Search Results (153)

Traditional wound and burn treatments often fall short in balancing antimicrobial efficacy, patient comfort, and ease of application. This study introduces a novel, transparent, thermoresponsive sol–gel formulation incorporating polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) for advanced topical therapy. Utilizing Poloxamer 407 as a biocompatible carrier, the formulation remains a sprayable liquid at room temperature and instantly gels upon contact with body temperature, enabling painless, pressure-free application on sensitive, injured skin. Comprehensive in vitro and in vivo evaluations confirmed the formulation’s broad-spectrum antimicrobial efficacy (≥5 log₁₀ reduction in 30 s), high biocompatibility (viability > 70% in fibroblasts), non-irritancy (OECD 425-compliant), and physical stability across three months. Importantly, the formulation maintained fibroblast migration capacity—crucial for wound regeneration—while exhibiting rapid sol-to-gel transition at ~34 °C. These findings highlight the system’s potential as a next-generation wound dressing with enhanced user compliance, transparent monitoring capability, and rapid healing support, particularly in disaster or emergency scenarios. Full article

Light influence on shoot regeneration in Prunus salicina is a complex interaction that has been studied for the first time. Japanese plum plants were regenerated from calli and seeds of the scion cultivar ‘Victoria’. The effect of four different light spectra (white, blue, red, and mixed), along with three 6-benzyladenine (BA) concentrations (1, 1.5, and 2 mg L⁻¹), was studied in these two sources of explants. Organogenic calli were derived from the base of stem explants of the scion cultivar ‘Victoria’, whereas cotyledons and embryogenic axis slices were used as seed explants. Calli cultured with 2 mg L⁻¹ of BA and mixed light or 2.5 mg L⁻¹ of BA and control light showed the highest regeneration rates, with no significant differences compared to other treatments. Seed explants exposed to 2.5 mg L⁻¹ of BA and red light exhibited significantly higher organogenesis. In comparison, those in 1.5 mg L⁻¹ of BA with blue light or 2.5 mg L⁻¹ of BA with mixed/control light showed no regeneration. BA concentration did not have a significant effect in the induction of somatic shoots from any explant source. In contrast, a strong interaction between light and BA was noticed. This work presents a protocol that can be applied in transformation and editing research as light spectrum studies continue to advance. Full article

High unemployment rates, inaccessible housing markets, and funding challenges create barriers to finding suitable housing for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who have less obvious support needs, also known as autistic adults. While public and community housing services in Aotearoa New Zealand (AoNZ) may be an option, a lack of accessible designs leaves families uncertain about future care options. This paper, part of the MBIE-funded Public Housing and Urban Regeneration: Maximising Wellbeing research programme in partnership with registered Community Housing Provider, Te Toi Mahana (TTM), takes an exploratory approach to ask how public and community housing can support and help enable semi-independent living for autistic adults. It investigates how design elements—such as dwelling layouts, material choices, colour schemes, lighting, acoustics, shared and community spaces, and external environments—impact the wellbeing of autistic adults. By extension, insights may also inform private housing design. The study focuses on autistic adults who may be considered ‘mid-to-high’ functioning or those who have been previously diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, whose housing needs are often overlooked. It develops guiding principles and detailed guidance points for public and community housing, informed by the literature, case studies, and data from a photo elicitation study and interviews undertaken with autistic adults in AoNZ. These guiding principles are tested through the speculative redesign of a large TTM site in Newtown, Wellington, AoNZ. Findings should be of interest to government agencies, housing providers, architects, stakeholders, and others involved in shaping the built environment, as well as autistic adults and their supporters, both in AoNZ and internationally. Full article

The growing prevalence of bacterial infections and the alarming rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) have driven the need for innovative antimicrobial coatings for medical implants and biomaterials. However, implant surface properties, such as roughness, chemistry, and reactivity, critically influence biological interactions and must be engineered to ensure biocompatibility, corrosion resistance, and sustained antibacterial activity. This review evaluates three principal categories of antimicrobial agents utilized in surface functionalization: metal/metaloxide nanoparticles, antibiotics, and phytochemical compounds. Metal/metaloxide-based coatings, especially those incorporating silver (Ag), zinc oxide (ZnO), and copper oxide (CuO), offer broad-spectrum antimicrobial efficacy through mechanisms such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and bacterial membrane disruption, with a reduced risk of resistance development. Antibiotic-based coatings enable localized drug delivery but often face limitations related to burst release, cytotoxicity, and diminishing effectiveness against multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains. In contrast, phytochemical-derived coatings—using bioactive plant compounds such as curcumin, eugenol, and quercetin—present a promising, biocompatible, and sustainable alternative. These agents not only exhibit antimicrobial properties but also provide anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and osteogenic benefits, making them multifunctional tools for implant surface modification. The integration of these antimicrobial strategies aims to reduce bacterial adhesion, inhibit biofilm formation, and enhance tissue regeneration. By leveraging the synergistic effects of metal/metaloxide nanoparticles, antibiotics, and phytochemicals, next-generation implant coatings hold the potential to significantly improve infection control and clinical outcomes in implant-based therapies. Full article

Novel three-dimensional porous composites of alginate–pectin (A/P) with zinc- or manganese-substituted hydroxyapatites (A/P-ZnHA and A/P-MnHA) were synthesized via lyophilization and calcium cross-linking. Powder X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy analyses confirmed single-phase apatite formation (crystallite sizes < 1 µm), with ZnHA exhibiting lattice contraction (*c*-axis: 6.881 Å vs. 6.893 Å for HA). Mechanical testing revealed tunable properties: pristine A/P sponges exhibited an elastic modulus of 4.7 MPa and a tensile strength of 0.10 MPa, reduced by 30–70% by HA incorporation due to increased porosity (pore sizes: 112 ± 18 µm in the case of MnHA vs. 148 ± 23 µm-ZnHA). Swelling capacity increased 2.3–2.8-fold (125–155% vs. 55% for A/P), governed by polysaccharide interactions. Scanning electron microscopy investigation showed microstructural evolution from layered A/P (<100 µm) to tridimensional architectures with embedded mineral particles. The A/P-MnHA composites demonstrated minimal cytotoxicity for the NCTC cells and good viability of dental pulp stem cells, while A/P-ZnHA caused ≈20% metabolic suppression, attributed to hydrolysis-induced acidification. Antibacterial assays highlighted A/P-MnHA′s broad-spectrum efficacy against Gram-positive (Bacillus atrophaeus) and Gram-negative (Pseudomonas protegens) strains, whereas A/P-ZnHA targeted only the Gram-positive strain. The developed composite sponges combine cytocompatibility and antimicrobial activity, potentially advancing osteoplastic materials for bone regeneration and infection control in orthopedic/dental applications. Full article

Long-range intercellular communication is essential for multicellular biological systems to regulate multiscale cell–cell interactions and maintain life. Growing evidence suggests that intercellular calcium waves (ICWs) act as a class of long-range signals that influence a broad spectrum of cellular functions and behaviors. Importantly, mechanical signals, ranging from single-molecule-scale to tissue-scale in vivo, can initiate and modulate ICWs in addition to relatively well-appreciated biochemical and bioelectrical signals. Despite these recent conceptual and experimental advances, the full nature of underpinning mechanotransduction mechanisms by which cells convert mechanical signals into ICW dynamics remains poorly understood. This review provides a systematic analysis of quantitative ICW dynamics around three main stages: initiation, propagation, and regeneration/relay. We highlight the landscape of upstream molecules and organelles that sense and respond to mechanical stimuli, including mechanosensitive membrane proteins and cytoskeletal machinery. We clarify the roles of downstream molecular networks that mediate signal release, spread, and amplification, including adenosine triphosphate (ATP) release, purinergic receptor activation, and gap junction (GJ) communication. Furthermore, we discuss the broad pathophysiological implications of ICWs, covering pathophysiological processes such as cancer metastasis, tissue repair, and developmental patterning. Finally, we summarize recent advances in optical imaging and artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) technologies that reveal the precise spatial-temporal-functional dynamics of ICWs and ATP waves. By synthesizing these insights, we offer a comprehensive framework of ICW mechanobiology and propose new directions for mechano-therapeutic strategies in disease diagnosis, cancer immunotherapies, and drug discovery. Full article

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have emerged as a promising antimicrobial agent in dentistry due to their distinctive physicochemical characteristics and broad-spectrum biocidal activity. For example, silver nanoparticles can be incorporated into oral hygiene products in preventive dentistry, composite resins in restorative treatment, irrigation solutions in endodontic treatment, membranes for guided tissue regeneration in periodontal treatment, acrylic resins and porcelains in prosthodontic treatment, coatings in dental implant treatment, and brackets and wires in orthodontic treatment. This paper focuses on summarizing the current knowledge on the antimicrobial use of silver nanoparticles in dentistry, highlighting their antimicrobial mechanism and potential applications in clinical treatment. The literature indicates that silver nanoparticles are a promising antimicrobial agent in dentistry. However, there are still many issues including fundamental antibacterial mechanisms that need to be completely elucidated before clinical applications. Full article

The rapid development of diffusion models in image generation and processing has led to significant security concerns. Diffusion models are capable of producing highly realistic images that are indistinguishable from real ones. Although deploying a watermarking system can be a countermeasure to verify the ownership or the origin of images, the regeneration attacks arising from diffusion models can easily remove the embedded watermark from the images, without compromising their perceptual quality. Previous watermarking methods that hide watermark information in the carrier image are vulnerable to these newly emergent attacks. To address these challenges, we propose a robust and traceable watermark framework based on the latent diffusion model, where the spread-spectrum watermark is coupled with the diffusion noise to ensure its security and imperceptibility. Since the diffusion model is trained to reduce information entropy from disordered data to restore its true distribution, the transparency of the hidden watermark is guaranteed. Benefiting from the spread spectrum strategy, the decoder structure is no longer needed for watermark extraction, greatly alleviating the training overhead. Additionally, the robustness and transparency are easily controlled by a strength factor, whose operating range is studied in this work. Experimental results demonstrate that our method performs not only against common attacks, but also against regeneration attacks and semantic-based image editing. Full article

At the forefront of regenerative medicine, orthobiologics represent a spectrum of biological substances that offer promising alternatives for tissue repair and regeneration. Traditional surgical treatments often involve significant risks, extended recovery periods, and may not fully restore tissue functionality, creating a strong demand for less invasive options. This paper presents a concise overview of orthobiologics, reexamining their role within the broader landscape of regenerative medicine. Beginning with a brief introduction to orthobiologics, the paper navigates through various types of biological materials and their associated mechanisms of action and clinical applications. By highlighting platelet derivatives, bone marrow-derived products, and processed adipose tissue, among others, it underscores the pivotal role of orthobiologics in prompting biological responses like cellular proliferation, differentiation, and angiogenesis, thereby fostering tissue healing. Furthermore, this paper explores the diverse applications of orthobiologics in orthopedic conditions, outlining their utility in the treatment of bone and soft-tissue injuries. Addressing clinical considerations, it discusses safety profiles, efficacy, patient selection criteria, and emerging challenges. With the limitations of traditional medicine becoming more apparent, orthobiologics offer an innovative and less invasive approach to patient care. Looking forward, this paper approaches future directions in orthobiologics research, emphasizing the need for continued innovation and exploration. Through a concise perspective, this paper aims to provide clinicians, researchers, and stakeholders with a comprehensive understanding of orthobiologics and their evolving role in regenerative medicine. Full article

Repulsive guidance molecule-a (RGMa) has emerged as a significant therapeutic target in a variety of neurological disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases and acute conditions. This review comprehensively examines the multifaceted role of RGMa in central nervous system (CNS) pathologies such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, spinal cord injury, stroke, vascular dementia, auditory neuropathy, and epilepsy. The mechanisms through which RGMa contributes to neuroinflammation, neuronal degeneration, and impaired axonal regeneration are herein discussed. Evidence from preclinical studies associate RGMa overexpression with negative outcomes, such as increased neuroinflammation and synaptic loss, while RGMa inhibition, particularly the use of agents like elezanumab, has shown promise in enhancing neuronal survival and functional recovery. RGMa’s responses concerning immunomodulation and neurogenesis highlight its potential as a therapeutic avenue. We emphasize RGMa’s critical role in CNS pathology and its potential to pave the way for innovative treatment strategies in neurological disorders. While preclinical findings are encouraging so far, further clinical trials are needed to validate the safety and efficacy of RGMa-targeted therapies. Full article

Osteomyelitis, a severe bone infection, poses a significant therapeutic challenge in both human and veterinary medicine, especially due to the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Conventional treatments, including surgical debridement and systemic antibiotics, often prove inadequate due to the ability of bacteria to form biofilms and evade host immune responses. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), such as LL-37 and β-defensins, have emerged as a promising alternative therapeutic strategy. AMPs exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, including efficacy against resistant strains, and possess immunomodulatory properties that can promote bone regeneration. This article comprehensively reviews AMP applications in treating osteomyelitis across both human and veterinary medicine. We discuss diverse therapeutic approaches, including free AMPs, their conjugation with biomaterials such as collagen and chitosan to enhance delivery and stability, and the development of AMP-based nanoparticles. Furthermore, we analyze preclinical and clinical findings, highlighting the efficacy and safety of AMPs in combating osteomyelitis in both human and animal patients. Finally, we explore future perspectives and challenges, such as optimizing delivery, stability, and efficacy, while minimizing cytotoxicity, and in translating AMP-based therapies into clinical practice to effectively manage this debilitating disease. Full article

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental and biobehavioral conditions that arises from complex interactions between environmental factors and physiological development in genetically predisposed individuals. Among the most frequently observed metabolic abnormalities in ASD is mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondria respond to cellular stress by altering their dynamics or initiating mitophagy. In neurons, the buildup of dysfunctional mitochondria and reactive oxygen species (ROS) poses a significant risk, as these cells cannot regenerate through division. To safeguard mitochondrial health, cells rely on an efficient “clean-up mechanism” to remove compromised organelles. Mitophagy, a specific form of autophagy, is responsible for regulating the turnover of flawed and non-functional mitochondria. Impairments in this process result in the accumulation of defective mitochondria in neurons, a characteristic of several neurodegenerative disorders associated with behavioral abnormalities. This systematic review offers an in-depth summary of the present knowledge of mitophagy and underscores its pivotal role in the pathogenesis of ASD. Full article

The use of ionic liquids in biomass pretreatment for ethanol production has seen increased attention in recent years. In this work, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Bmim]Cl), 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Amim]Cl), and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([Emim]Ac) were used to regenerate and recover significant amount of hemicellulose and lignin from soybean meal, flakes, and hulls. The regenerated lignin and hemicellulose were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). For all three ionic liquids, the amount of regenerated hemicellulose and lignin ranged from approximately 6 to 12% and 8 to 19%, respectively. Lignin characteristic bands 1738.8, 1652.6, 1516.4, 1455.2, and 1174.9 cm⁻¹ were identified in the FTIR spectrum. The regenerated hemicellulose showed the characteristic bands 1658.31, 1434.14, 1167.98, and 865.20 cm⁻¹. The Py-GC/MS analysis of the regenerated lignin showed the characteristic grass lignin pyrolyzates phenol, 2-methoxyphenol, 4-methylphenol, 2-benzaldehyde, 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol, phenol-2,6-dimethoxy, and ethylvanillin. Full article

Oral research using murine models spans a broad spectrum of studies, including investigations into oral infections such as periodontitis and peri-implantitis, wound healing, periodontal responses to orthodontic treatment, and occlusal overload. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of murine models employed in oral research, with a particular focus on their relevance in studying systemic implications, including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The objectives of this review are twofold: first, to highlight the diversity of experimental methods utilized in murine oral research, such as ligature placement, bacterial inoculation, surgical interventions, and mechanical manipulations; second, to explore how these models enhance our understanding of oral–systemic interactions. The findings demonstrate that murine models have significantly contributed to uncovering how oral conditions influence systemic health. Models of oral infections reveal pathways linking systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and atherogenesis, while studies on wound healing and mechanical stress offer valuable insights into periodontal tissue responses and regeneration under various conditions. These diverse findings underscore the versatility of murine models in addressing key questions across oral health research. By replicating human disease mechanisms, murine models serve as powerful tools for investigating the interplay between oral health and systemic diseases, including cardiovascular dysfunction. The insights gained from these models guide the development of integrated therapeutic approaches aimed at mitigating systemic inflammation and promoting periodontal regeneration. Full article

This article presents a comprehensive examination of the combined catalytic conversion technology for nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are the primary factors contributing to the formation of photochemical smog, ozone, and PM2.5. These pollutants present a significant threat to air quality and human health. The article examines the reaction mechanism and interaction between photocatalytic technology and NH₃-SCR catalytic oxidation technology, highlighting the limitations of the existing techniques, including catalyst deactivation, selectivity issues, regeneration methods, and the environmental impacts of catalysts. Furthermore, the article anticipates prospective avenues for research, underscoring the necessity for the development of bifunctional catalysts capable of concurrently transforming NOx and VOCs across a broad temperature spectrum. The review encompasses a multitude of integrated catalytic techniques, including selective catalytic reduction (SCR), photocatalytic oxidation, low-temperature plasma catalytic technology, and biological purification technology. The article highlights the necessity for further research into catalyst design principles, structure–activity relationships, and performance evaluations in real industrial environments. This research is required to develop more efficient, economical, and environmentally friendly waste gas treatment technologies. The article concludes by outlining the importance of collaborative management strategies for VOC and NOx emissions and the potential of combined catalytic conversion technology in achieving these goals. Full article