Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
·
2023
·
IF 5.7
Song Baiyang,Fang Li,Mao Xufeng,Ye Xianwang,Yan Zejun,Ma Qi,Shi Zewen,Hu Yiwei,Zhu Yabin,Cheng Yue
Introduction: The repair of a diseased ureter is an urgent clinical issue that needs to be solved. A tissue-engineered scaffold for ureteral replacement is currently insufficient due to its incompetent bioactivity, especially in long-segment abnormalities. The primary reason is the failure of urothelialization on scaffolds.Methods: In this work, we investigated the ability of gelatin-grafted tubular scaffold in ureteral repairment and its related biological mechanism. We designed various porous asymmetric poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA)/poly (L-lactide-co-e-caprolactone) (PLCL) tubes with a thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) method via a change in the ratio of solvents (named PP). To regulate the phenotype of urothelial cells and ureteral reconstruction, gelatin was grafted onto the tubular scaffold using ammonolysis and glutaraldehyde crosslinking (named PP-gel). The in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to test the biological function and the mechanism of the scaffolds.Results and Discussion: The hydrophilicity of the scaffold significantly increased after gelatin grafting, which promoted the adhesion and proliferation of urothelial cells. Through subcutaneous implantation in rats, PP-gel scaffolds demonstrated good biocompatibility. The in vivo replacement showed that PP-gel could improve urothelium regeneration and maintain renal function after the ureter was replaced with an ∼4 cm-long PP-gel tube using New Zealand rabbits as the experimental animals. The related biologic mechanism of ureteral reconstruction was detected in detail. The gelatin-grafted scaffold upgraded the integrin α6/β4 on the urothelial cell membrane, which phosphorylates the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and enhances urothelialization via the MAPK/Erk signaling pathway.Conclusion: All these results confirmed that the PP46-gel scaffold is a promising candidate for the constitution of an engineered ureter and to repair long-segment ureteral defects.
研究领域:
生物医学工程
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组织工程
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泌尿外科
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细胞生物学
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材料科学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
·
2024
·
IF 13.3
Xinmin Zheng,Xiang Li,Guolin Shi,Yidan Zhou,Jinxiao Yan,Hao Zhang,Xiru Liu,Jiangong Zhang,Yu Liu,Liangliang Dai,Hui Yang
The low targeting of immunity regulators & chemotherapy drugs and immune tolerance in the tumor microenvironment significantly hindered the chemo-immunotherapy effect. In this work, an MMP-2/GSH-responsive nanobomb loading Resiquimod (R848) and prodrug Cisplatin (Pt) with hierarchical drug delivery and tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) polarization traits was designed for improved chemo-immunotherapy. The Pt-carrying dendrimers penetrate the depth of tumor tissues under MMP-2 and activate the cytotoxicity of Pt prodrug in response to GSH, causing effective tumor damage and enhancing immunogenicity. Meanwhile, R848 is effectively uptake by TAMs, which were re-educated and then greatly relieved immune resistance. In vitro and in vivo results collectively revealed that the nanosystem could not only overcome the barrier of tumor penetration and the heterogeneity action sites of drugs but also re-educate TAMs and suppress immune evasion via activating extracellular signal-regulated kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK/MAPK) signal pathway regulated by heparin binding EGF like growth factor ( Hbegf ) gene. The gene silencing or knockout in vitro and in vivo demonstrated that Hbegf could regulate the re-education of TAMs and the progression of tumors.
研究领域:
肿瘤学
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免疫学
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药剂学
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产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
Journal of Translational Medicine
·
2025
·Vol. 23
·期 1
·1-18
·
IF 7.5
Tan Yanzhen,Li Hong,Cao Guojie,Xin Jialin,Yan Dongxu,Liu Yingying,Li Panpan,Zhang Yuxi,Shi Lei,Zhang Bing,Yi Wei,Sun Yang
Background In developed nations, myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality, resulting in a significant economic burden and becoming a global public health problem. C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein 9 (CTRP9) is a secreted protein comprising a variable domain, a collagenous region, and a C-terminal trimerizing globular C1q (gC1q) domain. In vivo, the full-length CTRP9 (fCTRP9) can be cleaved into the globular domain of CTRP9 (gCTRP9). Here, we tested the cardio-protective impacts of fCTRP9, gCTRP9, and N-terminal domain, including the variable and collagenous domain, of CTRP9 (nCTRP9) in the context of MI.Methods Studies comparing the protective properties of fCTRP9 and gCTRP9 against MI in mice hearts were performed both in vitro and in vivo. The role of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) in CTRP9 cleavage was examined, and the effects of different CTRP9 domains on cardiac fibrosis and cardiac fibroblast (CF) activation were investigated.Results gCTRP9 exerted better protective effects than fCTRP9 against MI, demonstrating superior anti-apoptotic and anti-fibrotic properties. fCTRP9 was cleaved by MMP9, resulting in gCTRP9 and nCTRP9. MMP9 overexpression enhanced the cardioprotective effects of fCTRP9, while nCTRP9 supplementation aggravated cardiac fibrosis in MI mice. Mechanistically, nCTRP9 activated CFs via an increase in Rap1 expression and MEK 1/2 and ERK1/2 phosphorylation.Conclusion sDifferent domains of CTRP9 have distinct cardioprotective effects. gCTRP9 shows beneficial effects, while nCTRP9 promotes cardiac fibrosis. These findings highlight the importance of CTRP9 in cardiac function regulation and suggest prospective therapeutic options for MI treatment.
研究领域:
心脏病学
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分子生物学
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药理学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
·
2025
·
IF 4.3
Chen Xue,Zhou Xing-Yue,Lan Cai,Fu Hai-Jun,Li Zhi-Chao,Chen Meng-Yi,Wen Yong-Ping,Yu Lu,Qin Da-Lian,Wu An-Guo,Wu Jian-Ming,Zhou Xiao-Gang
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) are characterized by pathological protein aggregation and oxidative stress, leading to progressive neurodegeneration. Enhancing autophagy, the primary intracellular pathway for clearing misfolded proteins, represents a promising therapeutic strategy. In this study, we identify Araloside A (ARA), a triterpenoid saponin derived from Aralia elata , as a potent autophagy inducer that alleviates AD- and PD-related pathology. In neuronal cell models, ARA promotes autophagosome formation, increases LC3-II and Beclin-1 levels, and decreases P62, indicating enhanced autophagic activity. Mechanistic investigations reveal that ARA directly binds to Raf, MEK, and ERK proteins and activates autophagy in a Raf/MEK/ERK-dependent manner. This activation facilitates the clearance of APP, total Tau, phosphorylated Tau, and α-synuclein, thereby reducing cytotoxicity. Furthermore, in transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans models of AD and PD, ARA treatment alleviates protein aggregation and behavioral deficits via ERK-dependent autophagy. Together, these findings identify ARA as a natural compound that enhances autophagic clearance of neurotoxic aggregates via Raf/MEK/ERK pathway activation, offering promising therapeutic insights for neurodegenerative proteinopathies.
研究领域:
神经科学
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药理学
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分子生物学
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神经退行性疾病
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细胞生物学
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天然产物化学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Stem Cell Research & Therapy
·
2019
·Vol. 10
·期 1
·1-11
·
IF 4.627
Kong Yuanyuan,Hu Xiaoli,Zhong Yingqun,Xu Ke,Wu Buling,Zheng Jianmao
Background Magnesium (Mg 2+ )-enriched microenvironment promotes odontogenic differentiation in human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), but the regulatory mechanisms remain undefined. The aim of this work was to assess magnesium’s function in the above process and to explore the associated signaling pathway. Methods DPSCs underwent culture in odontogenic medium with the addition of 0, 1, 5, or 10 mM MgCl 2 . Intracellular Mg 2+ levels in DPSCs were evaluated flow cytometrically using Mag-Fluo-4-AM. Mg 2+ -entry was inhibited by TRPM7 inhibitor 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB). RNA-Sequencing was carried out for assessing transcriptome alterations in DPSCs during odontogenic differentiation associated with high extracellular Mg 2+ . KEGG pathway analysis was performed to determine pathways related to the retrieved differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Immunoblot was performed for assessing magnesium’s role and exploring ERK/BMP2/Smads signaling. Results Mg 2+ -enriched microenvironment promoted odontogenic differentiation in DPSCs via intracellular Mg 2+ increase. Consistently, the positive effect of high extracellular Mg 2+ on odontogenic differentiation in DPSCs was blocked by 2-APB, which reduced Mg 2+ entry. RNA-sequencing identified 734 DEGs related to odontogenic differentiation in DPSCs in the presence of high extracellular Mg 2+ . These DEGs participated in many cascades such as MAPK and TGF-β pathways. Consistently, ERK and BMP2/Smads pathways were activated in DPSCs treated with high extracellular Mg 2+ . In agreement, ERK signaling inhibition by U0126 blunted the effect of high extracellular Mg 2+ on mineralization and odontogenic differentiation in DPSCs. Interestingly, BMP2, BMPR1, and phosphorylated Smad1/5/9 were significantly decreased by U0126, indicating that BMP2/Smads acted as downstream of ERK. Conclusions Mg 2+ -enriched microenvironment promotes odontogenic differentiation in DPSCs by activating ERK/BMP2/Smads signaling via intracellular Mg 2+ increase. This study revealed that Mg 2+ -enriched microenvironment could be used as a new strategy for dental pulp regeneration.
研究领域:
牙科研究
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干细胞生物学
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分子生物学
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细胞信号传导
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Cell Death Discovery
·
2022
·Vol. 8
·期 1
·1-11
·
IF 7.109
Zhang Fangbin,Guo Changqing,Cao Xinguang,Yan Yan,Zhang Jinping,Lv Shuai
Cancer cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) have extensive application in the formation of their environment, including metastasis. This study explored the ability of gastric cancer (GC) cell-derived EVs-mediated microRNA-129-5p/E2F transcription factor 7/mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular regulated protein kinase (miR-129-5p/E2F7/MAPK/ERK) axis to affect the peritoneal metastasis of GC by delivering lncRNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 12 (SNHG12). EV-derived lncRNA and SNHG12/miR-129-5p/E2F7 network were determined by bioinformatics analysis. The regulatory relationship among SNHG12, miR-129-5p, and E2F7 was verified using a combination of dual-luciferase reporter gene, RNA immunoprecipitation, and RNA pull-down assays. The SNHG12, miR-129-5p, and E2F7 expression was measured by RT-qPCR. After GC cell-derived EVs were isolated and co-cultured with human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs), the uptake of EVs by HPMCs was observed under laser scanning confocal microscopy. Cell viability and apoptosis were examined using cell counting kit-8 and flow cytometry, respectively. Western blot analysis was performed to measure the mesothelial–mesenchymal transition (MMT)-related protein expression. The pathological and morphological characteristics of metastatic tumors in nude mice were observed by hematoxylin–eosin staining. A high SNHG12 expression was correlated with the poor prognosis of patients with GC. GC-derived EVs led to increased HPMC apoptosis and MMT by transferring SNHG12, whereas the knockdown of SNHG12 annulled the aforementioned results. SNHG12 sponged miR-129-5p to boost E2F7 expression and activate the MAPK/ERK signaling, thus inducing HPMC apoptosis and MMT. In vivo experiments further verified that EVs derived from GC cells promoted peritoneal metastasis in nude mice. GC cell-derived EVs elevated the E2F7 expression and activated the MAPK/ERK signaling to promote peritoneal metastasis through the delivery of SNHG12.
研究领域:
肿瘤学
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分子生物学
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细胞生物学
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癌症生物学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY
·
2022
·Vol. 60
·期 5
·1-14
·
IF 5.884
Hang Sun,Youjie Li,Xiao Wang,Xue Zhou,Simin Rong,Dongmin Liang,Guangbin Sun,Huizhen Cao,Hongfang Sun,Ranran Wang,Yunfei Yan,Shuyang Xie,Yunxiao Sun
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a hematological disease, and imatinib (IM) resistance represents a major problem for its clinical treatment. In the present study, the role of tribbles pseudokinase 2 (TRIB2) in IM resistance of CML and the possible mechanism were investigated. It was found that TRIB2 was highly expressed in IM‑resistant patients with CML through the Oncomine database and this conclusion was confirmed using reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR and western blot experiments. Knockdown of TRIB2 was found to increase the drug sensitivity of KG cells to IM using Cell‑Counting Kit‑8 (CCK‑8) assays, and the low‑expression TRIB2 mice were further found to be more sensitive to the IM and have a higher survival rate in leukemia model mice. Moreover, using western blot and luciferase experiments, it was found that TRIB2 could regulate c‑Fos through the ERK signaling pathway, and c‑Fos suppressed the transcriptional activity and the expression of miR‑33a‑5p. Further investigation identified that the binding site for c‑Fos to function on miR‑33a‑5p was the ‑958‑965 region. Finally, CCK‑8 assays and western blot experiments demonstrated that miR‑33a‑5p could inhibit the proliferation of KG cells and reduce IM resistance by suppressing the expression of HMGA2. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that TRIB2 regulates miR‑33a‑5p to reverse IM resistance in CML, which may help identify novel targets and therapeutic strategies for the clinical treatment of IM resistance.
研究领域:
肿瘤学
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血液学
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分子生物学
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药理学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Food & Function
·
2022
·Vol. 13
·期 4
·2200-2215
·
IF 6.317
Yi Wang,Jingwen Xu,Yihai Wang,Limin Xiang,Xiangjiu He
Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major cause of chemotherapy failure. Adriamycin (ADR) has been widely used to treat cancer, however, as a substrate of the adenosine triphosphate binding cassette (ABC) transporter, it is easy to develop drug resistance during the treatment. Here, we demonstrated that steroidal saponin S-20 isolated from the berries of black nightshade has comparable cytotoxicity in ADR-sensitive and resistant K562 cell lines. Autophagy is generally considered to be a protective mechanism to mediate MDR during treatment. However, we found that S-20-induced cell death in K562/ADR is associated with autophagy. We further explored the underlying mechanisms and found that S-20 induces caspase-dependent apoptosis in ADR-sensitive and resistant K562 cell lines. Most importantly, S-20-induced autophagy activates the ERK pathway and then inhibits the expression of drug resistance protein, which is the main reason to overcome K562/ADR resistance, rather than apoptosis. Taken together, our findings emphasize that S-20 exerts anti-multidrug resistance activity in K562/ADR cells through autophagic cell death and ERK activation, which may be considered as an effective strategy.
研究领域:
肿瘤学
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药理学
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细胞生物学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION
·
2021
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IF 3.342
M.A. Abo-Kadoum,Mohammed Assad,Moure UAE,Stech A.E. Nzaou,Zhen Gong,Asmaa Moaaz,Samson Teweldebrhan,Adel Eltoukhy,Ai Xuefeng,Yu Chen,Jianping Xie
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) survival and virulence largely reside on its ability to manipulate the host immune response . We have previously shown that M. tuberculosis Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) Rv2140c regulates diverse phosphorylation events in M. smegmatis . However, its role during infection is unknown. In this report, we show that Rv2140c can mimic the mammalian RKIP function. Rv2140c inhibit the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) via decreasing the phosphorylation capacity of upstream mediators MEK1, ERK1/2, and IKKα/β, thus leading to a reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. This effect can be reversed by RKIP inhibitor locostatin. Furthermore Rv2140c mediates apoptosis associated with activation of caspases cascades. This modulation enhances the intracellular survival of M. smegmatis within macrophage. We propose that Rv2140c is a multifunctional virulence factor and a promising novel anti-Tuberculosis drug target.
研究领域:
微生物学
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免疫学
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传染病学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE
·
2015
·Vol. 56
·期 13
·8166-8178
·
IF 3.404
Guoxu Xu,Daohuan Kang,Chaoyang Zhang,Hui Lou,Chen Sun,Qian Yang,Lixia Lu,Guo-Tong Xu,Jingfa Zhang,Fang Wang
Purpose:Zinc transporter 8 (ZnT8) was downregulated in hypoxic retina, which could be rescued by hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) inhibition. Erythropoietin (EPO) protects retinal cells in diabetic rats through inhibiting HIF-1α as one of its mechanisms. We hence tried to explore the effect of EPO in regulating ZnT8 and protecting retinal cells in diabetic rats and possible mechanisms.Methods:Diabetes was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats. Intravitreal injection of EPO was performed 1 month after diabetes onset. The CoCl2-treated rat Müller cell line (rMC-1) was cotreated with EPO, soluble EPO receptor (sEPOR), digoxin, or U0126. Cell viability, cell death, and intracellular zinc level were examined. The expression of ZnT8, HIF-1α, AKT, and ERK was studied.Results:In diabetic rat retinas, EPO significantly decreased HIF-1α expression and increased ZnT8 expression. In CoCl2-treated rMC-1 cells, EPO increased cell viability and decreased intracellular zinc. Erythropoietin or digoxin could activate ERK pathway, downregulate HIF-1α, and upregulate ZnT8. The effect of EPO was abolished by sEPOR and U0126. Transient knockdown of ZnT8 increased intracellular zinc level, but not to a degree that would decrease cell viability or cause cell death.Conclusions:In diabetic retinas, EPO maintains zinc homeostasis through activating the ERK pathway and downregulating HIF-1α, and thus upregulating ZnT8 expression. This work proposed a possible new protective mechanism for EPO in, and indicated a potential target for, the treatment of diabetic retinopathy.
研究领域:
眼科学
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内分泌学
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细胞生物学
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分子生物学
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糖尿病研究
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
·
2023
·Vol. 30
·期 32
·79423-79436
·
IF 5.8
Zhang Jingni,Wang Hongjuan,Chen Huan,Liu Yong,Wang An,Hou Hongwei,Hu Qingyuan
Long-term use of alcohol and cigarettes is associated with millions of deaths each year, directly or indirectly. The carcinogen acetaldehyde is both a metabolite of alcohol and the most abundant carbonyl compound in cigarette smoke, and co-exposure of them is usual and primarily leads to liver and lung injury, respectively. However, few studies have explored the synchronic risk of acetaldehyde on the liver and lung. Here, we investigated the toxic effects and related mechanisms of acetaldehyde based on normal hepatocytes and lung cells. The results showed that acetaldehyde caused significant dose-dependent increases of cytotoxicity, ROS level, DNA adduct level, DNA single/double-strand breakage, and chromosomal damage in BEAS-2B cells and HHSteCs, with similar effects at the same doses. The gene and protein expression and phosphorylation of p38MAPK, ERK, PI3K, and AKT, key proteins of MAPK/ERK and PI3K/AKT pathways regulating cell survival and tumorigenesis, were significantly upregulated on BEAS-2B cells, while only protein expression and phosphorylation of ERK were upregulated significantly, the other three decreased in HHSteCs. When either the inhibitor of the four key proteins was co-treated with acetaldehyde, cell viabilities were almost unchanged in BEAS-2B cells and HHSteCs. Thus, acetaldehyde could synchronically induce similar toxic effects in BEAS-2B cells and HHSteCs, and MAPK/ERK and PI3K/AKT pathways seem to be involved in different regulatory mechanisms.
研究领域:
毒理学
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细胞生物学
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分子生物学
·
致癌机制
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
·
2024
·
IF 11.2
Ce Zhu,Miaomiao He,Juehan Wang,Yong Huang,Wei Deng,Limin Liu,Ganjun Feng,Li Zhang,Yueming Song
Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a desirable way to attain on-demand hyperthermia owing to the heat generated by photothermal materials absorbing near-infrared) light. The mild heat (42 ± 0.5 °C) can not only accelerate bone tissue regeneration but also promote the release of bioactive ions from biomaterials. Based on this one-stone-two-birds strategy, a 3D printed PEEK-graphene composite scaffold (PG) with hydroxyapatite (HA) coating (PGH) for photothermally remote control of bone regeneration was well designed in this study. The results showed that the HA coating on PGH could release Ca 2+ and PO 4 3– ions easily under NIR irradiation, which was ascribed to the mild heat generated from graphene in the composite scaffold. The mild heat and the boosted Ca 2+ /PO 4 3– release could synergistically enhance the bone regeneration ability both in vitro and in vivo . The underlying mechanism was further explored and confirmed to be closely related to the upregulation of HSP 70, by which the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway was activated selectively. The favorable results demonstrate that the 3D-printed PEEK/graphene composite scaffold is promising in the applications of bone defect repair.
研究领域:
生物材料
·
组织工程
·
生物医学工程
·
光热疗法
·
骨再生
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子