Hydrogels for RNA delivery.

RNA-based therapeutics have shown tremendous promise in disease intervention at the genetic level, and some have been approved for clinical use, including the recent COVID-19 messenger RNA vaccines. The clinical success of RNA therapy is largely dependent on the use of chemical modification, ligand conjugation or non-viral nanoparticles to improve RNA stability and facilitate intracellular delivery. Unlike molecular-level or nanoscale approaches, macroscopic hydrogels are soft, water-swollen three-dimensional structures that possess remarkable features such as biodegradability, tunable physiochemical properties and injectability, and recently they have attracted enormous attention for use in RNA therapy. Specifically, hydrogels can be engineered to exert precise spatiotemporal control over the release of RNA therapeutics, potentially minimizing systemic toxicity and enhancing in vivo efficacy. This Review provides a comprehensive overview of hydrogel loading of RNAs and hydrogel design for controlled release, highlights their biomedical applications and offers our perspectives on the opportunities and challenges in this exciting field of RNA delivery.

Preparation and in vitro assessment of wet-spun gemcitabine-loaded polymeric fibers: Towards localized drug delivery for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: There has been minimal improvement in the prognosis of pancreatic cancer cases in the past 3 decades highlighting the crucial need for more effective therapeutic approaches. A drug delivery system capable of locally delivering high concentrations of chemotherapeutics directly at the site of the tumor is clearly required. The aim of this study was to fabricate and characterize the biophysical properties of gemcitabine-eluting wet-spun polymeric fibers for localized drug delivery applications. METHODS/RESULTS: Fibers spun from alginate or chitosan solutions with or without the anticancer drug gemcitabine had a uniform surface area, were internally homogeneous and ranged from 50-120 µm in diameter. Drug encapsulation ranged from 13-52%, depending on the type and concentration of polymer used. Gemcitabine displayed first-order release kinetics where 64-82% of the loaded drug was rapidly released within the first 10 h followed by a sustained release over the next 134 h. A time dependent inhibition of ex vivo tumor spheroid growth and cell viability was observed after incubation with gemcitabine-loaded fibers but not control fibers. CONCLUSION: With further development these studies could lead to the manufacture of a safe and effective delivery system designed to combat non-resectable pancreatic cancer for which currently there is minimal chance of cure.

Evolution of CRISPR-enabled biosensors for amplification-free nucleic acid detection.

CRISPR biosensors enable rapid and accurate detection of nucleic acids without resorting to target amplification. Specifically, these systems facilitate the simultaneous detection of multiple nucleic acid targets with single-base specificity. This is an invaluable asset that can ultimately facilitate accurate diagnoses of biologically complex diseases.

Protein adsorption on blood-contacting surfaces: A thermodynamic perspective to guide the design of antithrombogenic polymer coatings.

Blood-contacting medical devices often succumb to thrombosis, limiting their durability and safety in clinical applications. Thrombosis is fundamentally initiated by the nonspecific adsorption of proteins to the material surface, which is strongly governed by thermodynamic factors established by the nature of the interaction between the material surface, surrounding water molecules, and the protein itself. Along these lines, different surface materials (such as polymeric, metallic, ceramic, or composite) induce different entropic and enthalpic changes at the surface-protein interface, with material wettability significantly impacting this behavior. Consequently, protein adsorption on medical devices can be modulated by altering their wettability and surface energy. A plethora of polymeric coating modifications have been utilized for this purpose; hydrophobic modifications may promote or inhibit protein adsorption determined by van der Waals forces, while hydrophilic materials achieve this by mainly relying on hydrogen bonding, or unbalanced/balanced electrostatic interactions. This review offers a cohesive understanding of the thermodynamics governing these phenomena, to specifically aid in the design and selection of hemocompatible polymeric coatings for biomedical applications. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Blood-contacting medical devices often succumb to thrombosis, limiting their durability and safety in clinical applications. A plethora of polymeric coating modifications have been utilized for addressing this issue. This review offers a cohesive understanding of the thermodynamics governing these phenomena, to specifically aid in the design and selection of hemocompatible polymeric coatings for biomedical applications.

Biopolymeric Coatings for Local Release of Therapeutics from Biomedical Implants.

The deployment of structures that enable localized release of bioactive molecules can result in more efficacious treatment of disease and better integration of implantable bionic devices. The strategic design of a biopolymeric coating can be used to engineer the optimal release profile depending on the task at hand. As illustrative examples, here advances in delivery of drugs from bone, brain, ocular, and cardiovascular implants are reviewed. These areas are focused to highlight that both hard and soft tissue implants can benefit from controlled localized delivery. The composition of biopolymers used to achieve appropriate delivery to the selected tissue types, and their corresponding outcomes are brought to the fore. To conclude, key factors in designing drug-loaded biopolymeric coatings for biomedical implants are highlighted.

Synthesis and Evaluation of Functionalized Polyurethanes for pH-Responsive Delivery of Compounds in Chronic Wounds.

Chronic wounds, depending on the bacteria that caused the infection, can be associated with an extreme acidic or basic pH. Therefore, the application of pH-responsive hydrogels has been instigated for the delivery of therapeutics to chronic wounds. Herein, with the aim of developing a flexible pH-responsive hydrogel, we functionalized hydrophilic polyurethanes with either cationic (polyethylene imine) or anionic (succinic anhydride) moieties. A comprehensive physicochemical characterization of corresponding polymers was carried out. Particularly, when tested in aqueous buffers, the surface charge of hydrogel films was closely correlated with the pH of the buffers. The loading of the cationic and anionic hydrogel films with various compound models (bromophenol blue; negatively charged or Pyronin Y; positively charged) showed that the electrostatic forces between the polymeric backbone and the compound model will determine the ultimate release rate at any given pH. The potential application of these films for chronic wound drug delivery was assessed by loading them with an antibiotic (ciprofloxacin). In vitro bacterial culturing was performed using Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Results showed that at the same drug dosage, different release profiles achievable from cationic and anionic polyurethanes can yield different degrees of an antibacterial effect. Overall, our results suggest the potential application of cationic and anionic hydrophilic polyurethanes as flexible pH-responsive materials for the delivery of therapeutics to chronic wounds.

Biopolymer-Based Multilayer Microparticles for Probiotic Delivery to Colon.

The potential health benefits of probiotics may not be realized because of the substantial reduction in their viability during food storage and gastrointestinal transit. Microencapsulation has been successfully utilized to improve the resistance of probiotics to critical conditions. Owing to the unique properties of biopolymers, they have been prevalently used for microencapsulation of probiotics. However, majority of microencapsulated products only contain a single layer of protection around probiotics, which is likely to be inferior to more sophisticated approaches. This review discusses emerging methods for the multilayer encapsulation of probiotic using biopolymers. Correlations are drawn between fabrication techniques and the resultant microparticle properties. Subsequently, multilayer microparticles are categorized based on their layer designs. Recent reports of specific biopolymeric formulations are examined regarding their physical and biological properties. In particular, animal models of gastrointestinal transit and disease are highlighted, with respect to trials of multilayer microencapsulated probiotics. To conclude, novel materials and approaches for fabrication of multilayer structures are highlighted.

Revisiting gene delivery to the brain: silencing and editing.

Neurodegenerative disorders, ischemic brain diseases, and brain tumors are debilitating diseases that severely impact a person's life and could possibly lead to their demise if left untreated. Many of these diseases do not respond to small molecule therapeutics and have no effective long-term therapy. Gene therapy offers the promise of treatment or even a cure for both genetic and acquired brain diseases, mediated by either silencing or editing disease-specific genes. Indeed, in the last 5 years, significant progress has been made in the delivery of non-coding RNAs as well as gene-editing formulations to the brain. Unfortunately, the delivery is a major limiting factor for the success of gene therapies. Both viral and non-viral vectors have been used to deliver genetic information into a target cell, but they have limitations. Viral vectors provide excellent transduction efficiency but are associated with toxic effects and have limited packaging capacity; however, non-viral vectors are less toxic and show a high packaging capacity at the price of low transfection efficiency. Herein, we review the progress made in the field of brain gene therapy, particularly in the design of non-toxic and trackable non-viral vectors, capable of controlled release of genes in response to internal/external triggers, and in the delivery of formulations for gene editing. The application of these systems in the context of various brain diseases in pre-clinical and clinical tests will be discussed. Such promising approaches could potentially pave the way for clinical realization of brain gene therapies.

Correction: Revisiting gene delivery to the brain: silencing and editing.

Correction for 'Revisiting gene delivery to the brain: silencing and editing' by João Conniot et al., Biomater. Sci., 2021, DOI: .

Facts and Figures on Materials Science and Nanotechnology Progress and Investment.

As the twenty-first century unfolds, nanotechnology is no longer just a buzzword in the field of materials science, but rather a tangible reality. This is evident from the surging number of commercial nanoproducts and their corresponding revenue generated in different industry sectors. However, it is important to recognize that sustainable growth of nanotechnology is heavily dependent on government funding and relevant national incentive programs. Consequently, proper analyses on publicly available nanotechnology data sets comprising information on the past two decades can be illuminating, facilitate development, and amend previous strategies as we move forward. Along these lines, classical statistics and machine learning (ML) allow processing large data sets to scrutinize patterns in materials science and nanotechnology research. Herein, we provide an analysis on nanotechnology progress and investment from an unbiased, computational vantage point and using orthogonal approaches. Our data reveal both well-established and surprising correlations in the nanotechnology field and its actors, including the interplay between the number of research institutes-industry, publications-patents, collaborative research, and top contributors to nanoproducts. Overall, data suggest that, supported by incentive programs set out by stakeholders (researchers, funding agencies, policy makers, and industry), nanotechnology could experience an exponential growth and become a centerpiece for economical welfare. Indeed, the recent success of COVID-19 vaccines is also likely to boost public trust in nanotechnology and its global impact over the coming years.

3D-Printed Coaxial Hydrogel Patches with Mussel-Inspired Elements for Prolonged Release of Gemcitabine.

With the aim of fabricating drug-loaded implantable patches, a 3D printing technique was employed to produce novel coaxial hydrogel patches. The core-section of these patches contained a dopamine-modified methacrylated alginate hydrogel loaded with a chemotherapeutic drug (Gemcitabine), while their shell section was solely comprised of a methacrylated alginate hydrogel. Subsequently, these patches were further modified with CaCO3 cross linker and a polylactic acid (PLA) coating to facilitate prolonged release of the drug. Consequently, the results showed that addition of CaCO3 to the formula enhanced the mechanical properties of the patches and significantly reduced their swelling ratio as compared to that for patches without CaCO3. Furthermore, addition of PLA coating to CaCO3-containing patches has further reduced their swelling ratio, which then significantly slowed down the release of Gemcitabine, to a point where 4-layered patches could release the drug over a period of 7 days in vitro. Remarkably, it was shown that 3-layered and 4-layered Gemcitabine loaded patches were successful in inhibiting pancreatic cancer cell growth for a period of 14 days when tested in vitro. Lastly, in vivo experiments showed that gemcitabine-loaded 4-layered patches were capable of reducing the tumor growth rate and caused no severe toxicity when tested in mice. Altogether, 3D printed hydrogel patches might be used as biocompatible implants for local delivery of drugs to diseased site, to either shrink the tumor or to prevent the tumor recurrence after resection.

Calcium-Silicate-Incorporated Gellan-Chitosan Induced Osteogenic Differentiation in Mesenchymal Stromal Cells.

Gellan-chitosan (GC) incorporated with CS: 0% (GC-0 CS), 10% (GC-10 CS), 20% (GC-20 CS) or 40% (GC-40 CS) w/w was prepared using freeze-drying method to investigate its physicochemical, biocompatible, and osteoinductive properties in human bone-marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (hBMSCs). The composition of different groups was reflected in physicochemical analyses performed using BET, FTIR, and XRD. The SEM micrographs revealed excellent hBMSCs attachment in GC-40 CS. The Alamar Blue assay indicated an increased proliferation and viability of seeded hBMSCs in all groups on day 21 as compared with day 0. The hBMSCs seeded in GC-40 CS indicated osteogenic differentiation based on an amplified alkaline-phosphatase release on day 7 and 14 as compared with day 0. These cells supported bone mineralization on GC-40 CS based on Alizarin-Red assay on day 21 as compared with day 7 and increased their osteogenic gene expression (RUNX2, ALP, BGLAP, BMP, and Osteonectin) on day 21. The GC-40 CS-seeded hBMSCs initiated their osteogenic differentiation on day 7 as compared with counterparts based on an increased expression of type-1 collagen and BMP2 in immunocytochemistry analysis. In conclusion, the incorporation of 40% (w/w) calcium silicate in gellan-chitosan showed osteoinduction potential in hBMSCs, making it a potential biomaterial to treat critical bone defects.

Why Go NANO on COVID-19 Pandemic?

Although treating COVID-19 is shown to be challenging, NANOtechnology is around the corner to overcome potential drawbacks. The use of NANOtechnologies will definitely shape the worldwide approaches and tools to treat COVID-19. Here we highlight the importance of going NANO on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Electrically Conducting Hydrogel Graphene Nanocomposite Biofibers for Biomedical Applications.

Conductive biomaterials have recently gained much attention, specifically owing to their application for electrical stimulation of electrically excitable cells. Herein, flexible, electrically conducting, robust fibers composed of both an alginate biopolymer and graphene components have been produced using a wet-spinning process. These nanocomposite fibers showed better mechanical, electrical, and electrochemical properties than did single fibers that were made solely from alginate. Furthermore, with the aim of evaluating the response of biological entities to these novel nanocomposite biofibers, in vitro studies were carried out using C2C12 myoblast cell lines. The obtained results from in vitro studies indicated that the developed electrically conducting biofibers are biocompatible to living cells. The developed hybrid conductive biofibers are likely to find applications as 3D scaffolding materials for tissue engineering applications.

Fabrication of Aligned Biomimetic Gellan Gum-Chitosan Microstructures through 3D Printed Microfluidic Channels and Multiple In Situ Cross-Linking Mechanisms.

In this study we use a combination of ionic- and photo-cross-linking to develop a fabrication method for producing biocompatible microstructures using a methacrylated gellan gum (a polyanion) and chitosan (a polycation) in addition to lithium phenyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoylphosphinate (LAP) as the photoinitiator. This work involves the development of a low-cost, portable 3D bioprinter and a customized extrusion mechanism for controlled introduction of the materials through a 3D printed microfluidic nozzle, before being cross-linked in situ to form robust microstructure bundles. The formed microstructures yielded a diameter of less than 1 µm and a tensile strength range of ∼1 MPa. This study is the first to explore and achieve GGMA:CHT microstructure fabrication by means of controlled in-line compaction and photo-cross-linking through 3D printed microfluidic channels.

Coaxial mussel-inspired biofibers: making of a robust and efficacious depot for cancer drug delivery.

Biopolymer-based hydrogels have emerged as promising platforms for drug delivery systems (DDSs) due to their inherent biocompatibility, tunable physical properties and controllable degradability. Yet, drug release in majority of these systems is solely contingent on diffusion of drug molecules through the hydrogel, which often leads to burst release of drugs from these systems. Herein, inspired by the chemistry of mussel adhesive proteins, a new generation of coaxial hydrogel fibers was developed that could simultaneously exert both affinity and diffusion control over the release of chemotherapeutic drugs. Specifically, dopamine-modified alginate hydrogel along with chemotherapeutic drugs (doxorubicin or gemcitabine) was used as the main core component to confer affinity-controlled release, while a methacrylated-alginate hydrogel was used as the shell composition to provide the controlled diffusion barrier. It was shown that our coaxial mussel-inspired biofibers yielded biocompatible hydrogel fibers (as indicated by comprehensive in vitro and in vivo experiments) with favourable properties including controlled swelling, and enhanced mechanical properties, when compared against single fibers made from unmodified alginate. Notably, it was observed that these coaxial fibers were capable of releasing the two drugs in a slower manner, when compared to single fibers made from pure alginate, which was partly attributed to stronger interactions of drugs with dopamine-modified alginate (the core element of coaxial fibers) as observed from zeta-potential measurements. It was further shown that these drug-loaded coaxial fibers had optimal anticancer activity both in vitro and in vivo using various pancreatic cancer cell lines. Most remarkably, drug loaded coaxial fibers, particularly doxorubicin-containing fibers, had higher anticancer effect in vivo compared to systemic injection of equivalent dosage of the drugs. Altogether, these biocompatible and robust hydrogel fibers may be further used as neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapies for controlled delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs locally to the tumor sites.

Dual Delivery of Gemcitabine and Paclitaxel by Wet-Spun Coaxial Fibers Induces Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cell Death, Reduces Tumor Volume, and Sensitizes Cells to Radiation.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a dismal prognosis, with surgical resection of the tumor in conjunction with systemic chemotherapy the only potential curative therapy. Up to 80% of diagnosed cases are deemed unresectable, prompting the need for alternative treatment approaches. Herein, coaxial polymeric fibers loaded with two chemotherapeutic agents, gemcitabine (Gem) and paclitaxel (Ptx), are fabricated to investigate the effect of local drug delivery on PDAC cell growth in vitro and in vivo. A wet-spinning fabrication method to form a coaxial fiber with a polycaprolactone shell and alginate core loaded with Ptx and Gem, respectively, is used. In vitro, Gem+Ptx fibers display significant cytotoxicity as well as radiosensitizing properties toward PDAC cell lines greater than the equivalent free drugs, which may be attributed to a radiosensitizing effect of the polymers. In vivo studies assessing Gem+Ptx fiber efficacy found that Gem+Ptx fibers reduce tumor volume in a xenograft mouse model of PDAC. Importantly, no difference in mouse weight, circulating cytokines, or liver function is observed in mice treated with Gem+Ptx fibers compared to the empty fiber controls confirming the safety of the implant approach. With further development, Gem+Ptx fibers can improve the treatment of unresectable PDAC in the future.

Sulfated polysaccharide-based scaffolds for orthopaedic tissue engineering.

Given their native-like biological properties, high growth factor retention capacity and porous nature, sulfated-polysaccharide-based scaffolds hold great promise for a number of tissue engineering applications. Specifically, as they mimic important properties of tissues such as bone and cartilage they are ideal for orthopaedic tissue engineering. Their biomimicry properties encompass important cell-binding motifs, native-like mechanical properties, designated sites for bone mineralisation and strong growth factor binding and signaling capacity. Even so, scientists in the field have just recently begun to utilise them as building blocks for tissue engineering scaffolds. Most of these efforts have so far been directed towards in vitro studies, and for these reasons the clinical gap is still substantial. With this review paper, we have tried to highlight some of the important chemical, physical and biological features of sulfated-polysaccharides in relation to their chondrogenic and osteogenic inducing capacity. Additionally, their usage in various in vivo model systems is discussed. The clinical studies reviewed herein paint a promising picture heralding a brave new world for orthopaedic tissue engineering.

Sericin grafted multifunctional curcumin loaded fluorinated graphene oxide nanomedicines with charge switching properties for effective cancer cell targeting.

Fluorinated graphene has recently gained much attention for cancer drug delivery, owing to its peculiar properties including high electronegativity difference, magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent, and the photothermal effect. However, the hydrophobic nature of fluorinated graphene greatly hinders its application as a biological material. Herein, a novel green method is reported for synthesis of a pH-sensitive charge-reversal and water-soluble fluorinated graphene oxide, modified with polyethyleneimine anchored to sericin-polypeptide (FPS). This nanocarrier was further loaded with curcumin (Cur), and characterized as a nanocarrier for anti-cancer drug delivery. The synthesized nanocarriers contain two different pH-sensitive amide linkages, which are negatively charged in blood pH (≈7.4) and can prolong circulation times. The amide linkages undergo hydrolysis once they reach the mildly acidic condition (pH≈6.5, corresponding to tumor extracellular matrix), and subsequently once reached the lower acidic condition (pH≈5.5, corresponded to endo/lysosomes microenvironment), the FPS charge can be switched to positive (≈+28 mV), which aids the nuclear release. This nanocarrier was designed to selectively enhance cell internalization and nuclear-targeted delivery of curcumin in HeLa, SkBr3 and PC-3 cancer cells. Moreover, FPS-Cur demonstrated high curcumin loading capacity, prolonged curcumin release and promotion of apoptosis in HeLa, SkBr3 and PC-3 cells. Therefore, with its pH-responsive charge-reversal properties, FPS-Cur would be a promising candidate for chemotherapy of cervical, breast and prostate cancers.

Self-Healing Hydrogels: The Next Paradigm Shift in Tissue Engineering?

Given their durability and long-term stability, self-healable hydrogels have, in the past few years, emerged as promising replacements for the many brittle hydrogels currently being used in preclinical or clinical trials. To this end, the incompatibility between hydrogel toughness and rapid self-healing remains unaddressed, and therefore most of the self-healable hydrogels still face serious challenges within the dynamic and mechanically demanding environment of human organs/tissues. Furthermore, depending on the target tissue, the self-healing hydrogels must comply with a wide range of properties including electrical, biological, and mechanical. Notably, the incorporation of nanomaterials into double-network hydrogels is showing great promise as a feasible way to generate self-healable hydrogels with the above-mentioned attributes. Here, the recent progress in the development of multifunctional and self-healable hydrogels for various tissue engineering applications is discussed in detail. Their potential applications within the rapidly expanding areas of bioelectronic hydrogels, cyborganics, and soft robotics are further highlighted.