Targeting Human Osteoarthritic Chondrocytes with Ligand Directed Bacteriophage-Based Particles.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by progressive deterioration and loss of articular cartilage. There is currently no treatment to reverse the onset of OA. Thus, we developed a targeted delivery strategy to transfer genes into primary human chondrocytes as a proof-of-concept study. We displayed a chondrocyte-affinity peptide (CAP) on the pIII minor coat protein of the M13 filamentous bacteriophage (phage)-based particle carrying a mammalian transgene cassette under cytomegalovirus CMV promoter and inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) cis elements of adeno-associated virus serotype 2 (AAV-2). Primary human articular chondrocytes (HACs) were used as an in vitro model, and the selectivity and binding properties of the CAP ligand in relation to the pathogenic conditions of HACs were characterized. We found that the CAP ligand is highly selective toward pathogenic HACs. Furthermore, the stability, cytotoxicity, and gene delivery efficacy of the CAP-displaying phage (CAP.Phage) were evaluated. We found that the phage particle is stable under a wide range of temperatures and pH values, while showing no cytotoxicity to HACs. Importantly, the CAP.Phage particle, carrying a secreted luciferase (Lucia) reporter gene, efficiently and selectively delivered transgene expression to HACs. In summary, it was found that the CAP ligand preferably binds to pathogenic chondrocytes, and the CAP.Phage particle successfully targets and delivers transgene to HACs.

Structural Determination, Biological Function, and Molecular Modelling Studies of Sulfoaildenafil Adulterated in Herbal Dietary Supplement.

Unapproved ingredients included in herbal medicines and dietary supplements have been detected as adulterated synthetic drugs used for erectile dysfunction. Extraction from a dietary supplement was performed to isolate the compounds by HPLC analysis. The structural characterization was confirmed using mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF/MS and LC-MS/MS), 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectroscopy techniques. Results identified the thus-obtained compound to be sulfoaildenafil, a thioketone analogue of sildenafil. The biological activities of this active compound have been focused for the first time by the experimental point of view performance in vitro. The results revealed that sulfoaildenafil can affect the therapeutic level of nitric oxide through the upregulation of nitric oxide synthase and phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) gene expressions. This bulk material, which displays structural similarity to sildenafil, was analyzed for the presence of a PDE5 inhibitor using a theoretical calculation. These unique features of the potential activity of PDE5 protein and its inhibitors, sildenafil and sulfoaildenafil, may play a key consideration for understanding the mode of actions and predicting the biological activities of PDE5 inhibitors.

The Possibility of Interlocking Nail Fabrication from FFF 3D Printing PLA/PCL/HA Composites Coated by Local Silk Fibroin for Canine Bone Fracture Treatment.

The biomaterials polylactic acid (PLA), polycaprolactone (PCL), and hydroxyapatite (HA) were selected to fabricate composite filaments for 3D printing fused filament fabrication (FFF), which was used to fabricate a composite biomaterial for an interlocking nail for canine diaphyseal fractures instead of metal bioinert materials. Bioactive materials were used to increase biological activities and provide a high possibility for bone regeneration to eliminate the limitations of interlocking nails. HA was added to PLA and PCL granules in three ratios according to the percentage of HA: 0%, 5%, and 15% (PLA/PCL, PLA/PCL/5HA, and PLA/PCL/15HA, respectively), before the filaments were extruded. The test specimens were 3D-printed from the extruded composite filaments using an FFF printer. Then, a group of test specimens was coated by silk fibroin (SF) using the lyophilization technique to increase their biological properties. Mechanical, biological, and chemical characterizations were performed to investigate the properties of the composite biomaterials. The glass transition and melting temperatures of the copolymer were not influenced by the presence of HA in the PLA/PCL filaments. Meanwhile, the presence of HA in the PLA/PCL/15HA group resulted in the highest compressive strength (82.72 ± 1.76 MPa) and the lowest tensile strength (52.05 ± 2.44 MPa). HA provided higher bone cell proliferation, and higher values were observed in the SF coating group. Therefore, FFF 3D-printed filaments using composite materials with bioactive materials have a high potential for use in fabricating an interlocking nail for canine diaphyseal fractures.

Anthocyanins and metabolites from purple rice inhibit IL-1ß-induced matrix metalloproteinases expression in human articular chondrocytes through the NF-κB and ERK/MAPK pathway.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative joint disease, which is closely related to cartilage degradation. Anthocyanins, a natural flavonoid pigments, exhibit strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the effect of anthocyanin on inflammatory response in OA has not been investigated. Our results showed that cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) and peonidin-3-O-glucoside (P3G), the main anthocyanins found in three Thai purple rice cultivars, attenuated the inhibition of porcine cartilage degradation in an experimental model. The effects of three Thai purple rice extracts were related to their high concentration of anthocyanins. Moreover, protocatechuic acid (PA), the main metabolite of anthocyanin, has chondroprotective potential by reducing glycosaminoglycans and collagen breakdown in IL-1ß/OSM-induced porcine cartilage explants in long-term condition. The induction of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) caused by IL-1ß-stimulated human chondrocytes was also attenuated by C3G, P3G, and their metabolites. Furthermore, C3G, P3G, and their metabolites pretreatment significantly inhibited IκBα degradation, the level of p-p65, and ERK/MAPK pathway. Additionally, PA pretreatment enhanced the phosphorylation of JNK in IL-1ß-stimulated human chondrocytes. These findings indicated that anthocyanin in Thai purple rice exhibited anti-inflammatory effects in IL-1ß-stimulated human chondrocytes by inhibiting NF-κB and ERK/MAPK signaling pathway.