Graphene, sp^2 hybridized carbon framework of one atom thickness, is reputed as the strongest material to date. It has marked its impact in manifold applications including electronics, sensors, composites, and catalys...Graphene, sp^2 hybridized carbon framework of one atom thickness, is reputed as the strongest material to date. It has marked its impact in manifold applications including electronics, sensors, composites, and catalysis. Current state-of-the-art graphene research revolves around its biomedical applications. The two-dimensional(2D) planar structure of graphene provides a large surface area for loading drugs/biomolecules and the possibility of conjugating fluorescent dyes for bioimaging. The high near-infrared absorbance makes graphene ideal for photothermal therapy. Henceforth, graphene turns out to be a reliable multifunctional material for use in diagnosis and treatment. It exhibits antibacterial property by directly interacting with the cell membrane. Potential application of graphene as a sca old for the attachment and proliferation of stem cells and neuronal cells is captivating in a tissue regeneration scenario. Fabrication of 2D graphene into a 3D structure is made possible with the help of 3D printing, a revolutionary technology having promising applications in tissue and organ engineering. However, apart from its advantageous application scope, use of graphene raises toxicity concerns. Several reports have confirmed the potential toxicity of graphene and its derivatives, and the inconsistency may be due to the lack of standardized consensus protocols. The present review focuses on the hidden facts of graphene and its biomedical application, with special emphasis on drug delivery, biosensing, bioimaging, antibacterial, tissue engineering, and 3D printing applications.展开更多
Curcumin (Curc) is well known for its anticancer activity, but its poor solubility in aqueous medium is a major concern for little therapeutic outcome. Therefore, the effort to improve its bioavailability is a major r...Curcumin (Curc) is well known for its anticancer activity, but its poor solubility in aqueous medium is a major concern for little therapeutic outcome. Therefore, the effort to improve its bioavailability is a major research interest. The current study aimed at conjugation of Curc to serum albumin (Alb) to increase aqueous solubility of the former without affecting its drug action on cancer cell lines and primary cells in culture. Conditions for preparation of albumin-curcumin (Alb-Curc) conjugate were standardized to obtain pure and stable drug. The product was obtained in sufficient quantity to test its effect on cells in culture at different doses. Briefly, the conjugate was prepared by mixing Curc dissolved in DMSO with the Alb dissolved in phosphate buffered saline;conjugate was purified by gel filtration chromatography and was analyzed using UV-Vis spectroscopy for characteristic peaks of both molecules. The conjugate was added to culture medium to identify the effect of conjugate on cell cycling and apoptosis. Albuminated curcumin that showed 100-fold higher solubility than free Curc was stable and inhibitory to proliferation, induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The conjugate showed apoptotic effects on endothelial cells indicating its anti angiogenic property. Primary fibroblast growth was also inhibited but at the higher dose. The in vitro results suggest that Alb-Curc which is free of insoluble native drug may find application in cancer therapy after appropriate in vivo evaluations.展开更多
Temporary storage/shipping of cell/tissue engineering products from bench to bedside is a key aspect of re-generative medicine.The current proof-of-concept study presents a multipurpose device for temporary storage/sh...Temporary storage/shipping of cell/tissue engineering products from bench to bedside is a key aspect of re-generative medicine.The current proof-of-concept study presents a multipurpose device for temporary storage/shipping of cell culture dishes containing cell/tissue constructs.The device,made with readily available raw ma-terials,contains three elements viz.a specialized lid,polymeric plates having grooves and a set of nuts and bolts.As part of the performance evaluation,the device was first subjected to a simulated storage/shipping process,wherein the leak-proof and aseptic containment of the contents was demonstrated.Subsequently,the setup was used for temporary storage/shipping of dishes having(a)L929 cell monolayers cultured on treated surfaces,(b)SIRC,HaCaT and A549 cell sheets cultured on thermo-responsive surfaces,(c)HOS-cell encapsulated agar gels and(d)HOS-cell seeded silk fibroin mats.The results showed that the health of cell monolayers/cell sheets/tissue constructs after the process was comparable to that before the process.The device was scalable,simple to handle,can be made for a single or multi-use purpose,and can be resizable to load other culture vessels.The design of the storage/shipping device described in this report thus offers versatile features and applications.展开更多
基金the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR No. 45/2/2014-Nan/BMS), New Delhi, for the Senior Research Fellowship
文摘Graphene, sp^2 hybridized carbon framework of one atom thickness, is reputed as the strongest material to date. It has marked its impact in manifold applications including electronics, sensors, composites, and catalysis. Current state-of-the-art graphene research revolves around its biomedical applications. The two-dimensional(2D) planar structure of graphene provides a large surface area for loading drugs/biomolecules and the possibility of conjugating fluorescent dyes for bioimaging. The high near-infrared absorbance makes graphene ideal for photothermal therapy. Henceforth, graphene turns out to be a reliable multifunctional material for use in diagnosis and treatment. It exhibits antibacterial property by directly interacting with the cell membrane. Potential application of graphene as a sca old for the attachment and proliferation of stem cells and neuronal cells is captivating in a tissue regeneration scenario. Fabrication of 2D graphene into a 3D structure is made possible with the help of 3D printing, a revolutionary technology having promising applications in tissue and organ engineering. However, apart from its advantageous application scope, use of graphene raises toxicity concerns. Several reports have confirmed the potential toxicity of graphene and its derivatives, and the inconsistency may be due to the lack of standardized consensus protocols. The present review focuses on the hidden facts of graphene and its biomedical application, with special emphasis on drug delivery, biosensing, bioimaging, antibacterial, tissue engineering, and 3D printing applications.
文摘Curcumin (Curc) is well known for its anticancer activity, but its poor solubility in aqueous medium is a major concern for little therapeutic outcome. Therefore, the effort to improve its bioavailability is a major research interest. The current study aimed at conjugation of Curc to serum albumin (Alb) to increase aqueous solubility of the former without affecting its drug action on cancer cell lines and primary cells in culture. Conditions for preparation of albumin-curcumin (Alb-Curc) conjugate were standardized to obtain pure and stable drug. The product was obtained in sufficient quantity to test its effect on cells in culture at different doses. Briefly, the conjugate was prepared by mixing Curc dissolved in DMSO with the Alb dissolved in phosphate buffered saline;conjugate was purified by gel filtration chromatography and was analyzed using UV-Vis spectroscopy for characteristic peaks of both molecules. The conjugate was added to culture medium to identify the effect of conjugate on cell cycling and apoptosis. Albuminated curcumin that showed 100-fold higher solubility than free Curc was stable and inhibitory to proliferation, induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The conjugate showed apoptotic effects on endothelial cells indicating its anti angiogenic property. Primary fibroblast growth was also inhibited but at the higher dose. The in vitro results suggest that Alb-Curc which is free of insoluble native drug may find application in cancer therapy after appropriate in vivo evaluations.
基金funded by the Department of Science and Technology,Government of India,through the Technical Research Centre for Medical Devices program(P8223)at Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology,Thiruvananthapuram.
文摘Temporary storage/shipping of cell/tissue engineering products from bench to bedside is a key aspect of re-generative medicine.The current proof-of-concept study presents a multipurpose device for temporary storage/shipping of cell culture dishes containing cell/tissue constructs.The device,made with readily available raw ma-terials,contains three elements viz.a specialized lid,polymeric plates having grooves and a set of nuts and bolts.As part of the performance evaluation,the device was first subjected to a simulated storage/shipping process,wherein the leak-proof and aseptic containment of the contents was demonstrated.Subsequently,the setup was used for temporary storage/shipping of dishes having(a)L929 cell monolayers cultured on treated surfaces,(b)SIRC,HaCaT and A549 cell sheets cultured on thermo-responsive surfaces,(c)HOS-cell encapsulated agar gels and(d)HOS-cell seeded silk fibroin mats.The results showed that the health of cell monolayers/cell sheets/tissue constructs after the process was comparable to that before the process.The device was scalable,simple to handle,can be made for a single or multi-use purpose,and can be resizable to load other culture vessels.The design of the storage/shipping device described in this report thus offers versatile features and applications.
