Antibacterial and cytotoxic effects of photoexcited Au clusters via blue high-power or white low-power light emitting diode irradiation

The development of photosensitizers and light sources has enabled the use of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) in various dental therapies. In the present study, we compared the antibacterial and cytotoxic effects of Au clusters photoexcited by blue and white LED irradiation. We fabricated novel photosensitizers, captopril-protected gold (Capt-Au) clusters and lysozyme-stabilized gold (Lyz-Au) clusters, for aPDT. Au clusters were then photoexcited by two kinds of light sources, blue high-power and white low-power light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Since white LED contains a wide spectrum of light (400–750 nm), white LED would be relevant for aPDT even if using a low-power source. The turbidity and viability of Streptococcus mutans were assessed following application of Capt-Au clusters (500 μg/mL) or Lyz-Au clusters (1,000 μg/mL) photoexcited by a blue high-power LED (1,000 mW/cm2) or white low-power LED (80 mW/cm2). In addition, the cytotoxicity of Au clusters and LED irradiation was evaluated in NIH3T3 and MC3T3-E1 cells. Au clusters photoexcited by the white low-power LED equally decreased the turbidity and viability of S. mutans compared with blue high-power LED. However, Au clusters photoexcited by white LED irradiation caused decreased cytotoxicity in mammalian cells compared with those photoexcited by blue LED irradiation. In conclusion, white LEDs possess biosafe properties for aPDT using Au clusters

Prognostic Impact of Baseline Hemoglobin Levels on Long-Term Thrombotic and Bleeding Events After Percutaneous Coronary Interventions

Background: Association of baseline hemoglobin levels with long-term adverse events after percutaneous coronary interventions has not been yet thoroughly defined. We aimed to assess the clinical impact of baseline hemoglobin on long-term ischemic and bleeding risk after percutaneous coronary intervention. Methods and Results: Using the pooled individual patient-level data from the 3 percutaneous coronary intervention studies, we categorized 19 288 patients into 4 groups: high-normal hemoglobin (≥14.0 g/dL; n=7555), low-normal hemoglobin (13.0-13.9 g/dL in men and 12.0-13.9 g/dL in women; n=5303), mild anemia (11.0-12.9 g/dL in men and 11.0-11.9 g/dL in women; n=4117), and moderate/severe anemia (<11.0 g/dL; n=2313). Median follow-up duration was 3 years. Low-normal hemoglobin, mild anemia, and moderate/severe anemia correlated with significant excess risk relative to high-normal hemoglobin for GUSTO (Global Utilization of Streptokinase and Tissue Plasminogen Activator for Occluded Arteries Trial) moderate/severe bleeding, with adjusted hazard ratios of 1.22 (95% CI, 1.04-1.44), 1.73 (95% CI, 1.47-2.04), and 2.31 (95% CI, 1.92-2.78), respectively. Moderate/severe anemia also correlated with significant excess risk relative to high-normal hemoglobin for the ischemic composite end point of myocardial infarction/ischemic stroke (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.11-1.60), whereas low-normal hemoglobin and mild anemia did not. However, the excess risk of low-normal hemoglobin, mild anemia, and moderate/severe anemia relative to high-normal hemoglobin remained significant for ischemic stroke and for mortality. Conclusions: Decreasing baseline hemoglobin correlated with incrementally higher long-term risk for major bleeding, ischemic stroke, and mortality after percutaneous coronary intervention. Even within normal range, lower baseline hemoglobin level correlated with higher ischemic and bleeding risk

Investigation of a new implant surface modification using phosphorylated pullulan

Various implant surface treatment methods have been developed to achieve good osseointegration in implant treatment. However, some cases remain impossible to treat with implants because osseointegration is not obtained after implantation, and the implants fail. Thus, this study focused on phosphorylated pullulan because of its adhesiveness to titanium (Ti) and bone, high biocompatibility, and early replacement with bone. In this study, the response of bone-related cells to phosphorylated pullulan was evaluated to develop a new surface treatment method. Saos-2 (human osteosarcoma-derived osteoblast-like cells), MC3T3-E1 (mouse calvaria-derived osteoblast-like cells), and RAW264.7 (mouse macrophage-like cells) were used. In evaluating cellular responses, phosphorylated pullulan was added to the culture medium, and cell proliferation and calcification induction tests were performed. The proliferation and calcification of cells on the surface of Ti disks coated with phosphorylated pullulan were also evaluated. In addition, bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), an osteogenic factor, was used to evaluate the role of phosphorylated pullulan as a drug carrier in inducing calcification on Ti disks. Phosphorylated pullulan tended to promote the proliferation of osteoblast-like cells and the formation of calcification on Ti disks coated with phosphorylated pullulan. Ti disks coated with phosphorylated pullulan loaded with BMP-2 enhanced calcification. Phosphorylated pullulan inhibited osteoclast-like cell formation. These results are due to the properties of phosphorylated pullulan, such as adhesiveness to titanium and drug-loading function. Therefore, phosphorylated pullulan effectively promotes bone regeneration when coated on titanium implants and is useful for developing a new surface treatment method

Capture of bacteria by flexible carbon nanotubes

Capture of bacteria with flexible carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was done in vitro. Bundles of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) or multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was mixed with Streptococcus mutans. Precipitation assays and colony-forming unit formation assays showed free S. mutans in the solution was significantly decreased by the addition of the CNTs. Observation of the precipitate by scanning electron microscopy showed bacterial adhesion to CNTs. It has been shown that CNTs of different diameters have significantly different effects on the precipitation efficiency, and the manners in which they capture the cells are different. We found that MWCNTs (diameter of approximately 30 nm) had the highest precipitation efficiency, which was attributable to both their adequate dispersibility and aggregation activity. From observations by scanning electron microscopy, bundles of SWCNTs and thin MWCNTs (diameter of approximately 30 nm), which were moderately flexible, were easily wound around the curved surface of S. mutans. Bare CNTs having high adhesive ability could be useful as biomaterials, e.g., as tools for the elimination of oral pathogens at the nano-level

Strong adhesion of Saos-2 cells to multi-walled carbon nanotubes

In recent years, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been considered potential biomedical materials because of their unique character. The aim of this study was to investigate the response of a human osteoblast-like cell line - Saos-2 - on single-walled CNTs (SWCNTs) and multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs). The surface of a culture dish was coated with CNTs, and Saos-2 cells were cultured for three days. Cell morphology, viability, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, adhesion, and vinculin expression were evaluated. The result showed high cell viability and strong adhesion to MWCNTs. Saos-2 cultured on MWCNTs exhibited vinculin expression throughout the cell body. while the cells attached to SWCNTs and glass were mostly limited to their periphery. Our results suggest that CNT coatings promote cell activity and adhesiveness. These findings indicate that MWCNTs could be used as surface coating materials to promote cell adhesion

Modification of the dentin surface by using carbon nanotubes.

Recent studies have shown that carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can be used as biomedical materials because of their unique properties. CNTs effect nucleation of hydroxyapatite, because of which considerable interest has been generated regarding the use of CNTs in dentistry. However, there are only a few reports on the use of CNTs as dental materials. In this study, we investigated the changes induced in the surfaces of tooth slices by the application of a coating of CNTs by observing CNT-coated tooth slices both macroscopically as well as under a scanning electron microscope. Further, we investigated the effect of CNT coating on the tensile bond strength of dentin adhesives. CNTs adhered easily to the tooth surfaces when tooth slices were suspended in a CNT-dispersed solution. Interestingly, it was observed that CNTs selectively adhered to the surfaces of dentin and cementum, possibly by adhering to their exposed collagen fibers. In addition, the CNT coating did not affect the tensile bond strength of dentin adhesives. These results indicate that coating of the teeth with CNTs can be a possible application of CNTs as dental materials

Fabrication and cell behavior assessment of antibacterial micro/nano-patterned chitosan films

The surface of biomaterials with a fine micro/nano-pattern reportedly affects cell behavior. Chitosan was previously shown to exhibit antibacterial properties and thus here we evaluated the cellular response and antibacterial activity of chitosan micro/nano patterns prepared by the imprint method. We fabricated micro/nano patterns with different sizes and shapes of pillars, grooves, and holes. The chitosan pattern films exhibited antibacterial activity towards Streptococcus mutans. In addition, we observed mammalian cells adhering to and spreading on the chitosan pattern, and found that the orientation of the cells was controlled by the shape of the pattern

Carbon nanotube-coated silicone as a flexible and electrically conductive biomedical material

Artificial cell scaffolds that support cell adhesion, growth, and organization need to be fabricated for various purposes. Recently, there have been increasing reports of cell patterning using electrical fields. We fabricated scaffolds consisting of silicone sheets coated with single-walled (SW) or multi-walled (MW) carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and evaluated their electrical properties and biocompatibility. We also performed cell alignment with dielectrophoresis using CNT-coated sheets as electrodes. Silicone coated with 10 μg/cm2 SWCNTs exhibited the least sheet resistance (0.8 kΩ/sq); its conductivity was maintained even after 100 stretching cycles. CNT coating also improved cell adhesion and proliferation. When an electric field was applied to the cell suspension introduced on the CNT-coated scaffold, the cells became aligned in a pearl-chain pattern. These results indicate that CNT coating not only provides electro-conductivity but also promotes cell adhesion to the silicone scaffold: cells seeded on the scaffold can be organized using electricity. These findings demonstrate that CNT-coated silicone can be useful as a biocompatible scaffold