PCR-tips for rapid diagnosis of bacterial pathogens.

Micropipette tips are currently among the most used disposable devices in bioresearch and development laboratories. Their main application is the fractionation of solutions. New functionalities have recently been added to this device, widening their applications. This paper analyzed disposable micropipette tips as reagent holders of PCR reagents. PCR has become a prevalent and often indispensable technique in biological laboratories for various applications, such as the detection of coronavirus and other infectious diseases. A functional micropipette tip was implemented to simplify PCR analysis and reduce the contamination chances of deoxynucleotides and specific primers. This disposable device is prepared by tip coating processes of reagents, using polyvinyl alcohol polymer and additives. The coated layer is optimized to load and release PCR reagents efficiently. As a proof of concept, we show that the detection of Bordetella pertussis, the etiological agent of whooping cough whose diagnostic relies on PCR, can be quickly done using practical-functional tips. This device is an excellent example of testing the functionality and contribution of molecular diagnostic PCR tips. KEY POINTS: • Functional micropipette tips are prepared by coating with dNTPs and primers. • Functional tips are used to replace dNTPs and primers in the PCR master mix. • PCR diagnostic of Bordetella pertussis is performed using functional tips.

Polymers and Bioactive Compounds with a Macrophage Modulation Effect for the Rational Design of Hydrogels for Skin Regeneration.

The development of biomaterial platforms for dispensing reagents of interest such as antioxidants, growth factors or antibiotics based on functional hydrogels represents a biotechnological solution for many challenges that the biomedicine field is facing. In this context, in situ dosing of therapeutic components for dermatological injuries such as diabetic foot ulcers is a relatively novel strategy to improve the wound healing process. Hydrogels have shown more comfort for the treatment of wounds due to their smooth surface and moisture, as well as their structural affinity with tissues in comparison to hyperbaric oxygen therapy, ultrasound, and electromagnetic therapies, negative pressure wound therapy or skin grafts. Macrophages, one of the most important cells of the innate immune system, have been described as the key not only in relation to the host immune defense, but also in the progress of wound healing. Macrophage dysfunction in chronic wounds of diabetic patients leads to a perpetuating inflammatory environment and impairs tissue repair. Modulating the macrophage phenotype from pro-inflammatory (M1) to anti-inflammatory (M2) could be a strategy for helping to improve chronic wound healing. In this regard, a new paradigm is found in the development of advanced biomaterials capable of inducing in situ macrophage polarization to offer an approach to wound care. Such an approach opens a new direction for the development of multifunctional materials in regenerative medicine. This paper surveys emerging hydrogel materials and bioactive compounds being investigated to induce the immunomodulation of macrophages. We propose four potential functional biomaterials for wound healing applications based on novel biomaterial/bioactive compound combination that are expected to show synergistic beneficial outcomes for the local differentiation of macrophages (M1-M2) as a therapeutic strategy for chronic wound healing improvement.

Comparison between the Astaxanthin Release Profile of Mesoporous Bioactive Glass Nanoparticles (MBGNs) and Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV)/MBGN Composite Microspheres.

In recent years, composite biomaterials have attracted attention for drug delivery applications due to the possibility of combining desired properties of their components. However, some functional characteristics, such as their drug release efficiency and likely side effects, are still unexplored. In this regard, controlled tuning of the drug release kinetic via the precise design of a composite particle system is still of high importance for many biomedical applications. This objective can be properly fulfilled through the combination of different biomaterials with unequal release rates, such as mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGN) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) microspheres. In this work, MBGNs and PHBV-MBGN microspheres, both loaded with Astaxanthin (ASX), were synthesised and compared in terms of ASX release kinetic, ASX entrapment efficiency, and cell viability. Moreover, the correlation of the release kinetic to phytotherapeutic efficiency and side effects was established. Interestingly, there were significant differences between the ASX release kinetic of the developed systems, and cell viability differed accordingly after 72 h. Both particle carriers effectively delivered ASX, though the composite microspheres exhibited a more prolonged release profile with sustained cytocompatibility. The release behaviour could be fine-tuned by adjusting the MBGN content in the composite particles. Comparatively, the composite particles induced a different release effect, implying their potential for sustained drug delivery applications.

Polyvinyl alcohol based-drug delivery systems for cancer treatment.

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a biodegradable semicrystalline synthetic polymer that has been used for biomedical applications for several years. In the pharmaceutical area, PVA has been widely used to prepare solid dispersions to improve the solubility of drugs. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that PVA is highly biocompatible and non-toxic in in-vitro and in-vivo studies. Several reports provided in this review suggest a promising strategy for cancer treatment. Thus far, the current therapy includes a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, the effectivity can be limited due to the heterogeneous manifestations of the disease, dose-related toxicity, and side effects. A promising strategy is the implementation of a targeted therapy using hydrogels, microparticles, or nanoparticles (NPs), capable of encapsulating, protecting, transporting, and targeted administration of a therapeutic agent. Considering the relevance of the PVA in conjunction with their copolymers, it has become a promising biodegradable material to build novel functional composites used in the fabrication of hydrogels, microparticles, nanoparticles, and nanocomposites for drug delivery systems in cancer treatment.