Proliferation and Differentiation of Human Hair Follicle Stem Cells on Chitosan-Skin Engineered Template in Vitro

Hair follicles repeatedly regress and reconstitute themselves, suggesting the presence of intrinsic tissue stem cells. Among the unique characteristics of adult stem cells isolated from hair follicles is their ability to differentiate into keratinocytes. Study on chitosan skin-engineered templates (SETs) as scaffolds for the proliferation of human fibroblasts have shown the promise of SETs in facilitating skin cell growth in three-dimensional culture. High proliferation in three-dimensional culture using human cells allows the researcher to extensively evaluate the cultivation of desirable cell types on chitosan SETs. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the in vitro attachment, proliferation and differentiation of hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) on a chitosan SETs. HFSCs were isolated from human scalp tissues using collagenase type I prior to propagation in supplemented CnT-07 media. The phenotype of the HFSCs was verified using the markers keratin-15 (K15) and CD200, as detected by immunocytochemical staining. The attachment and proliferation of the HFSCs on the chitosan SETs were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), an alamar blue assay and a live/dead assay. Subsequently, the HFSCs were differentiated using CnT-2D differentiation media. The cells’ differentiation was verified using the markers involucrin and keratin-6 (K6), as detected by immunofluorescence staining. The HFSCs were successfully isolated, proliferated and differentiated according to staining positivity and microscopy imaging. HFSCs are able to proliferate and directly differentiate into keratinocytes on a chitosan SETs, which may facilitate their use in regenerative medicine

Proliferation and Differentiation of Human Hair Follicle Stem Cells on Chitosan-Skin Engineered Template in Vitro

Hair follicles repeatedly regress and reconstitute themselves, suggesting the presence of intrinsic tissue stem cells. Among the unique characteristics of adult stem cells isolated from hair follicles is their ability to differentiate into keratinocytes. Study on chitosan skin-engineered templates (SETs) as scaffolds for the proliferation of human fibroblasts have shown the promise of SETs in facilitating skin cell growth in three-dimensional culture. High proliferation in three-dimensional culture using human cells allows the researcher to extensively evaluate the cultivation of desirable cell types on chitosan SETs. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the in vitro attachment, proliferation and differentiation of hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) on a chitosan SETs. HFSCs were isolated from human scalp tissues using collagenase type I prior to propagation in supplemented CnT-07 media. The phenotype of the HFSCs was verified using the markers keratin-15 (K15) and CD200, as detected by immunocytochemical staining. The attachment and proliferation of the HFSCs on the chitosan SETs were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), an alamar blue assay and a live/dead assay. Subsequently, the HFSCs were differentiated using CnT-2D differentiation media. The cells’ differentiation was verified using the markers involucrin and keratin-6 (K6), as detected by immunofluorescence staining. The HFSCs were successfully isolated, proliferated and differentiated according to staining positivity and microscopy imaging. HFSCs are able to proliferate and directly differentiate into keratinocytes on a chitosan SETs, which may facilitate their use in regenerative medicine

Determination of heavy metal accumulation in ipomoea aquatica using wet destruction method

The determination of heavy metals in plants is very important since human intake of toxic trace elements which even at low doses over a long period of time can lead to malfunction of organs and could cause chronic toxicity. Hence, it is necessary to obtain more information on the plants which grow on soils that contain high concentration of heavy metals in order to determine their potential for management of polluted soils and for metal extraction. The objectives of this research are to determine heavy metal (Cr, Ni, Cu, Mn, Cd, Fe, Pb and Zn) uptake by Ipomoea Aquatica cultivated in closed landfill and nursery soil and to compare the concentration of heavy metal in both soil samples besides in order to estimate whether a given soil is suitable for cultivation of plants used as food or feed based on World Health Organization – Maximum Level standard. Acid Digestion Method and Wet Destruction Method were used for digestion process of soils and plants. After dilution, the samples will undergo analysis by using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). From result that obtained, the concentrations of all heavy were detected in plant and soil but with various concentrations. There are several heavy metals that exceed the maximum level of WHO standard, Cr (4.16 and 6.92 mg kg-1), Cd (4.67 and 3.93 mg kg-1-1) and Pb (9.66 and 8.87 mg kg). As a conclusion, monitoring of heavy metal distribution data in soil and plant samples are very useful for become main references or guidelines in order to monitoring and avoid environmental pollution become worst in terms of quality of soil and also safety level for vegetables to be consumed

Effects of sintering temperature on the structure and electrochemical performance of Mg2SiO4 cathode materials

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of sintering temperature on the structure and electrochemical performance of Mg2SiO4 cathode materials using sol-gel method. X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared analysis were used to study the structural properties of the materials. The temperatures applied in the sintering process influenced the structure, morphology, as well as particle size distribution of the Mg2SiO4. All samples sintered at temperatures of 900, 1000, and 1100 °C yielded pure Mg2SiO4 compounds consisting of orthorhombic crystalline phase with a space group of Pbnm. Particle size and lattice parameters of Mg2SiO4 samples increased with the increases of sintering temperature due to an increase of the nucleation and crystal growth rates. The cyclic voltammetry analysis showed the presence of redox reaction. This result shows that the Mg2SiO4 material has potential to be used as cathode materials in magnesium rechargeable batteries

Comparative study on the performance of co-extruded hollow fiber solid oxide fuel cell fuelled with hydrogen and methane

In this study, the effects of two fuel types, i.e., hydrogen and methane on the electrochemical performance of the co-extruded triple layer hollow fiber, were systemically studied. The triple layer hollow fiber consisted of electrolyte/active functional layer (AFL)/anode was fabricated by single-step phase-inversion-based co-extrusion technique prior to the sintering process at temperature range of 1400 to 1500 °C. The hollow fibers were characterized by three-point bending test, gas tightness test, and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The electrochemical performance test was carried out at temperatures of 700–800 °C by flowing fuel at 20 ml/min. Based on the results attained, the gas tightness and bending test are improved by the increase of sintering temperature. SEM results show that the finger-like morphology length around 100 μm is obtained. In addition, the AFL layer located in the middle layer of the hollow fiber has its own finger like which forms sandwich-like structure with the anode layer. The open circuit voltage is recorded at 1.05 V with the highest power density obtained at 0.6 W cm−2 by using hydrogen. By changing the fuel into methane gas, the highest power density is achieved at 0.8 W cm−2. This is due to the methane that carries more hydrogen molecule. This indicates that the methane fuel can be utilized in hollow fiber SOFC systems

Chitosan Dermal Substitute and Chitosan Skin Substitute Contribute to Accelerated Full-Thickness Wound Healing in Irradiated Rats

Wounds with full-thickness skin loss are commonly managed by skin grafting. In the absence of a graft, reepithelialization is imperfect and leads to increased scar formation. Biomaterials can alter wound healing so that it produces more regenerative tissue and fewer scars. This current study use the new chitosan based biomaterial in full-thickness wound with impaired healing on rat model. Wounds were evaluated after being treated with a chitosan dermal substitute, a chitosan skin substitute, or duoderm CGF. Wounds treated with the chitosan skin substitute showed the most re-epithelialization (33.2 ± 2.8%), longest epithelial tongue (1.62 ± 0.13 mm), and shortest migratory tongue distance (7.11 ± 0.25 mm). The scar size of wounds treated with the chitosan dermal substitute (0.13 ± 0.02 cm) and chitosan skin substitute (0.16 ± 0.05 cm) were significantly decreased (P<0.05) compared with duoderm (0.45 ± 0.11 cm). Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) expression on days 7, 14, and 21 revealed the presence of human hair follicle stem cells and fibroblasts that were incorporated into and surviving in the irradiated wound. We have proven that a chitosan dermal substitute and chitosan skin substitute are suitable for wound healing in full-thickness wounds that are impaired due to radiation