PEDOT:PSS-Loaded Gelatin Cryogels for Electrically Controlled Drug Release.

Conductive cryogel is a new form of biomaterial that provides additional electrical properties, expanding its applications in biomedical engineering, particularly in tissue regeneration, such as neural and muscle tissues, and in drug-delivery systems. In this study, the gelatin cryogels (GCs) incorporating the conductive polymer PEDOT:PSS (PGC) at an optimal ratio (PGC2) could achieve suitable conductivity as an electrically responsive scaffold applied for controlled drug release. The characterization results demonstrated that PGC2 exhibited a well-defined porous structure (90-190 μm), a favorable water uptake capacity (2738.

Exploration of 3D Few-Shot Learning Techniques for Classification of Knee Joint Injuries on MR Images.

Accurate diagnosis of knee joint injuries from magnetic resonance (MR) images is critical for patient care. : While deep learning has advanced 3D MR image analysis, its reliance on extensive labeled datasets is a major hurdle for diverse knee pathologies. Few-shot learning (FSL) addresses this by enabling models to classify new conditions from minimal annotated examples, often leveraging knowledge from related tasks.

Development of iron oxide based-upconversion nanocomposites for cancer therapeutics treatment.

Administration of therapeutic strategies alongside magnetic multifunctional nanocomposites has displayed improved cancer prognosis. However, the clinical use of this combination is limited owing to poor bioimaging performance, low biocompatibility, restricted tissue penetration in ultraviolet/visible regions, and low therapeutic efficacy of nanocomposites. To overcome these existing challenges, we designed iron oxide (FeO)-based upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs).

Intranasal delivery of epigallocatechin gallate-laden platelet extracellular vesicles for mitigating retinal glaucoma.

Glaucoma is a serious cause of permanent blindness worldwide, mainly caused by inflammation and degeneration of the optic nerve. However, current treatments using systemically administered drugs have limited effectiveness due to various biological barriers that prevent their biodistribution in the eye. To overcome these challenges, we developed a new therapy that utilizes intranasal delivery to retinal lesions.

Platelet-derived extracellular vesicle drug delivery system loaded with kaempferol for treating corneal neovascularization.

Platelet-derived extracellular vesicles (PEVs) have drawn attention due to their multifunctionality, ease of procurement, and abundant supply from clinical-grade platelet concentrates. PEVs can be readily endocytosed due to their lipid bilayer membrane and nanoscale structure, enhancing the bioavailability and efficacy of their therapeutic effects. PEVs also contain various trophic factors that enhance their effectiveness as therapeutic agents.

Therapeutic Assessment of Diverse Doxycycline-Based Formulations in Promoting Deep Corneal Wound Healing: Evidence from a Rat Model.

Doxycycline (Dxy), a broad-spectrum antibiotic with anti-inflammatory effects, is commonly used in ophthalmology but is unstable as a topical eyedrop, degrading quickly into inactive forms and requiring frequent application. To address this, gelatin nanoparticles (GNPs) loaded with Dxy (DNPs) were developed as a stable ophthalmic nanomedicine for enhancing corneal wound healing by inhibiting matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). In this study, female Sprague-Dawley rats underwent lamellar keratectomy, and various Dxy formulations-oral, conventional eyedrops, and DNP-containing eyedrops-were evaluated for corneal wound repair.

Assessment of gelatin-epigallocatechin gallate nanoparticles with hyaluronic acid coating for treating dry eye associated keratopathy in rats.

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) is a common ocular disease in dogs characterized by inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva. This study investigates the effectiveness of gelatin-epigallocatechin gallate nanoparticles with hyaluronic acid coating (GEH NPs) and various artificial tears in treating KCS led keratopathy in a rat model. Eighteen female Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 6 to 8 weeks were randomly assigned to 6 groups of 3.

Construction of Methotrexate-Loaded BiS Coated with Fe/Mn-Bimetallic Doped ZIF-8 Nanocomposites for Cancer Treatment Through the Synergistic Effects of Photothermal/Chemodynamic/Chemotherapy.

A combination of therapeutic modalities in a single nanostructure is crucial for a successful cancer treatment. Synergistic photothermal therapy (PTT) can enhance the effects of chemodynamic therapy (CDT) and chemotherapy, which could intensify the therapeutic efficacy to induce cancer cell apoptosis. In this study, Fe and Mn on a zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) (Fe/Mn-ZIF-8; FMZ) were synthesized through ion deposition.

Injectable cross-linked hyaluronic acid hydrogels with epigallocatechin gallate loading as vitreous substitutes.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) serves as a vitreous substitute owing to its ability to mimic the physical functions of native vitreous humor. However, pure HA hydrogels alone do not provide sufficient protection against potential inflammatory risks following vitrectomy. In this study, HA was crosslinked with 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDDE) to form HA hydrogels (HB).

Development and functional evaluation of a hyaluronic acid coated nano-formulation with kaempferol as a novel intra-articular agent for Knee Osteoarthritis treatment.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) involves articular cartilage degradation driven mainly by inflammation. Kaempferol (KM), known for its anti-inflammatory property, holds potential for OA treatment. This study investigated the potential of hyaluronic acid (HA)-coated gelatin nanoparticles loaded with KM (HA-KM GNP) for treating knee OA.

Assessment of cardiac adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination by speckle tracking echocardiography.

Cardiac discomfort has been reported periodically in COVID-19-vaccinated individuals. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the role of myocardial strains in the early assessment of the clinical presentations after COVID-19 vaccination. Totally, 121 subjects who received at least one dose of vaccine within 6 weeks underwent laboratory tests, electrocardiogram (ECG), and echocardiogram.

NIR-Responsive Methotrexate-Modified Iron Selenide Nanorods for Synergistic Magnetic Hyperthermic, Photothermal, and Chemodynamic Therapy.

Breast cancer is a malignant tumor with a high mortality rate among women. Therefore, it is necessary to develop novel therapies to effectively treat this disease. In this study, iron selenide nanorods (FeSe NRs) were designed for use in magnetic hyperthermic, photothermal, and chemodynamic therapy (MHT/PTT/CDT) for breast cancer.

Zwitterionic modified and freeze-thaw reinforced foldable hydrogel as intraocular lens for posterior capsule opacification prevention.

Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) is a predominant postoperative complication, often leading to visual impairment due to the aberrant proliferation and adhesion of lens epithelial cells (LECs) and protein precipitates subsequent to intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. To address this clinical issue, a foldable and antifouling sharp-edged IOL implant based on naturally-derived cellulose hydrogel is synthesized. The mechanical strength and transparency of the hydrogel is enhanced via repeated freeze-thaw (FT) cycles.

Enhancing wound healing and adhesion through dopamine-assisted gelatin-silica hybrid dressings.

Gelatin, widely employed in hydrogel dressings, faces limitations when used in high fluid environments, hindering effective material adhesion to wound sites and subsequently reducing treatment efficacy. The rapid degradation of conventional hydrogels often results in breakdown before complete wound healing. Thus, there is a pressing need for the development of durable adhesive wound dressings.

Enhancing paracellular and transcellular permeability using nanotechnological approaches for the treatment of brain and retinal diseases.

Paracellular permeability across epithelial and endothelial cells is, in large part, regulated by apical intercellular junctions also referred to as tight junctions (TJs). These junctions contribute to the spatial definition of different tissue compartments within organisms, separating them from the outside world as well as from inner compartments, with their primary physiological role of maintaining tissue homeostasis. TJs restrict the free, passive diffusion of ions and hydrophilic small molecules through paracellular clefts and are important for appropriate cell polarization and transporter protein localisation, supporting the controlled transcellular diffusion of smaller and larger hydrophilic as well as hydrophobic substances.

Synthesis of Methotrexate-Loaded Dumbbell-Shaped Titanium Dioxide/Gold Nanorods Coated with Mesoporous Silica and Decorated with Upconversion Nanoparticles for Near-Infrared-Driven Trimodal Cancer Treatment.

This study prepared dumbbell-shaped titanium dioxide (TiO)/gold nanorods (AuNRs) coated with mesoporous silica shells (mS) (AuNRs-TiO@mS). Methotrexate (MTX) was further loaded into the AuNRs-TiO@mS, and then upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) were decorated to form AuNRs-TiO@mS-MTX: UCNP nanocomposites. TiO is used as an intense photosensitizer (PS) to produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to photodynamic therapy (PDT).

Dry eye syndrome model established in rabbits via mitomycin C injection in the lacrimal gland.

Purpose: To develop a new dry eye syndrome (DES) animal model by injecting mitomycin C (MMC) into the lacrimal glands (LGs) of rabbits evaluated by clinical examinations.

Materials And Methods: A volume of 0.1 mL of MMC solution was injected in the LG and the infraorbital lobe of the accessory LG of rabbits for DES induction.

Deep Learning Prediction Model for Patient Survival Outcomes in Palliative Care Using Actigraphy Data and Clinical Information.

(1) Background: Predicting the survival of patients in end-of-life care is crucial, and evaluating their performance status is a key factor in determining their likelihood of survival. However, the current traditional methods for predicting survival are limited due to their subjective nature. Wearable technology that provides continuous patient monitoring is a more favorable approach for predicting survival outcomes among palliative care patients.

Functional Peptide-Loaded Gelatin Nanoparticles as Eyedrops for Cornea Neovascularization Treatment.

Background: Corneal neovascularization (NV) is a process of abnormal vessel growth into the transparent cornea from the limbus and can disturb the light passing through the cornea, resulting in vision loss or even blindness. The use of nanomedicine as an effective therapeutic formulation in ophthalmology has led to higher drug bioavailability and a slow drug release rate. In this research, we designed and explored the feasibility of a new nanomedicine, gp91 ds-tat (gp91) peptide-encapsulated gelatin nanoparticles (GNP-gp91), for inhibiting corneal angiogenesis.

Inhibition of microRNA-328 Increases Ocular Mucin Expression and Conjunctival Goblet Cells.

We previously reported anti-miR-328 therapy for dry eye disease (DED). Since decreased mucin secretion is a risk factor for DED, we aimed to explore whether anti-miR-328 affects mucin expression and goblet cells. MiR-328 was increased in goblet cells when they were under desiccating stress or treated with benzalkonium chloride (BAC), both of which are risk factors for DED.

TAK1 blockade as a therapy for retinal neovascularization.

Retinal neovascularization, or pathological angiogenesis in the retina, is a leading cause of blindness in developed countries. Transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) is a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK) activated by TGF-β1 and other proinflammatory cytokines. TAK1 is also a key mediator of proinflammatory signals and plays an important role in maintaining vascular integrity upon proinflammatory cytokine stimulation such as TNFα.

Binary colloidal crystals (BCCs) modulate the retina-related gene expression of hBMSCs - A preliminary study.

Surface topography-induced lineage commitment of human bone marrow stem cells (hBMSCs) has been reported. However, this effect on hBMSC differentiation toward retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-like cells has not been explored. Herein, a family of cell culture substrates called binary colloidal crystals (BCCs) was used to stimulate hBMSCs into RPE-like cells without induction factors.