Biosensor integrated brain-on-a-chip platforms: Progress and prospects in clinical translation

Because of the brain's complexity, developing effective treatments for neurological disorders is a formidable challenge. Research efforts to this end are advancing as in vitro systems have reached the point that they can imitate critical components of the brain's structure and function. Brain-on-a-chip (BoC) was first used for microfluidics-based systems with small synthetic tissues but has expanded recently to include in vitro simulation of the central nervous system (CNS). Defining the system's qualifying parameters may improve the BoC for the next generation of in vitro platforms. These parameters show how well a given platform solves the problems unique to in vitro CNS modeling (like recreating the brain's microenvironment and including essential parts like the blood-brain barrier (BBB)) and how much more value it offers than traditional cell culture systems. This review provides an overview of the practical concerns of creating and deploying BoC systems and elaborates on how these technologies might be used. Not only how advanced biosensing technologies could be integrated with BoC system but also how novel approaches will automate assays and improve point-of-care (PoC) diagnostics and accurate quantitative analyses are discussed. Key challenges providing opportunities for clinical translation of BoC in neurodegenerative disorders are also addressed.A.B.O acknowledges the support from the Scientific and Techno- logical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) (221M724) . E.M. would like to acknowledge the support from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (5T32EB009035) . O.Y.C. ac- knowledges the support from the Research Fund of Ege University, In- ternational Research Cooperation Project under grant number FUA- 2020-22187.Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) [221M724]; National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering [5T32EB009035]; Research Fund of Ege University, International Research Cooperation Project [FUA- 2020-22187

Bilayered laponite/alginate-poly(acrylamide) composite hydrogel for osteochondral injuries enhances macrophage polarization: An in vivo study

Addressing osteochondral defects, the objective of current study was to synthesize bilayered hydrogel, where the cartilage layer was formed by alginate (Alg) polyacrylamide (PAAm) with and without the addition of TGF-beta 3 and bone layer by laponite XLS/Alg-PAAm and characterize by in vitro and in vivo experiments. Exceeding the mechanical strength of Alg-PAAm (32.95 +/- 1.23 kPa) and XLS based (317.5 +/- 21.72 kPa) hydrogels, XLS/Alg-PAAm hydrogel (469.7 +/- 6.1 kPa) activated macrophages towards M2 phenotype and stimulated the expression of anti-inflammatory factors. The addition of TGF-beta 3 accelerated transition of macrophage polarization, especially between day 4 and 7. The expression levels of MI-related genes such as CD80, iNOS and TNF-alpha decreased gradually after day 4, reaching lowest values at day 13, whereas the expression levels of M2-related genes, CD206, Argi and SFAT6 significantly increased promoting M2 macrophage polarization, which might be associated with accelerated bone repair. Moreover, bilayer structure exhibited a better cell viability as well as rcpainnent thorough the XIS contents. in vivo histological examinations verified the significant surface regularity and hyaline like tissue formation employment, along with synchronized degradation profile of the hydrogel with tissue healing at the end of 12 weeks. A mechanically durable, biocompatible and immunocompatiblc hydmgcl was formulated to be utilized in bone-cartilage engineering applications.This work was supported by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) under grant number 117M843 and immune response studies under grant 219M057. Y.-W.Kim and J.-Y.Sun were sup-ported under the framework of international cooperation program managed by the National Research Foundation of Korea (2017K2A9A1A06037807, FY2017) . Authors would like to acknowledge Material Technology Develop-ment Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by Ministry of Science and ICT (NRF-2018M3A7B4089670) . E.S and P.S.M gratefully acknowledge the TUBITAK 2211-A National Graduate Scholarship Program.Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) [117M843, 219M057]; National Research Foundation of Korea [2017K2A9A1A06037807]; Ministry of Science and ICT [NRF-2018M3A7B4089670]; TUBITAK 2211-A National Graduate Scholarship Program; TUBITAK [2211-A

An alginate-poly(acrylamide) hydrogel with TGF-beta 3 loaded nanoparticles for cartilage repair: Biodegradability, biocompatibility and protein adsorption

Saygili, Ecem/0000-0002-8389-9079; Ilhan Ayisigi, Esra/0000-0003-1880-4261WOS:000619184100039PubMed: 33476613Current implantable materials are limited in terms of function as native tissue, and there is still no effective clinical treatment to restore articular impairments. Hereby, a functionalized polyacrylamide (PAAm)-alginate (Alg) Double Network (DN) hydrogel acting as an articular-like tissue is developed. These hydrogels sustain their mechanical stability under different temperature (+4 degrees C, 25 degrees C, 40 degrees C) and humidity conditions (60% and 75%) over 3 months. As for the functionalization, transforming growth factor beta-3 (TGF-beta 3) encapsulated (NPTGF-beta 3) and empty poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanopartides (PLGA NPs) are synthesized by using microfluidic plat-form, wherein the mean particle sizes are determined as 81.94 +/- 92 nm and 126 +/- 4.52 nm with very low poly-dispersity indexes (PDI) of 0.194 and 0.137, respectively. Functionaliza lion process of PAAm-Alg hydrogels with ester-end PLGA NPs is confirmed by MR analysis, and higher viscoelastidty is obtained for functionalized hydrogels. Moreover, cartilage regeneration capability of these hydrogels is evaluated with in vitro and in vivo experiments. Compared with the PAAm-Alg hydrogels, functionalized formulations exhibit a better cell viability. Histological staining, and score distribution confirmed that proposed hydrogels significantly enhance regeneration of cartilage in rats due to stable hydrogel matrix and controlled release of TGF-beta 3. These findings demonstrated that PAAm-Alg hydrogels showed potential for cartilage repair and clinical application. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [117M843]; National Research Founda-tion of KoreaNational Research Foundation of Korea [2017K2A9A1A06037807]This work was supported by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) under grant number 117M843. Y.-W.KimandJ.-Y.Sun were supported under the framework of international cooperation program managed by the National Research Founda-tion of Korea (2017K2A9A1A06037807, FY2017)

Tissue adhesives: from research to clinical translation

Sutures, staples, clips, and skin closure strips are used as the gold standard to close wounds after an injury. In spite of being the present standard of care, the utilization of these conventional methods is precarious amid complicated and sensitive surgeries such as vascular anastomosis, ocular surgeries, nerve repair, or due to the high-risk components included. Tissue adhesives function as an interface to connect the surfaces of wound edges and prevent them from separation. They are fluid or semi-fluid mixtures that can be easily used to seal any wound of any morphology-uniform or irregular. As such, they provide alternatives to new and novel platforms for wound closure methods. In this review, we offer a background on the improvement of distinctive tissue adhesives focusing on the chemistry of some of these products that have been a commercial success from the clinical application perspective. This review is aimed to provide a guide toward the innovation of tissue bioadhesive materials and their associated biomedical applications