Electrospun Polyhydroxybutyrate and Poly(L-lactide-<i>co</i>-<i>ε</i>-caprolactone) Composites as Nanofibrous Scaffolds

Electrospinning can produce nanofibrous scaffolds that mimic the architecture of the extracellular matrix and support cell attachment for tissue engineering applications. In this study, fibrous membranes of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) with various loadings of poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) were successfully prepared by electrospinning. In comparison to PLCL scaffolds, PLCL blends with PHB exhibited more irregular fibre diameter distributions and higher average fibre diameters but there were no significant differences in pore size. PLCL/PHB scaffolds were more hydrophilic (&lt;120°) with significantly reduced tensile strength (ca. 1 MPa) compared to PLCL scaffolds (150.9±2.8∘and5.8±0.5 MPa). Increasing PLCL loading in PHB/PLCL scaffolds significantly increased the extension at break, (4–6-fold). PLCL/PHB scaffolds supported greater adhesion and proliferation of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) than those exhibiting asynchronous growth on culture plates. Mitochondrial activity of cells cultivated on the electrospun blended membranes was enhanced compared to those grown on PLCL and PHB scaffolds (212, 179, and 153%, resp.). Analysis showed that PLCL/PHB nanofibrous membranes promoted cell cycle progression and reduced the onset of necrosis. Thus, electrospun PLCL/PHB composites promoted adhesion and proliferation of OECs when compared to their individual PLCL and PHB components suggesting potential in the repair and engineering of nerve tissue.</jats:p

Verification of the Bühlmann fCAL turbo faecal calprotectin assay on the Binding Site Optilite benchtop analyser

Objectives: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are increasingly prevalent disorders. Faecal calprotectin is useful in the differential diagnosis of IBD from IBS and monitoring IBD activity. We verified the Bühlmann fCAL turbo faecal calprotectin assay on the Binding Site, Optilite benchtop analyser. Design: Accuracy, precision, lower limit of quantitation (LLoQ), and linearity of the Bühlmann fCAL turbo faecal calprotectin assay on the Binding Site, Optilite benchtop analyser were ascertained. Comparison with the Bühlmann Quantum Blue fCAL extended and DiaSorin, Liaison calprotectin assays were also undertaken. Difference between assays was evaluated using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and method comparison was undertaken using Spearman’s rank correlation (rs), difference plots and Passing-Bablok regression analyses. Results: The fCAL turbo assay was linear between 25 and 10,000 μg/g, and the LLoQ was 25 μg/g. Intra-, and inter-assay imprecision was <5%. There was a good agreement (rs = 0.96) and no significant bias (3%, p = 0.10) present between the fCAL turbo and Quantum Blue extended assays. Between the fCAL turbo and DiaSorin, liaison assays there was a good agreement (rs = 0.97), but a significant bias (53%, p = <0.01) was present. Conclusions: The fCAL turbo assay performs well on the Binding Site, Optilite benchtop analyser. Calprotectin results are commutable between with Bühlmann fCAL turbo and Quantum Blue fCAL extended assays, but not between Bühlmann and DiaSorin calprotectin assays

Spinal Cord Repair and Regeneration: The Application of Bioadhesives and Extracellular Matrix Bioscaffolds

Extracellular matrices (ECM) derived from urinary bladder membrane (UBM) have demonstrated substantial potential for applications in tissue repair and reconstruction. However, these materials are limited by the requirement of suturing following surgery. In this paper, the coalescence of UBM with an advanced surgical adhesive demonstrated a suitable alternative to sutures for wound closure, prevention of fluid leakage and improvement of cell growth. This novel bioadhesive contains favourable characteristics that are suitable for tissue repair, support of cell growth, and influence cellular microenvironments that are biocompatible with peripheral nerve regeneration in the spinal cord.</jats:p

Antibacterial properties of Exocarpos aphyllus

1 page(s

Green Bugs: Optimisation and Use of the Fluorescein Diacetate Antimicrobial Assay

1 page(s