancer effects of human placenta-derived amniotic epithelial stem cells loaded with paclitaxel on cancer cells.

Available therapeutic strategies for cancers have developed side effects, resistance, and recurrence that cause lower survival rates. Utilizing targeted drug delivery techniques has opened up new hopes for increasing the efficacy of cancer treatment. The current study aimed to investigate the appropriate condition of primming human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs) with paclitaxel as a dual therapeutic approach consisting of inherent anticancer features of hAECs and loaded paclitaxel.

The Cross-Talks Among Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) Signaling and Other Prominent Pathways Involved in Neural Differentiation.

The bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are a group of potent morphogens which are critical for the patterning, development, and function of the central nervous system. The appropriate function of the BMP pathway depends on its interaction with other signaling pathways involved in neural differentiation, leading to synergistic or antagonistic effects and ultimately favorable biological outcomes. These opposite or cooperative effects are observed when BMP interacts with fibroblast growth factor (FGF), cytokines, Notch, Sonic Hedgehog (Shh), and Wnt pathways to regulate the impact of BMP-induced signaling in neural differentiation.

Fabrication of nanochitosan incorporated polypyrrole/alginate conducting scaffold for neural tissue engineering.

The utilization of conductive polymers for fabrication of neural scaffolds have attracted much interest because of providing a microenvironment which can imitate nerve tissues. In this study, polypyrrole (PPy)-alginate (Alg) composites were prepared using different percentages of alginate and pyrrole by oxidative polymerization method using FeCl as an oxidant and electrical conductivity of composites were measured by four probe method. In addition, chitosan-based nanoparticles were synthesized by ionic gelation method and after characterization merged into PPy-Alg composite in order to fabricate a conductive, hydrophilic, processable and stable scaffold.

Antihyperglycemic, antilipid peroxidation, and insulin secretory activities of Otostegia persica shoot extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and in vitro C187 pancreatic β-cells.

Context: Otostegia persica Boiss (Lamiaceae) contains antioxidant agents and is used in traditional medicine for treatment of diabetes mellitus complications.

Objectives: The acute antihyperglycemic, antilipid peroxidation, and insulin secretory activities of methanol extract of O. persica aerial parts were investigated.