Bio-medical applications of ultrasound

Despite of the classical perception of an ultrasound as a diagnostic modality, it possesses a great potential for therapeutic applications. In the range of experimental studies it has been shown that the ultrasound is capable to trigger biological effects including direct cell lysis, apoptosis and drug delivery. All those effects have a potential to be harnessed for therapeutic purposes such as cancer treatment. For an example, the induction of apoptosis with ultrasound provides a unique opportunity to eliminate tumour tissues in safe and non-contact mode. Currently, few companies (USA, EU and Japan) offer ultrasound systems capable to directly destroy cancer tissue via ablation. The main trends of therapeutic applications of ultrasound will be highlighted in the presentation

Bio-medical applications of ultrasound

Despite of the classical perception of an ultrasound as a diagnostic modality, it possesses a great potential for therapeutic applications. In the range of experimental studies it has been shown that the ultrasound is capable to trigger biological effects including direct cell lysis, apoptosis and drug delivery. All those effects have a potential to be harnessed for therapeutic purposes such as cancer treatment. For an example, the induction of apoptosis with ultrasound provides a unique opportunity to eliminate tumour tissues in safe and non-contact mode. Currently, few companies (USA, EU and Japan) offer ultrasound systems capable to directly destroy cancer tissue via ablation. The main trends of therapeutic applications of ultrasound will be highlighted in the presentation

Toxicity studies of combination of silver nanoparticles and cryogels

The combination "cryogel + nanoparticles" allows developing a new type of wound dressing, where antimicrobial properties of silver nanoparticles made have been utilized. Previous reports have shown that the production of shaped nanoparticles and the incorporation onto cryogels is feasible [1-2]. This study investigates the toxicity of these constructs to primary human dermal fibroblast cells in context of possible clinical application

Toxicity studies of combination of silver nanoparticles and cryogels

The combination "cryogel + nanoparticles" allows developing a new type of wound dressing, where antimicrobial properties of silver nanoparticles made have been utilized. Previous reports have shown that the production of shaped nanoparticles and the incorporation onto cryogels is feasible [1-2]. This study investigates the toxicity of these constructs to primary human dermal fibroblast cells in context of possible clinical application

Therapeutic potential of electromagnetic fields for tissue engineering and wound healing

Ability of electromagnetic fields (EMF) to stimulate cell proliferation and differentiation has attracted the attention of many laboratories specialized in regenerative medicine over the past number of decades. Recent studies have shed light on bio-effects induced by the EMF and how they might be harnessed to help control tissue regeneration and wound healing. Number of recent reports suggests that EMF has a positive impact at different stages of healing. Processes impacted by EMF include, but are not limited to, cell migration and proliferation, expression of growth factors, nitric oxide signalling, cytokine modulation, and more. These effects have been detected even during application of low frequencies (range: 30-300 kHz) and extremely low frequencies (range: 3-30 Hz). In this regard, special emphasis of this review is the applications of extremely low-frequency EMFs due to their bio-safety and therapeutic efficacy. The article also discusses combinatorial effect of EMF and mesenchymal stem cells for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and bone tissue engineering. In addition, we discuss future perspectives of application of EMF for tissue engineering and use of metal nanoparticles activated by EMF for drug delivery and wound dressing

One-step synthesis of γ-Fe₂ O₃/Fe₃ O₄ nanocomposite for sensitive electrochemical detection of hydrogen peroxide

Maghemite/magnetite nanocomposite ( γ-Fe₂ O₃/Fe₃ O₄ ) was prepared via an electrochemical method using pulse alternating current and applied for electrocatalytic reduction and sensing of hydrogen peroxide. The structural and compositional analysis of the γ-Fe₂ O₃/Fe₃ O₄ was characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM and XPS. Its thermal decomposition behavior was studied using TG/DSC. The mechanism for γ- Fe₂ O₃/Fe₃ O₄ nanocomposite formation was propose

Therapeutic potential of electromagnetic fields for tissue engineering and wound healing

© 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Ability of electromagnetic fields (EMF) to stimulate cell proliferation and differentiation has attracted the attention of many laboratories specialized in regenerative medicine over the past number of decades. Recent studies have shed light on bio-effects induced by the EMF and how they might be harnessed to help control tissue regeneration and wound healing. Number of recent reports suggests that EMF has a positive impact at different stages of healing. Processes impacted by EMF include, but are not limited to, cell migration and proliferation, expression of growth factors, nitric oxide signalling, cytokine modulation, and more. These effects have been detected even during application of low frequencies (range: 30-300 kHz) and extremely low frequencies (range: 3-30 Hz). In this regard, special emphasis of this review is the applications of extremely low-frequency EMFs due to their bio-safety and therapeutic efficacy. The article also discusses combinatorial effect of EMF and mesenchymal stem cells for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and bone tissue engineering. In addition, we discuss future perspectives of application of EMF for tissue engineering and use of metal nanoparticles activated by EMF for drug delivery and wound dressing

Induction of apoptosis by ultra-low intensity ultrasound for cancer treatment

The purpose for the present study is to quantify the biological effects of ultra-low intensity and its ability to induce the apoptosis in cancer cells, mainly characterized via cell viability and apoptosis assays, and including scenarios with ultrasound-contrast agent presence