Oral administration of encapsulated catechin in chitosan-alginate nanoparticles improves cognitive function and neurodegeneration in an aluminum chloride-induced rat model of Alzheimer's disease.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of catechin-loaded Chitosan-Alginate nanoparticles (NPs) on cognitive function in an aluminum chloride (AlCl3)-induced rat model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The Catechin-loaded Chitosan-Alginate nanocarriers were synthesized through ionotropic gelation (IG) method. Physio-chemical characterization was conducted with the Zetasizer Nano system, the scanning electron microscope, and the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The experiments were performed over 21 days on six groups of male Wistar rats. The control group, AlCl3 treated group, Catechin group, nanocarrier group, treatment group 1 (AlCl3 + Catechin), and treatment group 2 (AlCl3 + nanocarrier). A behavioral study was done by the Morris water maze (MWM) test. In addition, the level of oxidative indices and acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity was determined by standard procedures at the end of the study. AlCl3 induced a significant increase in AChE activity, along with a significant decrease in the level of Catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in the hippocampus. Moreover, the significant effect of AlCl3 was observed on the behavioral parameters of the MWM test. Both forms of Catechin markedly improved AChE activity, oxidative biomarkers, spatial memory, and learning. The present study indicated that the administration of Catechin-loaded Chitosan-Alginate NPs is a beneficial therapeutic option against behavioral and chemical alteration of AD in male Wistar rats.

Quaternized oxidized sodium alginate injectable hydrogel with high antimicrobial and hemostatic efficacy promotes diabetic wound healing.

In this paper, a hydrogel material with efficient antibacterial, hemostatic, self-healing, and injectable properties was designed for the treatment of diabetic wounds. Firstly, quaternary ammonium salts were grafted with oxidized sodium alginate, and quaternized oxidized sodium alginate (QOSA) was synthesized. Due to the introduction of quaternary ammonium group it has antibacterial and hemostatic effects, at the same time, due to the presence of aldehyde group it can be reacted with carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) to form a hydrogel through the Schiff base reaction. Furthermore, deer antler blood polypeptide (DABP) was loaded into the hydrogel (QOSA&CMCS&DABP), showing good swelling ratio and bacteriostatic effect. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that the hydrogel not only quickly inhibited hepatic hemorrhage in mice and reduced coagulation index and clotting time in vitro, but also significantly enhanced collagen deposition at the wound site, accelerating wound healing. This demonstrates that the multifunctional hydrogel materials (QOSA&CMCS&DABP) have promising applications in the acceleration of skin wound healing and antibacterial promotion.

Oral alginate microspheres for the efficient site-specific delivery of epidermal growth factor attenuated murine ulcerative colitis via repairing the mucosal barrier.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic bowel inflammatory disease affecting the colorectum. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) has been demonstrated to be effective to counteract UC. However, there exists the gastrointestinal challenges such as stomach acid, enzyme and bile salts for oral delivery of EGF. Herein, calcium alginate microsphere was prepared by the microfluidic technique to encapsulate EGF. The morphology of EGF-loaded microsphere (MS-EGF) was spherical and its average particle size was 80 ± 23 µm. The encapsulation efficiency of EGF was reaching to 93.8 % ± 1.6 %. In vitro release experiments showed that MS-EGF presented the good pH-sensitive properties, that was, it could effectively resist the gastric acid and small intestinal fluids, and undergone the rapid dissolution in the artificial colon fluid. In vitro cellular experiments demonstrated that the bioactivity of EGF was well preserved by microsphere. Moreover, in vivo murine colitis model showed that MS-EGF presented the obvious colitis alleviation. Furthermore, the colonic morphology of colitis mice was effectively recovered and the tight junction between the gut epithelium was obviously repaired. In conclusion, calcium alginate microsphere might be a promising vehicle of EGF for UC treatment.

Effect of electrospun poly (L-lactide-co-caprolactone) and formulated porcine fibrinogen for diabetic foot ulcers.

Diabetic foot ulcers were a significant complication of diabetes and were accompanied by delayed wound healing. To compare the effect of topical application electrospun poly (L-lactide-co-caprolactone) and formulated porcine fibrinogen (PLCL/Fg) dressing with alginate dressing when treating diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). A single-center, prospective, randomized, patient-blinded clinical trial was conducted from July 1, 2023, to December 26, 2023. The clinical trial registration was completed on August 28, 2023 (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06014437). The eligible patients with DFUs of 1-20 cm2 present for at least 1 month and with Wagner grade 1 or 2. They were randomized 1:1 to receive PLCL/Fg or alginate dressing. Participants received PLCL/Fg dressing 1-3 times per week or alginate dressing 3 times per week for 12 weeks. A total of 52 patients (33 men [63.5 %]; mean [SD] age, 63.1 [11.9] years; mean [SD] diabetes time, 8.3 [4.6] years) with DFUs were assessed for this study. The DFUs classified as Wagner grade 1 or 2 (mean [SD] ulcer area, 3.8 [3.2] cm2) were randomized to receive either the PLCL/Fg dressing (n = 26) or the alginate dressing (n = 26) for as long as 12 weeks. In this study, the incidence of complete healing included 22 patients (91.7 %) in the PLCL/Fg group and 14 (63.6 %) in the alginate group during the 12-week treatment period (P = 0.003). The treatment-related adverse events that occurred were 5 (20.8 %) in the PLCL/Fg group and 4 (18.1 %) in the comparator group. In this randomized clinical trial, PLCL/Fg dressing showed beneficial effects in DFUs treatment of wound surface reduction and regulating the wound microenvironment.

Oral quercetin nanoparticles in hydrogel microspheres alleviate high-altitude sleep disturbance based on the gut-brain axis.

High-altitude sleep disturbance is a common symptom of acute mountain sickness, which can be alleviated via modulation of the gut-brain axis. Quercetin (Que) is used to modulate gut microbiota and serves as a potential drug to regulate the gut-brain axis, but the poor solubility and bioavailability affect its biological functions. Here, Que nanoparticles (QNPs) were prepared with zein using an antisolvent method, and QNP-loaded calcium alginate hydrogel microspheres (QNP@HMs) were prepared using electrospinning technology to improve the gastrointestinal stability and intestinal adhesion of QNPs. In the mouse model of high-altitude sleep disturbance, oral administration of QNP@HMs before the mice entering high altitude prolonged sleep duration, improved blood cell recovery, spontaneous behavior and short-term memory, and reduced such inflammation factors as TNF-α and iNOS. Moreover, QNP@HMs enhanced the abundance of probiotics in the gut, including Lactobacillus and Lachnospira, and reduced intestinal inflammation. However, in the mice after gut sterilization by long-term oral antibiotics, QNP@HMs showed no therapeutic effect. QNP@HMs are a promising medication for the prevention of high-altitude sleep disturbance based on the gut-brain axis.

Oral administration of PEDV-dissolved Alg-CS gel induces high and sustained mucosal immunity in mice.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) is a serious disease in piglets that leads to high mortality. An effective measure that provides higher IgA levels in the intestine and milk is required to decrease losses. Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) was dissolved in calcium alginate (Alg) and combined with chitosan (CS) via electrostatic interactions between cationic chitosan and anionic alginate to create a porous gel (Alg-CS+PEDV). The gel was used to immunize mice orally or in combination with subcutaneous injections of inactivated PEDV vaccine. At 12 and 24 days after immunization, levels of IgA and IgG in Alg-CS+PEDV were higher than with normal PEDV oral administration. At 24 days after immunization, the concentration of IFN-γ in Alg-CS+PEDV was higher than with normal PEDV oral administration. Furthermore, oral administration combining subcutaneous immunization induced higher levels of IgG and IgA than oral administration alone. Our study provides a new method for the preparation and administration of oral vaccines to achieve enhanced mucosal immunity against PEDV.

STING agonist-based hydrogel enhances immune activation in synergy with radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment.

Immunosuppression caused by incomplete radiofrequency ablation (iRFA) is a crucial factor affecting the effectiveness of RFA for solid tumors. However, little is known about the changes iRFA induces in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the primary application area for RFA. In this study, we found iRFA promotes a suppressive TIME in residual HCC tumors, characterized by M2 macrophage polarization, inhibited antigen presentation by dendritic cells (DCs), and reduced infiltration of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Interestingly, the STING agonist MSA-2 was able to reorganize M2-like tumor-promoting macrophages into M1-like anti-tumor states and enhance antigen presentation by DCs. To optimize the therapeutic effect of MSA-2, we used a calcium ion (Ca2+) responsive sodium alginate (ALG) as a carrier, forming an injectable hydrogel named ALG@MSA-2. This hydrogel can change from liquid to gel, maintaining continuous drug release in situ. Our results suggested that ALG@MSA-2 effectively activated anti-tumor immunity, as manifested by increased M1-like macrophage polarization, enhanced antigen presentation by DCs, increased CTL infiltration, and inhibited residual tumor growth. ALG@MSA-2 also resulted in a complete regression of contralateral tumors and widespread liver metastases in vivo. In addition, the excellent biosafety of ALG@MSA-2 was also proved by blood biochemical analysis and body weight changes in mice. In summary, this study demonstrated that the immune cascade of ALG@MSA-2 mediated the STING pathway activation and promoted a favorable TIME which might provide novel insights for the RFA treatment of HCC.

Development of polysaccharide-coated layered double hydroxide nanocomposites for enhanced oral insulin delivery.

Oral insulin (INS) is predicted to have the most therapeutic advantages in treating diabetes to repress hepatic glucose production through its potential to mimic the endogenous insulin pathway. Many oral insulin delivery systems have been investigated. Layered double hydroxide (LDH) as an inorganic material has been widely used in drug delivery thanks to its appealing features such as good biocompatibility, low toxicity, and excellent loading capability. However, when used in oral drug delivery, the effectiveness of LDH is limited due to the acidic degradation in the stomach. In this study, to overcome these challenges, chitosan (Chi) and alginate (Alg) dual-coated LDH nanocomposites with the loading of insulin (Alg-Chi-LDH@INS) were developed by the layered-by-layered method for oral insulin delivery with dynamic size of ~ 350.8 nm, negative charge of ~ - 13.0 mV, and dispersity index 0.228. The insulin release profile was evaluated by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The drug release profiles evidenced that alginate and chitosan coating partially protect insulin release from a burst release in acidic conditions. The analysis using flow cytometry showed that chitosan coating significantly enhanced the uptake of LDH@INS by Caco-2 cells compared to unmodified LDH and free insulin. Further in the in vivo study in streptozocin-induced diabetic mice, a significant hypoglycemic effect was maintained following oral administration with great biocompatibility (~ 50% blood glucose level reduction at 4 h). This research has thus provided a potential nanocomposite system for oral delivery of insulin.

Efficacy and safety of MC-003 solution for endoscopic mucosal or submucosal resection: a prospective, multicenter, randomized, triple-blinded, parallel-group, phase III study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The safety and efficacy of solutions for submucosal injection are critical for endoscopic resection of gastric adenomas or early gastric cancers. Although several injectable solutions have been introduced for endoscopic resection, they have some limitations. We aimed to compare the efficacy of the new sodium alginate-based solution MC-003 with that of normal saline (NS; 0.9% sodium chloride). METHODS: In this randomized, triple-blind study, 70 patients were initially enrolled for EMR or endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). The main outcomes included the need for additional injections, completion of en bloc resection, and occurrence of adverse events. RESULTS: Each group ultimately included 34 patients. Complete en bloc resections were achieved in all patients (P = 1.000). The MC-003 group had more peri-neoplasm tissue fibrosis (P = .056) and needed fewer additional injections for lesions >15 mm (P = .037), located in the distal portion of the stomach (P = .007), and during ESD procedures (P = .001). The adverse event rate was comparable in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: MC-003 outperformed NS in reducing the need for additional injections during en bloc resection, particularly in larger lesions located in the distal portion of the stomach (where most lesions were found) during ESD procedures, without increasing the incidence of serious adverse events. MC-003 is a promising submucosal injectable solution in real-world clinical settings.

The efficacy of a paeoniflorin-sodium alginate-gelatin skin scaffold for the treatment of diabetic wound: An in vivo study in a rat model.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of a paeoniflorin-sodium alginate (SA)-gelatin skin scaffold for treating diabetic wound in a rat model. METHODS: Bioinks were prepared using various percentages of paeoniflorin in the total weight of a solution containing SA and gelatin. Skin scaffolds containing 0%, 1%, 3%, 5%, and 10% paeoniflorin were printed using 3D bioprinting technology, and scaffold microstructure was observed with scanning electron microscopy. Skin scaffolds were then used in rats with diabetic wounds. H&E staining, Masson staining, and immunohistochemical staining for IL-1ß and CD31 were performed on days 7 and 14. RESULTS: All skin scaffolds had a mesh-like structure with uniform pore distribution. Wounds healed well in each group, with the 1% and 3% groups demonstrating the most complete healing. H&E staining showed that skin accessory organs had appeared in each group. On day 7, collagen deposition in the 3% group was higher than in the other groups (P＜0.05), and IL-1ß infiltration was lower in the 10% group than in the 3% group (P = 0.002). On day 14, IL-1ß infiltration was not significantly different between the 10% and 3% groups (P = 0.078). The CD31 level was higher in the 3% group than in the other groups on days 7 and 14 (P＜0.05). CONCLUSION: A 3% paeoniflorin-SA-gelatin skin scaffold promoted the healing of diabetic wounds in rats. This scaffold promoted collagen deposition and microvascular regeneration and demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties, suggesting that this scaffold type could be used to treat diabetic wounds.

In vitro evidence of oncofetal antigen and TLR-9 agonist co-delivery by alginate nanovaccines for liver cancer immunotherapy.

Liver cancer is the most common malignant tumor and liver cancer immunotherapy has been one of the research hotspots. To induce antigen-specific antitumor immune responses against liver cancer, we developed antigen and adjuvant co-delivery nanovaccines (APPCs). Polyanionic alginate (ALG) and polycationic polyethyleneimine (PEI) were utilized to co-deliver a glypican-3 peptide antigen and an unmethylated cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) adjuvant by electrostatic interactions. A cellular uptake study confirmed that APPC could promote antigen and adjuvant uptake by dendritic cells (DCs). Importantly, APPC facilitated the endosomal escape of the peptide for antigen delivery into the cytoplasm. In addition, APPC showed significant stimulation of DC maturation in vitro. APPC could also efficiently prime DCs and induce cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses in vivo. The in vitro cell viability assay and the in vivo histocompatibility showed that APPC was non-toxic within the tested concentration. This study demonstrates that the peptide antigen and the CpG adjuvant co-delivery nanovaccine have potential applications in liver cancer immunotherapy.

Triple-Configurational Magnetic Robot for Targeted Drug Delivery and Sustained Release.

Active targeted therapy for bowel cancer using untethered microrobots has attracted extensive attention. However, traditional microrobots face challenges, such as issues of mobility, biocompatibility, drug loading, sustained-release capabilities, and targeting accuracy. Here, we propose an untethered triple-configurational magnetic robot (TCMR) that is composed of three geometrically nested parts: actuation and guarding, anchoring and seeding, and drug release part. A targeting magnetic driving system actuates the TCMR along the predetermined trajectory to the target position. The pH-sensitive actuation and guarding part formed by electrodeposition is degraded in the intestinal environment and separates from the two other parts. A majority of magnetic nanoparticles encapsulated in this part are retrieved. The anchoring and seeding part anchors the lesion area and seeds the drug release part in the gaps of intestinal villi by hydrolysis. Ultimately, the drug release part containing the therapeutic completes the sustained release to prolong the duration of the therapeutic agent. Cytotoxicity and therapeutic tests reveal that TCMRs are biocompatible and suitable for targeted therapy and have good therapeutic performance. The newly designed TCMR will provide new ideas for targeted therapy, thus expanding the application scope of robotics technology in the biomedical field.

pH-sensitive chitosan-deoxycholic acid/alginate nanoparticles for oral insulin delivery.

Oral absorption of peptides/proteins is usually compromised by various gastrointestinal tract barriers. To improve delivery efficiency, chitosan-conjugated deoxycholic acid (CS-DCA) coupled with sodium alginate (ALG) was prepared to load insulin into pH-sensitive nanoparticles. The insulin-loaded chitosan-deoxycholic acid/alginate nanoparticles (CDA NPs) were characterized by size (143.3 ± 10.8 nm), zeta potential (19.5 ± 1.6 mV), entrapment efficiency (61.14 ± 1.67%), and insulin drug loading (3.36 ± 0.09%). The CDA NPs exhibited pH-triggered release characteristics in vitro and protected the wrapped insulin from gastric degradation. Stability of the CDA NPs in enzyme-containing simulated gastrointestinal fluids suggested that the NPs could partially protect the wrapped insulin from enzymatic degradation. Additionally, CS-DCA-modified NPs promoted the permeability of Caco-2 cells and enhanced intracellular absorption of FITC-labeled insulin by 9.4 and 1.2-folds, when compared to insulin solution and unmodified NPs, respectively. The positively charged NPs increased intestinal villi adhesion and enhanced insulin absorption in the intestines of diabetic rat models. Furthermore, the hypoglycemic test showed that CDA NPs prolonged insulin release in vivo and exerted a remarkable hypoglycemic effect on diabetic rats with an oral bioavailability of 15%. In conclusion, CDA NPs is a potential oral insulin delivery system.

Gellan gum/alginate-based Ca-enriched acellular bilayer hydrogel with robust interface bonding for effective osteochondral repair.

The treatment of osteochondral (OC) defects remains challenging because of the lack of economical and feasible therapeutic strategies for OC repair and reconstruction. In this study, we report an integrated bilayer hydrogel with robust interface binding force (40 kPa) by facilitating the diffusion of calcium ions to the secondary crosslink of the bilayer hydrogel, in which gellan gum and sodium alginate acted as the chondral layer, gellan gum and hydroxyapatite acted as subchondral layer. This integrated construct has high cytocompatibility, and can seed with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) related to different functional protein expression for cartilage and bone formation, respectively. Furthermore, in the rabbit critical-sized osteochondral defect model (4.0 mm in diameter and 8.0 mm in depth), the calcium enriched hydrogel act as a calcium reservoir, promote neovascularization at week 4, and repair the critical defect at week 8, demonstrating the feasible preparation of an acellular hydrogel for OC repair.

Alginate-coated activated charcoal enhances fecal excretion of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in mice, with fewer side effects than uncoated one.

Activated charcoal (AC) is a potential candidate antidote against dioxins. However, it is difficult to take AC as a supplement on a daily basis, because its long-term ingestion causes side effects such as constipation and deficiency of fat-soluble essential nutrients and hypocholesterolemia. Alginate-coated AC, termed Health Carbon (HC), was developed to decrease the side effects of AC, but its pharmacological effects, including side effects, remains unclear. Here, we show that HC enhanced fecal excretion of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and decreased some side effects of unmodified AC, such as hypocholesterolemia, in male mice. Basal diet mixed with HC or unmodified AC at various concentrations was fed to mice for 16 days following a single intraperitoneal administration of [3H]TCDD. Both HC and unmodified AC at 3% or more significantly increased fecal excretion of [3H]TCDD in comparison with the control basal diet. Consistent with this, [3H]TCDD radioactivity in the liver-a major TCDD storage organ-was markedly decreased by HC at concentrations of 3% and 10%. In an examination of potential side effects, unmodified AC at 10% or more caused significant body weight reduction and at 20% caused significant hypocholesterolemia. In contrast, HC caused weight gain reduction only at a concentration of 20%, and there was no evidence of hypocholesterolemia at any dietary HC concentration. HC not only retains the ability of AC to enhance fecal excretion of TCDD but also reduces some of the side effects of AC.

PDGF-BB/SA/Dex injectable hydrogels accelerate BMSC-mediated functional full thickness skin wound repair by promoting angiogenesis.

Wound healing is a well-orchestrated dynamic and interactive process, which needs a favorable microenvironment and suitable angiogenesis. Platelet derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) plays a crucial role in wound healing. However, the short half-life of PDGF-BB limits its efficacy. In the present study, we successfully synthesized an injectable hydrogel with sodium alginate (SA) and dextran (Dex) as a delivery system to simultaneously deliver PDGF-BB and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in the wound. Our work demonstrates that the PDGF-BB protein enhanced the survival, migration and endothelial cell (EC) differentiation of BMSCs in vitro. The PDGF-BB/SA/Dex hydrogels could sustainably release PDGF-BB with excellent biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo. Besides, these composite hydrogels loaded with BMSCs could accelerate wound healing by improving epithelialization and collagen deposition. In addition, the PDGF-BB/SA/Dex hydrogels promoted the EC-differentiation of transplanted BMSCs and proliferation of hair follicle stem cells in the wound. Furthermore, the expressions of angiogenesis-specific markers, PDGFR-ß, p-PI3K, p-Akt, and p-eNOS, were obviously increased in the PDGF-BB/SA/Dex/BMSCs group. In conclusion, the PDGF-BB/SA/Dex injectable hydrogels could accelerate BMSC-mediated skin wound healing by promoting angiogenesis via the activation of the PDGF-BB/PDGFR-ß-mediated PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway, which may provide a new therapeutic strategy for stem cell therapy in wound healing.

Encapsulation of Synthesized Plant Growth Regulator Based on Copper(II) Complex in Chitosan/Alginate Microcapsules.

A new copper complex, trans-diaqua-trans-bis [1-hydroxy-1,2-di (methoxycarbonyl) ethenato] copper (abbreviation Cu(II) complex), was synthesized and its plant growth regulation properties were investigated. The results show a sharp dependence of growth regulation activity of the Cu(II) complex on the type of culture and its concentration. New plant growth regulator accelerated the development of the corn root system (the increase in both length and weight) but showed a smaller effect on the development of the wheat and barley root systems. Stimulation of corn growth decreased with increasing Cu(II) complex concentration from 0.0001% to 0.01% (inhibition at high concentrations-0.01%). The development of corn stems was also accelerated but to a lesser extent. Chitosan-coated calcium alginate microcapsules suitable for delivery of Cu(II) complex to plants were prepared and characterized. Analysis of the FTIR spectrum showed that complex molecular interactions between functional groups of microcapsule constituents include mainly electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds. Microcapsules surface exhibits a soft granular surface structure with substructures consisting of abundant smaller particles with reduced surface roughness. Release profile analysis showed Fickian diffusion is the rate-controlling mechanism of Cu(II) complex releasing. The obtained results give new insights into the complexity of the interaction between the Cu(II) complex and microcapsule formulation constituents, which can be of great help in accelerating product development for the application in agriculture.

Foams with Enhanced Rheology for Stopping Bleeding.

Bleeding from injuries to the torso region is a leading cause of fatalities in the military and in young adults. Such bleeding cannot be stopped by applying direct pressure (compression) of a bandage. An alternative is to introduce a foam at the injury site, with the expansion of the foam counteracting the bleeding. Foams with an active hemostatic agent have been tested for this purpose, but the barrier created by these foams is generally not strong enough to resist blood flow. In this paper, we introduce a new class of foams with enhanced rheological properties that enable them to form a more effective barrier to blood loss. These aqueous foams are delivered out of a double-barrelled syringe by combining precursors that produce bubbles of gas (CO2) in situ. In addition, one barrel contains a cationic polymer (hydrophobically modified chitosan, hmC) and the other an anionic polymer (hydrophobically modified alginate, hmA). Both these polymers function as hemostatic agents due to their ability to connect blood cells into networks. The amphiphilic nature of these polymers also enables them to stabilize gas bubbles without the need for additional surfactants. hmC-hmA foams have a mousse-like texture and exhibit a high modulus and yield stress. Their properties are attributed to the binding of hmC and hmA chains (via electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions) to form a coacervate around the gas bubbles. Rheological studies are used to contrast the improved rheology of hmC-hmA foams (where a coacervate arises) with those formed by hmC alone (where there is no such coacervate). Studies with animal wound models also confirm that the hmC-hmA foams are more effective at curtailing bleeding than the hmC foams due to their greater mechanical integrity.

In-vivo evaluation of Alginate-Pectin hydrogel film loaded with Simvastatin for diabetic wound healing in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Previously we developed and characterized a novel hydrogel film wound dressing containing Sodium Alginate and Pectin loaded with Simvastatin with multi-functional properties. This study investigated the in-vivo efficacy of the developed wound dressing on type I diabetic wound model. Experiments were performed on male Wistar rats for the period of 21-days. Animals developed diabetes after intraperitoneal injection (50 mg/kg) of Streptozotocin then randomly divided into different groups. On days 7, 14, and 21 of post-wounding, animals were euthanized and the wounds tissue were harvested for analysis. The wound healing rate, hematology and histological analysis, hydroxyproline assay, and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A measurements were noted. The results revealed that the wound dressing healed the wounded area significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the control after 21-day treatment and wound closure was ~99% without any adverse systemic reactions. Histological analysis qualitatively revealed an enhanced re-epithelialization and collagen deposition. Moreover, results also showed an improved rate of collagen synthesis and angiogenesis in the group treated with the hydrogel film loaded with Simvastatin. Thus, the present study demonstrated that developed film holds great potential for the acceleration of diabetic wound healing by its pro-angiogenic effect, faster re-epithelialization and increased collagen deposition.

Model of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension in Rats Caused by Repeated Intravenous Administration of Partially Biodegradable Sodium Alginate Microspheres.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a rare and life-threatening complication of pulmonary embolism. As existing animal models of CTEPH do not fully recapitulate complex disease pathophysiology, we report a new rat model for CTEPH evoked by repetitive embolization of the distal pulmonary artery branches with partially biodegradable alginate microspheres (MSs). MSs (180 ± 28 µm) were intravenously administered eight times at 4-day intervals; control animals received saline. The validity of the model was confirmed using transthoracic echocardiography, exercise testing, catheterization of the right ventricle, and histological examination of the lung and heart. The animals in the CTEPH group demonstrated a stable increase in right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) and decreased exercise tolerance. Histopathological examination revealed advanced medial hypertrophy in the small pulmonary arteries associated with fibrosis. The diameter of the main pulmonary artery was significantly larger in the CTEPH group than in the control group. Marinobufagenin and endothelin-1 serum levels were significantly elevated in rats with CTEPH. In conclusion, repetitive administration of alginate MSs in rats resulted in CTEPH development characterized by specific lung vasculature remodeling, reduced exercise tolerance, and a persistent rise in RVSP. The developed model can be used for pre-clinical testing of promising drug candidates.