Polyhydroxybutyrate-starch/carbon nanotube electrospun nanocomposite: A highly potential scaffold for bone tissue engineering applications.

Blend nanofibers composed of synthetic and natural polymers with carbon nanomaterial, have a great potential for bone tissue engineering. In this study, the electrospun nanocomposite scaffolds based on polyhydroxybutyrate(PHB)-Starch-multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were fabricated with different concentrations of MWCNTs including 0.5, 0.75 and 1 wt%. The synthesized scaffolds were characterized in terms of morphology, porosity, thermal and mechanical properties, biodegradation, bioactivity, and cell behavior. The effect of the developed structures on MG63 cells was determined by real-time PCR quantification of collagen type I, osteocalcin, osteopontin and osteonectin genes. Our results showed that the scaffold containing 1 wt% MWCNTs presented the lowest fiber diameter (124 ± 44 nm) with a porosity percentage above 80 % and the highest tensile strength (24.37 ± 0.22 MPa). The addition of MWCNTs has a positive effect on surface roughness and hydrophilicity. The formation of calcium phosphate sediments on the surface of the scaffolds after immersion in SBF is observed by SEM and verified by EDS and XRD analysis.MG63 cells were well cultured on the scaffold containing MWCNTs and presented more cell viability, ALP secretion, calcium deposition and gene expression compared to the scaffolds without MWCNTs. The PHB-starch-1wt.%MWCNTs scaffold can be considerable for studies of supplemental bone tissue engineering applications.

Antibacterial Host-Guest Intercalated LDH-Adorned Polyurethane for Accelerated Dermal Wound Healing.

Curcumin has a limited clinical application because of its extremely poor accessibility. In the present study, improved curcumin bioavailability within a castor oil polyurethane/layered double hydroxide (LDH) wound cover was achieved by preparing a curcumin p-sulfonic acid calix[4]arene (SC4A) inclusion complex. Then, it was utilized to intercalate MgAl-layered double hydroxide (MgAl-LDH) nanosheets. The incorporation of the nanostructure into a PU/Cur-SC4A-LDH film provided bacteria-killing performance against both Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria. This finding is due to an increase in curcumin bioavailability in the PU matrix. Furthermore, all PU nanocomposites exhibited appropriate cytocompatibility based on an MTT assay. Mainly, the proliferation of L929 fibroblast cells in contact with the PU/Cur-SC4A-LDH sample was significantly further enhanced than that for other nanocomposites within 7 days. This observation can be related to the better availability of curcumin on the film's surface, which causes an improvement in the proliferation rate of cells. Regarding the histological results, the hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) images showed faster epidermal layer formation and a larger quantity of matured hair follicles for PU/Cur-SC4A-LDH-healed wounds in comparison with those for the negative control over a period of 28 days. Thus, this practical healing ability of the PU/Cur-SC4A-LDH nanocomposite makes it a promising candidate as a wound dressing film.

A novel thymol-doped enamel bonding system: Physico-mechanical properties, bonding strength, and biological activity.

PURPOSE: Over the past decades, the preparation of antibacterial restorative dental adhesives has obtained increasing attention in order to prevent secondary caries. In the present study, a novel essential oil-based antibacterial resin adhesive was prepared and evaluated for dental applications. In this regards, thymol, which is a major phenolic component of thyme essential oil, was incorporated into methacrylate resin matrix and its effect on the physico-mechanical and biological properties of the experimental bonding agent was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mechanical properties were evaluated via measuring flexural strength, flexural modulus and fracture toughness. Degree of conversion (DC%) of monomers was measured using FTIR spectroscopy. Viscoelastic properties of the samples were also determined by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). The bactericidal activity of composite specimens against Streptococcus mutans (ATCC 35668) was determined based on ASTM E 2180-07.MTT assay was performed to investigate the cytocompatibility of samples. Furthermore, the bonding strength of the adhesives was evaluated through microshear bond test on the caries-free extracted human premolar teeth and the mode of failure was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: Thymol-doped resin adhesive exhibited comparable degree of conversion to the control resin adhesive. The plasticizing behavior of thymol slightly decreased the flexural modulus and glass transition temperature of the thymol containing specimens, even though; it caused significant increases in fracture toughness of adhesive. The results represented appropriate antibacterial activity as well as suitable cytocompatibility. Furthermore, the thymol-doped resin adhesive showed comparable adhesive strength to the control. CONCLUSION: The thymol is extremely compatible with the methacrylate resin restorative system and completely fulfills all requirements of a good bactericidal component in construction of an ideal enamel bonding system.