Standardizing Salivary Lactoferrin Measurements to Obtain a Robust Diagnostic Biomarker for Alzheimer's Disease

The search for new, robust, and reproducible biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis is a challenge. We recently reported that salivary lactoferrin (Lf) could be presented as new biomarker candidate for AD, being both non-invasive and cost-effective, as well as having appropriate diagnostic performance for the clinical detection of AD subjects. Saliva is an attractive sample type for biomarker-based testing approaches for several other diseases; however, its composition may change under certain circumstances. It is therefore critical to maintain a consistent salivary handling protocol, considering possible extrinsic factors that may influence salivary Lf concentration. In this work, we analyzed salivary Lf concentration under different handling conditions and donor-dependent factors including age, inter-diurnal variations, physical activity, and pharmacological treatments. Our aim was to evaluate the influence of such conditions on salivary Lf concentration. In conclusion, we found that most of these extrinsic factors should be considered in the future when using Lf as a predictive biomarker for AD.This study was supported by Dr. Carro's grants from Instituto de Salud Carlos III (FIS18/00118), FEDER, Comunidad de Madrid (S2017/BMD-3700; NEUROMETAB-CM), and CIBERNED (PI2016/01)

Nanostructured Lipid Carriers for Delivery of Chemotherapeutics: A Review

The efficacy of current standard chemotherapy is suboptimal due to the poor solubility and short half-lives of chemotherapeutic agents, as well as their high toxicity and lack of specificity which may result in severe side effects, noncompliance and patient inconvenience. The application of nanotechnology has revolutionized the pharmaceutical industry and attracted increasing attention as a significant means for optimizing the delivery of chemotherapeutic agents and enhancing their efficiency and safety profiles. Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) are lipid-based formulations that have been broadly studied as drug delivery systems. They have a solid matrix at room temperature and are considered superior to many other traditional lipid-based nanocarriers such as nanoemulsions, liposomes and solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) due to their enhanced physical stability, improved drug loading capacity, and biocompatibility. This review focuses on the latest advances in the use of NLCs as drug delivery systems and their preparation and characterization techniques with special emphasis on their applications as delivery systems for chemotherapeutic agents and different strategies for their use in tumor targeting.This research was funded by Aljalila foundation, grant number AJF201777

La microencapsulación de células. ¿Una nueva alternativa terapéutica?

The aim of cell microencapsulation technology is to treat multiple diseases in the absence of immunosuppression. On this purpose, cells are immobilized within carefully designed capsules that allow the long-term function of the graft. Although the potential impact of this field is still far broader, the past few years have seen several firsts which has brought the whole technology much closer to a realistic proposal for clinical application.La microencapsulación de células es una estrategia terapéutica que permite el tratamiento de un gran número de enfermedades crónicas sin la necesidad de agentes inmunosupresores. Para lograr este objetivo es necesario inmovilizar células secretoras de productos terapéuticos en microcápsulas convenientemente diseñadas, de forma que se asegure la funcionalidad del injerto a largo plazo. Los avances realizados en este campo, a lo largo de los últimos años, auguran que la microencapsulación de células pueda convertirse, en un futuro no muy lejano, en una estrategia terapéutica de uso clínico habitual

Design of a New 3D Gelatin—Alginate Scaffold Loaded with Cannabis sativa Oil

There is an increasing medical need for the development of new materials that could replace damaged organs, improve healing of critical wounds or provide the environment required for the formation of a new healthy tissue. The three-dimensional (3D) printing approach has emerged to overcome several of the major deficiencies of tissue engineering. The use of Cannabis sativa as a therapy for some diseases has spread throughout the world thanks to its benefits for patients. In this work, we developed a bioink made with gelatin and alginate that was able to be printed using an extrusion 3D bioprinter. The scaffolds obtained were lyophilized, characterized and the swelling was assessed. In addition, the scaffolds were loaded with Cannabis sativa oil extract. The presence of the extract provided antimicrobial and antioxidant activity to the 3D scaffolds. Altogether, our results suggest that the new biocompatible material printed with 3D technology and with the addition of Cannabis sativa oil could become an attractive alternative to common treatments of soft-tissue infections and wound repair.Pablo E. Antezana is grateful for his postdoctoral fellowship granted by the CONICET. The authors would like to acknowledge grants from the Universidad de Buenos Aires, UBACYT 20020150100056BA and PIDAE 2022 (Martín F. Desimone), which supported this work. Gorka Orive wishes to thank the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (PID2019-106094RB-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033) and to acknowledge technical assistance from the ICTS NANBIOSIS (Drug Formulation Unit, U10) at the University of the Basque Country. We also appreciate the support from the Basque Country Government (Grupos Consolidados, No ref: IT1448-22)

Towards brain-tissue-like biomaterials

Many biomaterials have been developed which aim to match the elastic modulus of the brain for improved interfacing. However, other properties such as ultimate toughness, tensile strength, poroviscoelastic responses, energy dissipation, conductivity, and mass diffusivity also need to be considered

Towards brain-tissue-like biomaterials

Many biomaterials have been developed which aim to match the elastic modulus of the brain for improved interfacing. However, other properties such as ultimate toughness, tensile strength, poroviscoelastic responses, energy dissipation, conductivity, and mass diffusivity also need to be considered

Bioprinting and biomaterials for dental alveolar tissue regeneration

Three dimensional (3D) bioprinting is a powerful tool, that was recently applied to tissue engineering. This technique allows the precise deposition of cells encapsulated in supportive bioinks to fabricate complex scaffolds, which are used to repair targeted tissues. Here, we review the recent developments in the application of 3D bioprinting to dental tissue engineering. These tissues, including teeth, periodontal ligament, alveolar bones, and dental pulp, present cell types and mechanical properties with great heterogeneity, which is challenging to reproduce in vitro. After highlighting the different bioprinting methods used in regenerative dentistry, we reviewed the great variety of bioink formulations and their effects on cells, which have been established to support the development of these tissues. We discussed the different advances achieved in the fabrication of each dental tissue to provide an overview of the current state of the methods. We conclude with the remaining challenges and future needsThis work was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI (Grant Numbers 22K18936 and 21K04852); AMED (Grant Number JP21gm1310001); The JST Adaptable and Seamless Technology Transfer Program through Target-driven R&D (Grant Number JPMJTM22BD), CASIO SCIENCE PROMOTION FOUNDATION, and by the Research Center for Biomedical Engineering at Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan

Farmakokutsadura eta Garapen Iraunkorrerako 6. Helburua: ur garbia eta saneamendua

The environmental impact of drugs or pharmaceuticals is a topic of growing concern. Drugs have been found in all environmental compartments, especially in water. Although the main route of access to the environment for drugs is related to consumption and resulting excretion, emissions can occur in any of the complex life cycle of pharmaceuticals. Apart from their ecotoxicological effects, pharmaceuticals in the environment can also affect human health (e.g: antibiotic resistance). In this article, we will focus on the potential influence of drug pollution on the 6th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), describing possible solutions. SDGs have a special relevance in developing countries, where water is more polluted with drugs. The “One-Health” approach, which considers the relationship between humans, animals, and the shared environment, is needed to understand drug pollution. Collaboration of all the stakeholders involved in the life cycle of drugs is mandatory. Considering the cost-effectiveness and sustainability of the measures will be necessary to prevent drug pollution from becoming an obstacle to obtaining the 6th SDG.; Medikamentuek naturan duten inpaktua geroz eta interes handiagoa pizten duen gaia da. Ezaguna da medikamentuak eta haien hondakinak ingurumen-konpartimentu guztietan aurkitu direla, batez ere uretan. Medikamentuak ingurumenera iristeko bide nagusia kontsumoarekin eta haren ondoriozko iraizpenarekin dago erlazionatuta. Nolanahi ere, medikamentuen bizi-zikloaren beste faseetan ere gerta daitezke ingurumenerako igorpenak. Farmako-kutsadurak eragina du ingurumenean dauden izaki bizidunetan, eta baita giza osasunean ere. Antibiotikoekiko erresistentzien gorakada da horren adibideetako bat. Bestalde, uraren erabilgarritasuna, saneamendua eta higienea giza eskubideak badira ere, mundu osoko biztanle guztiek ez dauzkate bermatuta. Artikulu honetan, Garapen Iraunkorrerako 6. Helburua (GIH) -hots, ur garbia eta saneamendua- eta haren erronkak aztertuko ditugu, farmakokutsaduraren ikuspuntutik, konponbideak aztertuz. GIHek garrantzi berezia dute garapen-bidean dauden herrialdeetan; hain zuzen ere, uretako farmakokutsadura gehien dutenetan. Farmakokutsadura ulertu eta aztertzeko, "One-Health" ikuspuntua bultzatu beharra dago, hau da, osasun bakarrean bateratzea gizakion osasuna, animaliena eta partekatzen dugun ingurumenarena, eta, arazoari aurre egiteko, nahitaezkoa da medikamentuen bizi-zikloan parte hartzen duten eragile guztien elkarlana. Farmakokutsadura 6. GIHa lortzeko oztopo bihur ez dadin, beharrezkoa da lekuan lekuko osasun publikoaren beharrez gain neurrien kostu-eraginkortasuna ere kontuan hartzea, neurrien eraginkortasuna ziurtatzeko

Applying Immunomodulation to Promote Longevity of Immunoisolated Pancreatic Islet Grafts

Islet transplantation is a promising therapy for insulin-dependent diabetes, but large-scale application is hampered by the lack of a consistent source of insulin-producing cells and need for lifelong administration of immunosuppressive drugs, which are associated with severe side effects. To avoid chronic immunosuppression, islet grafts can be enveloped in immunoisolating polymeric membranes. These immunoisolating polymeric membranes protect islet grafts from cell-mediated rejection while allowing diffusion of oxygen, nutrients, and insulin. Although clinical trials have shown the safety and feasibility of encapsulated islets to control glucose homeostasis, the strategy does up till now not support long-term graft survival. This partly can be explained by a significant loss of insulin-producing cells in the immediate period after implantation. The loss can be prevented by combining immunoisolation with immunomodulation, such as combined administration of immunomodulating cytokines or coencapsulation of immunomodulating cell types such as regulatory T cells, mesenchymal stem cells, or Sertoli cells. Also, administration of specific antibodies or apoptotic donor leucocytes is considered to create a tolerant microenvironment around immunoisolated grafts. In this review, we describe the outcomes and limitations of these approaches, as well as the recent progress in immunoisolating devices. Impact statement Immunoisolation by enveloping islets in semipermeable membranes allows for successful transplantation of islet grafts in the absence of chronic immunosuppression, but the duration of graft survival is still not permanent. The reasons for long-term final graft failure is not fully understood, but combining immunoisolation with immunomodulation of tissues or host immune system has been proposed to enhance the longevity of grafts. This article reviews the recent progress and challenges of immunoisolation, as well as the benefits and feasibility of combining encapsulation approaches with immunomodulation to promote longevity of encapsulated grafts