Magnetized Chitosan Hydrogel and Silk Fibroin, Reinforced with PVA: A Novel Nanobiocomposite for Biomedical and Hyperthermia Applications

Herein, a multifunctional nanobiocomposite was designed for biological application, amongst which hyperthermia cancer therapy application was specifically investigated. This nanobiocomposite was fabricated based on chitosan hydrogel (CS), silk fibroin (SF), water-soluble polymer polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4 MNPs). CS and SF as natural compounds were used to improve the biocompatibility, biodegradability, adhesion and cell growth properties of the nanobiocomposite that can prepare this nanocomposite for the other biological applications such as wound healing and tissue engineering. Since the mechanical properties are very important in biological applications, PVA polymer was used to increase the mechanical properties of the prepared nanobiocomposite. All components of this nanobiocomposite have good dispersion in water due to the presence of hydrophilic groups such as NH2, OH, and COOH, which is one of the effective factors in increasing the efficiency of hyperthermia cancer therapy. The structural analyzes of the hybrid nanobiocomposite were determined by FT-IR, XRD, EDX, FE-SEM, TGA and VSM. Biological studies such as MTT and hemolysis testing proved that it is hemocompatible and non-toxic for healthy cells. Furthermore, it can cause the death of cancer cells to some extent (20.23%). The ability of the nanobiocomposites in hyperthermia cancer therapy was evaluated. Also, the results showed that it can be introduced as an excellent candidate for hyperthermia cancer therapy

The efect of exercise on balance in patients with stroke, Parkinson, and multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials

Background: Stroke, Parkinson, and multiple sclerosis are a range of diseases affecting the nervous system and show balance impairments due to damage of the balance control system. Many early articles have been published on the effect of exercise on balance in patients suffering from neuromuscular diseases. However, a comprehensive study showing a clear result of these three diseases was not found. Hence, the purpose of the present meta-analysis and systematic review is to determine the effect of exercise on balance in people with stroke, Parkinson, and multiple sclerosis. Methods: According to the PRISMA 2009 multi-step instructions, keywords related to the purpose of the research were browsed in the MeSH browser databases; IranDoc, MagIran, IranMedex, SID, ScienceDirect, Web of Science (WoS), ProQuest, Medline (PubMed), Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched to extract articles published in Persian and English language. The search process for retrieving the articles in the sources mentioned from January 01, 2000, to December 30, 2020, was done. The heterogeneity index of the studies was determined using the I2 test. Given the heterogeneity, the random-effects model was used to combine the articles and the results. Results: Initially, 7067 articles were found, but after removing duplicate and irrelevant articles, 96 clinical trials with a sample size of the intervention group of 1760 people were included in the study. As a result of the articles’ composition, the mean balance score index after exercise in the intervention group showed a significant increase of 0.67 ± 0.12 of the unit (P˂0.01). The highest rate of increase in the balance score after the intervention was reported in patients with myelomeningocele with 1.66 ± 0.3 unit (P˂0.01). Conclusion: Considering the positive effect of using exercise on increasing the balance in patients with stroke, Parkinson, and multiple sclerosis, it is recommended that health care providers implement a regular exercise program to improve the condition of these patients

A novel ternary magnetic nanobiocomposite based on tragacanth-silk fibroin hydrogel for hyperthermia and biological properties

Abstract This study involves the development of a new nanocomposite material for use in biological applications. The nanocomposite was based on tragacanth hydrogel (TG), which was formed through cross-linking of Ca2+ ions with TG polymer chains. The utilization of TG hydrogel and silk fibroin as natural compounds has enhanced the biocompatibility, biodegradability, adhesion, and cell growth properties of the nanobiocomposite. This advancement makes the nanobiocomposite suitable for various biological applications, including drug delivery, wound healing, and tissue engineering. Additionally, Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized in situ within the nanocomposite to enhance its hyperthermia efficiency. The presence of hydrophilic groups in all components of the nanobiocomposite allowed for good dispersion in water, which is an important factor in increasing the effectiveness of hyperthermia cancer therapy. Hemolysis and 3-(4,5 dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assays were conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the nanobiocomposite for in-vivo applications. Results showed that even at high concentrations, the nanobiocomposite had minimal hemolytic effects. Finally, the hyperthermia application of the hybrid scaffold was evaluated, with a maximum SAR value of 41.2 W/g measured in the first interval