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

DETECTION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF UNRUPTURED RETINAL ARTERIAL MACROANEURYSMS

Purpose: To determine the presence of unruptured retinal arterial macroaneurysms (RAMs) and to examine the characteristics of the detected lesions. Methods: This retrospective observational study included the affected and contralateral eyes of 50 patients (100 eyes) with symptomatic, unilateral, ruptured RAMs who visited the Department of Ophthalmology at the Kyoto University Hospital (April 2014–April 2020) and were followed up for at least 6 months after the onset. The presence and characteristics of unruptured RAMs were examined by reviewing the findings of color fundus photography and infrared scanning laser ophthalmoscopy performed before the onset or during the follow-up period. Results: Unruptured RAMs were detected in six of the 50 patients. Some patients had bilateral or multiple unruptured RAMs, and a total of 12 unruptured RAMs were detected in eight eyes of the six patients. Among the detected lesions, eight exhibited a longitudinal increase in their diameter during the follow-up period, whereas six exhibited ruptures. Conclusion: Unruptured RAM is not an uncommon retinal vascular abnormality and can enlarge and progress to ruptured RAM

Comparative biological assessments of endodontic root canal sealer containing surface pre-reacted glass-ionomer (S-PRG) filler or silica filler

Surface pre-reacted glass-ionomer (S-PRG) filler releases several ions, such as fluoride, borate and strontium ions, to exert bioactive effects. We fabricated an endodontic root canal sealer containing S-PRG fillers (S-PRG sealer) and then evaluated the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of S-PRG sealer compared with sealer containing conventional silica fillers (silica sealer). Antibacterial tests showed that S-PRG sealer significantly reduced the turbidity of Enterococcus faecalis compared with silica sealer. Implantation of S-PRG or silica sealer blocks in rat subcutaneous tissue showed that S-PRG sealer decreased the proinflammatory response compared with silica sealer at 10 days post-implantation. In addition, immunostaining revealed that infiltration of CD68- and peroxidase-positive cells around the S-PRG sealer was significantly lower than that in silica sealer. Therefore, it was suggested that S-PRG sealer exhibits antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects

Laser-assisted wet coating of calcium phosphate for surface-functionalization of PEEK

Calcium phosphate (CaP) coating is an effective method for surface-functionalization of bioinert materials and for production of osteoconductive implants. Recently, we developed a laser-assisted biomimetic process (LAB process) for facile and area-specific CaP coating. In this study, the LAB process was applied to chemically stable and mechanically durable poly(etheretherketone) (PEEK), which has become widely used as an orthopedic and dental implant material. The LAB process was carried out by irradiating pulsed Nd:YAG laser light (355 nm) onto a PEEK substrate that was immersed in supersaturated CaP solution. The CaP coating applicability depended on laser fluence, i.e., CaP successfully formed on PEEK surface after the LAB process at 2 W/cm(2). Further increase in laser fluence did not result in the successful formation. At the optimal fluence of 2 W/cm(2), the laser-irradiated PEEK surface was modified and heated to induce heterogeneous CaP precipitation within 10 min in CaP solution, followed by further CaP growth over the irradiation time (tested up to 30 min). The LAB process improved the cytocompatibility of PEEK surface with osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. Furthermore, the LAB-processed CaP-coated PEEK substrate formed a dense hydroxyapatite layer on its surface in the simulated body fluid, suggesting the osteoconductivity of this material. The present LAB process can be a useful new tool to produce osteoconductive PEEK-based implants

In situ precipitation of amorphous calcium phosphate nanoparticles within 3D porous collagen sponges for bone tissue engineering

Amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) plays an important role in biomineralization within the three-dimensional (3D) collagen network in human hard tissues, and exhibits osteoconductivity. Porous collagen sponges coated with ACP nanoparticles could be considered as potential scaffolds for use in bone tissue engineering. In this study, such composite materials were fabricated via homogeneous ACP precipitation using a supersaturated calcium phosphate (CaP) solution. Homogeneous ACP precipitation was induced in situ within the sponges by a temperature-controlled coating process composed of two steps. In the first step, the CaP solution was cooled to 4 °C to suppress precipitation until the solution penetrated fully into the sponge's internal pores. In the second step, the CaP solution was warmed up to 25 °C with continuous shaking to induce ACP precipitation within the sponges. The resulting sponges were therefore coated with ACP nanoparticles on their inner and outer surfaces. A simulated body fluid (SBF) test indicated osteoconductivity of the collagen sponges coated with ACP nanoparticles. Further, ACP-coated collagen sponges immobilizing basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were fabricated using the CaP solution supplemented with bFGF. The fabricated sponges allowed the sustained release of bFGF in a culture medium and enhanced proliferation of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. Such ACP-coated collagen sponges have the potential to be used as scaffolds in bone tissue engineering if pursued for further in vitro and in vivo studies

Preparation of micro/nanopatterned gelatins crosslinked with genipin for biocompatible dental implants

Background: Collagen is a basic component of the periodontium and plays an important role in the function of the periodontal unit. Therefore, coating with collagen/gelatin has been applied to enable dental implants to positively interact with peri-implant tissues. Although the micro/nanoscale topography is an important property of the surface of dental implants, smaller collagen/gelatin surface patterns have not been sufficiently developed. Furthermore, only few reports on the behavior of cells on gelatin surfaces with different patterns and sizes exist. In this study, we developed micro/nanometer-scaled gelatin surfaces using genipin crosslinking, with the aim of understanding the use of patterning in surface modification of dental implants. Results: Grooves, holes, and pillars, with widths or diameters of 2 mu m, 1 mu m, or 500 nm were fabricated using a combination of molding and genipin crosslinking of gelatin. The stability of the different gelatin patterns could be controlled by the degree of genipin crosslinking. The gelatin patterns at 20 mM concentration of genipin and 41% crosslinking maintained a stable, patterned shape for at least 14 days in a cell culture medium. A cell morphology study showed that the cells on groves were aligned along the direction of the grooves. In contrast, the cells on pillars and holes exhibited randomly elongated filopodia. The vinculin spots of the cells were observed on the top of ridges and pillars or the upper surface of holes. The results of a cell attachment assay showed that the number of surface-attached cells increased with increasing patterning of the gelatin surface. Unlike the cell attachment assay, the results of a cell proliferation assay showed that Saos-2 cells prefer grooves with diameters of approximately 2 mu m and 1 mu m and pillars with diameters of 1 mu m and heights of 500 nm. The number of cells on pillars with heights of 2 mu m was larger than those of the other gelatin surface patterns tested. Conclusion: These data support that a detailed design of the gelatin surface pattern can control both cell attachment and proliferation of Saos-2 cells. Thus, gelatin surfaces patterned using genipin crosslinking are now an available option for biocompatible material patterning

Human Dentin Coated with Silver Nanoclusters Exhibits Antibacterial Activity against Streptococcus mutans

Silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) are ultrasmall in size (< 2 nm) and are expected to be an effective antibacterial substance to combat oral infective diseases. In the present study, we synthesized AgNCs (Ag∼75) as the main component for esthetic and antibacterial application against the caries pathogen Streptococcus mutans. The results showed that AgNCs significantly reduced the turbidity and viability of S. mutans. In addition, the bactericidal effects of AgNCs were confirmed by LIVE/DEAD staining. After AgNC application to human dentin, no discoloration of dentin was observed, as compared to silver diamine fluoride application, and AgNC-treated dentin showed an inhibitory effect on colony formation by S. mutans. Therefore, AgNCs appear to be beneficial for dental therapy as an antibacterial and/or esthetic substrate

Photodynamic inactivation of oral bacteria with silver nanoclusters/rose bengal nanocomposite

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (a-PDT) is a promising anti-infective technique for generation of singlet oxygen (1O2) to target dental disease. However, conventional organic photosensitizers have problems for clinical use in terms of cytotoxicity, quenching of a-PDT activity by self-dimerization, and the lack of long-term antibacterial effect. We herein propose silver nanoclusters/rose bengal nanocomposite (AgNCs/RB) as a novel photosensitizer with two primary antibacterial effects: (1) 1O2 generation by irradiated RB and (2) Ag+ ion release from AgNCs. AgNCs/RB irradiated with white light-emitting diode (LED) for a short irradiation time of 1 min significantly decreased the bacterial turbidity of Streptococcus mutans, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (P < 0.05). In SEM, TEM and LIVE/DEAD staining images, photoexcited AgNCs/RB reduced S. mutans colonization, destroyed the cell membrane, and increased the number of dead cells. The antibacterial efficiency of photoexcited AgNCs/RB was greater than that of AgNCs or RB alone (P < 0.05), suggesting a synergistic effect of 1O2 and Ag+ ions from photoexcited AgNCs/RB. By contrast, photoexcited AgNCs/RB did not affect WST-8 and LDH activities and morphology of NIH3T3 mammalian cells, indicating low cytotoxicity. Interestingly, the antibacterial activity of AgNCs/RB on S. mutans was maintained even after the cessation of LED irradiation, indicating a long-term antibacterial effect due to released Ag+ ions. The present AgNCs/RB photosensitizers provide effective synergistic antibacterial effects for dental a-PDT via 1O2 and Ag+ ions coupled with low cytotoxicity

The Role of a Psychiatrist (Rehabilitation Physician) in the Palliative Care Team

Objective: Although palliative care consultation teams (PCTs) have become an integral part of all regional cancer care hospitals, cancer rehabilitation is still in the developing stage in Japan. At our hospital, a physiatrist, or a rehabilitation physician, joined the PCT as a member, and we have been achieving good results. The purpose of this study is to clarify the role of a physiatrist as a member of the PCT by investigating the current status of the PCT at our hospital.Method: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 144 patients receiving rehabilitation out of 345 patients who had started receiving PCT services from April 2012 to March 2013 at Keio University Hospital.Results: Among the 144 patients, 67 patients (46.5%) had already received rehabilitation before starting PCT services, and the remaining 77 patients (53.5%) started receiving rehabilitation based on the recommendation by the physiatrist. In the later group, Dietz Cancer Stage Classifications were: preventative, 6.5%; restorative, 40.0%; supportive, 45.5%; and palliative, 9.1%. ECOG-PS were: PS0, 0.0%; PS1, 23.4%; PS2, 29.9%; PS3, 28.6%; and PS4, 18.2%. The main purposes of rehabilitation were: 1) fracture prevention and pain relief of limbs with bone lesions, 2) social support (e.g. measures for the reduction of nursing requirement, assistance in finding social aids, counseling for family members), 3) psychological support, 4) treatment of lymphedema, 5) management of breathlessness, 6) and approaches to swallowing deficits.Conclusions: Half of the cancer patients started rehabilitation after the intervention by the PCT. Many patients receiving PCT services also needed rehabilitation services and the physiatrist had an important role of evaluating the rehabilitation needs. Physiatrists can act as important members of PCTs to maximize QOL while addressing the physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of both patients and their families