Note: Non-invasive optical method for rapid determination of alignment degree of oriented nanofibrous layers

This paper presents a rapid non-destructive method that provides information on the anisotropic internal structure of nanofibrous layers. A laser beam of a wavelength of 632.8 nm is directed at and passes through a nanofibrous layer prepared by electrostatic spinning. Information about the structural arrangement of nanofibers in the layer is directly visible in the form of a diffraction image formed on a projection screen or obtained from measured intensities of the laser beam passing through the sample which are determined by the dependency of the angle of the main direction of polarization of the laser beam on the axis of alignment of nanofibers in the sample. Both optical methods were verified on Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibrous layers (fiber diameter of 470 nm) with random, single-axis aligned and crossed structures. The obtained results match the results of commonly used methods which apply the analysis of electron microscope images. The presented simple method not only allows samples to be analysed much more rapidly and without damaging them but it also makes possible the analysis of much larger areas, up to several square millimetres, at the same time

Entrapment of praziquantel in liposomes modifies effects of drug on morphology and motility of Mesocestoides corti (syn. M. vogae, Cestoda) tetrathyridia in mice

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Albendazole treatment and liver fibrosis in mice infected with Mesocestoides vogae (syn. corti) tetrathyridia (Cestoda): a preliminary study

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A bioresorbable biomaterial carrier and passive stabilization device to improve heart function post-myocardial infarction

The limited regenerative capacity of the heart after a myocardial infarct results in remodeling processes that can progress to congestive heart failure (CHF). Several strategies including mechanical stabilization of the weakened myocardium and regenerative approaches (specifically stem cell technologies) have evolved which aim to prevent CHF. However, their final performance remains limited motivating the need for an advanced strategy with enhanced efficacy and reduced deleterious effects. An epicardial carrier device enabling a targeted application of a biomaterial-based therapy to the infarcted ventricle wall could potentially overcome the therapy and application related issues. Such a device could play a synergistic role in heart regeneration, including the provision of mechanical support to the remodeling heart wall, as well as providing a suitable environment for in situ stem cell delivery potentially promoting heart regeneration. In this study, we have developed a novel, single-stage concept to support the weakened myocardial region post-MI by applying an elastic, biodegradable patch (SPREADS) via a minimal-invasive, closed chest intervention to the epicardial heart surface. We show a significant increase in %LVEF 14 days post-treatment when GS (clinical gold standard treatment) was compared to GS + SPREADS + Gel with and without cells (p ≤ 0.001). Furthermore, we did not find a significant difference in infarct quality or blood vessel density between any of the groups which suggests that neither infarct quality nor vascularization is the mechanism of action of SPREADS. The SPREADS device could potentially be used to deliver a range of new or previously developed biomaterial hydrogels, a remarkable potential to overcome the translational hurdles associated with hydrogel delivery to the heart.AMCARE project funded by European Union\u27s ‘Seventh Framework’ Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under Grant Agreement n° NMP3-SME-2013-604531. David Monahan is funded by the Irish Research Council Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship (GOIPG/2017/927) and the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at the National University of Ireland Galway. Scott Robinson for statistical analysis. The authors acknowledge the facilities, scientific, and technical assistance of the Centre for Microscopy & Imaging at the National University of Ireland Galway.2021-05-1

A bioresorbable biomaterial carrier and passive stabilization device to improve heart function post-myocardial infarction

The limited regenerative capacity of the heart after a myocardial infarct results in remodeling processes that can progress to congestive heart failure (CHF). Several strategies including mechanical stabilization of the weakened myocardium and regenerative approaches (specifically stem cell technologies) have evolved which aim to prevent CHF. However, their final performance remains limited motivating the need for an advanced strategy with enhanced efficacy and reduced deleterious effects. An epicardial carrier device enabling a targeted application of a biomaterial-based therapy to the infarcted ventricle wall could potentially overcome the therapy and application related issues. Such a device could play a synergistic role in heart regeneration, including the provision of mechanical support to the remodeling heart wall, as well as providing a suitable environment for in situ stem cell delivery potentially promoting heart regeneration. In this study, we have developed a novel, single-stage concept to support the weakened myocardial region post-MI by applying an elastic, biodegradable patch (SPREADS) via a minimal-invasive, closed chest intervention to the epicardial heart surface. We show a significant increase in %LVEF 14 days post-treatment when GS (clinical gold standard treatment) was compared to GS + SPREADS + Gel with and without cells (p ≤ 0.001). Furthermore, we did not find a significant difference in infarct quality or blood vessel density between any of the groups which suggests that neither infarct quality nor vascularization is the mechanism of action of SPREADS. The SPREADS device could potentially be used to deliver a range of new or previously developed biomaterial hydrogels, a remarkable potential to overcome the translational hurdles associated with hydrogel delivery to the heart.AMCARE project funded by European Union's ‘Seventh Framework’ Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under Grant Agreement n° NMP3-SME-2013-604531. David Monahan is funded by the Irish Research Council Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship (GOIPG/2017/927) and the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at the National University of Ireland Galway. Scott Robinson for statistical analysis. The authors acknowledge the facilities, scientific, and technical assistance of the Centre for Microscopy & Imaging at the National University of Ireland Galway.peer-reviewed2021-05-1