Editorial

3 pages, 198 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Could the Convergence of Science and Technology Guarantee Human Health in the Future?

by Ali Zarrabi

Bioengineering 2023, 10(5), 589; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10050589 - 13 May 2023

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Due to the daily growth of the world population, there has been an increase in concerns regarding health, especially due to the increase in the number of aged people, the surge of pollution, and the appearance of new pandemic diseases such as COVID-19 [...] Read more.

Due to the daily growth of the world population, there has been an increase in concerns regarding health, especially due to the increase in the number of aged people, the surge of pollution, and the appearance of new pandemic diseases such as COVID-19 and influenza H1N1 [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Convergence of Science and Engineering: A Promising Window toward Improving the Public Health)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review, Other

16 pages, 1924 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Mn-Based Methacrylated Gellan Gum Hydrogels for MRI-Guided Cell Delivery and Imaging

by Sílvia Vieira, Paulina Strymecka, Luiza Stanaszek, Joana Silva-Correia, Katarzyna Drela, Michał Fiedorowicz, Izabela Malysz-Cymborska, Miroslaw Janowski, Rui Luís Reis, Barbara Łukomska, Piotr Walczak and Joaquim Miguel Oliveira

Bioengineering 2023, 10(4), 427; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10040427 - 28 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1583

Abstract

This work aims to engineer a new stable injectable Mn-based methacrylated gellan gum (Mn/GG-MA) hydrogel for real-time monitored cell delivery into the central nervous system. To enable the hydrogel visualization under Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), GG-MA solutions were supplemented with paramagnetic Mn²⁺ [...] Read more.

This work aims to engineer a new stable injectable Mn-based methacrylated gellan gum (Mn/GG-MA) hydrogel for real-time monitored cell delivery into the central nervous system. To enable the hydrogel visualization under Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), GG-MA solutions were supplemented with paramagnetic Mn²⁺ ions before its ionic crosslink with artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF). The resulting formulations were stable, detectable by T1-weighted MRI scans and also injectable. Cell-laden hydrogels were prepared using the Mn/GG-MA formulations, extruded into aCSF for crosslink, and after 7 days of culture, the encapsulated human adipose-derived stem cells remained viable, as assessed by Live/Dead assay. In vivo tests, using double mutant MBP^shi/shi/rag2 immunocompromised mice, showed that the injection of Mn/GG-MA solutions resulted in a continuous and traceable hydrogel, visible on MRI scans. Summing up, the developed formulations are suitable for both non-invasive cell delivery techniques and image-guided neurointerventions, paving the way for new therapeutic procedures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Convergence of Science and Engineering: A Promising Window toward Improving the Public Health)

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20 pages, 3702 KiB

Open AccessArticle

De Novo Design of Imidazopyridine-Tethered Pyrazolines That Target Phosphorylation of STAT3 in Human Breast Cancer Cells

by Akshay Ravish, Rashmi Shivakumar, Zhang Xi, Min Hee Yang, Ji-Rui Yang, Ananda Swamynayaka, Omantheswara Nagaraja, Mahendra Madegowda, Arunachalam Chinnathambi, Sulaiman Ali Alharbi, Vijay Pandey, Gautam Sethi, Kwang Seok Ahn, Peter E. Lobie and Basappa Basappa

Bioengineering 2023, 10(2), 159; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10020159 - 24 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1542

Abstract

In breast cancer (BC), STAT3 is hyperactivated. This study explored the design of imidazopyridine-tethered pyrazolines as a de novo drug strategy for inhibiting STAT3 phosphorylation in human BC cells. This involved the synthesis and characterization of two series of compounds namely, 1-(3-(2,6-dimethylimidazo [1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl)-5-(3-nitrophenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-2-(4-(substituted)piperazin-1-yl)ethanone [...] Read more.

In breast cancer (BC), STAT3 is hyperactivated. This study explored the design of imidazopyridine-tethered pyrazolines as a de novo drug strategy for inhibiting STAT3 phosphorylation in human BC cells. This involved the synthesis and characterization of two series of compounds namely, 1-(3-(2,6-dimethylimidazo [1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl)-5-(3-nitrophenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-2-(4-(substituted)piperazin-1-yl)ethanone and N-substituted-3-(2,6-dimethylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl)-5-(3-nitrophenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazoline-1-carbothioamides. Compound 3f with 2,3-dichlorophenyl substitution was recognized among the tested series as a lead structure that inhibited the viability of MCF-7 cells with an IC₅₀ value of 9.2 μM. A dose- and time-dependent inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation at Tyr705 and Ser727 was observed in MCF-7 and T47D cells when compound 3f was added in vitro. Calculations using density functional theory showed that the title compounds HOMOs and LUMOs are situated on imidazopyridine-pyrazoline and nitrophenyl rings, respectively. Hence, compound 3f effectively inhibited STAT3 phosphorylation in MCF-7 and T47D cells, indicating that these structures may be an alternative synthon to target STAT3 signaling in BC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Convergence of Science and Engineering: A Promising Window toward Improving the Public Health)

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14 pages, 4775 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hyper-Branched Cyclodextrin-Based Polymers as Anticoagulant Agents: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

by Yousef Khazaei Monfared, Mohammad Mahmoudian, Gjylije Hoti, Daniel Mihai Bisericaru, Fabrizio Caldera, Roberta Cavalli, Parvin Zakeri-Milani, Adrián Matencio and Francesco Trotta

Bioengineering 2022, 9(12), 765; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering9120765 - 04 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1714

Abstract

This study tested the anticoagulant effect of cyclodextrin (CD) hyper-branched-based polymers (HBCD-Pols). These polymers were synthesized and tested for their coagulant characteristics in vitro and in vivo. Due to their polymeric structure and anionic nature, the polymers can chelate Ca²⁺, reducing [...] Read more.

This study tested the anticoagulant effect of cyclodextrin (CD) hyper-branched-based polymers (HBCD-Pols). These polymers were synthesized and tested for their coagulant characteristics in vitro and in vivo. Due to their polymeric structure and anionic nature, the polymers can chelate Ca²⁺, reducing the free quantity in blood. HBCD-Pol increased the blood clotting time, PT, and aPTT 3.5 times over the control, showing a better effect than even ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), as occured with recalcification time as well. A titration of HBCD-Pol and EDTA showed exciting differences in the ability to complex Ca²⁺ between both materials. Before executing in vivo studies, a hemocompatibility study was carried out with less than 5% red blood cell hemolysis. The fibrinogen consumption and bleeding time were analyzed in vivo. The fibrinogen was considerably decreased in the presence of HBCD-Pol in a higher grade than EDTA, while the bleeding time was longer with HBCD-Pols. The results demonstrate that the anticoagulant effect of this HBCD-Pol opens novel therapy possibilities due to the possible transport of drugs in this carrier. This would give combinatorial effects and a potential novel anticoagulant therapy with HBCD-Pol per se. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Convergence of Science and Engineering: A Promising Window toward Improving the Public Health)

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12 pages, 1521 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Is it Feasible to Use a Low-Cost Wearable Sensor for Heart Rate Monitoring within an Upper Limb Training in Spinal Cord Injured Patients?: A Pilot Study

by Miriam Salas-Monedero, Vicente Lozano-Berrio, María-Jesús Cazorla-Martínez, Silvia Ceruelo-Abajo, Ángel Gil-Agudo, Sonsoles Hernández-Sánchez, José-Fernando Jiménez-Díaz and Ana DelosReyes-Guzmán

Bioengineering 2022, 9(12), 763; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering9120763 - 03 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1410

Abstract

(1) Background: Cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) patients have impairment in the autonomic nervous system, reflected in the cardiovascular adaption level during the performance of upper limb (UL) activities carried out in the rehabilitation process. This adaption level could be measured from the [...] Read more.

(1) Background: Cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) patients have impairment in the autonomic nervous system, reflected in the cardiovascular adaption level during the performance of upper limb (UL) activities carried out in the rehabilitation process. This adaption level could be measured from the heart rate (HR) by means of wearable technologies. Therefore, the objective was to analyze the feasibility of using Xiaomi Mi Band 5 wristband (XMB5) for HR monitoring in these patients during the performance of UL activities; (2) Methods: The HR measurements obtained from XMB5 were compared to those obtained by the professional medical equipment Nonin LifeSense II capnograph and pulse oximeter (NLII) in static and dynamic conditions. Then, four healthy people and four cervical SCI patients performed a UL training based on six experimental sessions; (3) Results: the correlation between the HR measurements from XMB5 and NLII devices was strong and positive in healthy people (r = 0.921 and r = 0.941 (p < 0.01) in the static and dynamic conditions, respectively). Then, XMB5 was used within the experimental sessions, and the HR oscillation range measured was significantly higher in healthy individuals than in patients; (4) Conclusions: The XMB5 seems to be feasible for measuring the HR in this biomedical application in SCI patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Convergence of Science and Engineering: A Promising Window toward Improving the Public Health)

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25 pages, 14082 KiB

Open AccessArticle

3D-Printed Piezoelectric Porous Bioactive Scaffolds and Clinical Ultrasonic Stimulation Can Help in Enhanced Bone Regeneration

by Prabaha Sikder, Phaniteja Nagaraju and Harsha P. S. Naganaboyina

Bioengineering 2022, 9(11), 679; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering9110679 - 11 Nov 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2300

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive effort to develop and analyze first-of-its-kind design-specific and bioactive piezoelectric scaffolds for treating orthopedic defects. The study has three major highlights. First, this is one of the first studies that utilize extrusion-based 3D printing to develop design-specific macroporous [...] Read more.

This paper presents a comprehensive effort to develop and analyze first-of-its-kind design-specific and bioactive piezoelectric scaffolds for treating orthopedic defects. The study has three major highlights. First, this is one of the first studies that utilize extrusion-based 3D printing to develop design-specific macroporous piezoelectric scaffolds for treating bone defects. The scaffolds with controlled pore size and architecture were synthesized based on unique composite formulations containing polycaprolactone (PCL) and micron-sized barium titanate (BaTiO₃) particles. Second, the bioactive PCL-BaTiO₃ piezoelectric composite formulations were explicitly developed in the form of uniform diameter filaments, which served as feedstock material for the fused filament fabrication (FFF)-based 3D printing. A combined method comprising solvent casting and extrusion (melt-blending) was designed and deemed suitable to develop the high-quality PCL-BaTiO₃ bioactive composite filaments for 3D printing. Third, clinical ultrasonic stimulation (US) was used to stimulate the piezoelectric effect, i.e., create stress on the PCL-BaTiO₃ scaffolds to generate electrical fields. Subsequently, we analyzed the impact of scaffold-generated piezoelectric stimulation on MC3T3 pre-osteoblast behavior. Our results confirmed that FFF could form high-resolution, macroporous piezoelectric scaffolds, and the poled PCL-BaTiO₃ composites resulted in the d₃₃ coefficient in the range of 1.2–2.6 pC/N, which is proven suitable for osteogenesis. In vitro results revealed that the scaffolds with a mean pore size of 320 µm resulted in the highest pre-osteoblast growth kinetics. While 1 Hz US resulted in enhanced pre-osteoblast adhesion, proliferation, and spreading, 3 Hz US benefited osteoblast differentiation by upregulating important osteogenic markers. This study proves that 3D-printed bioactive piezoelectric scaffolds coupled with US are promising to expedite bone regeneration in orthopedic defects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Convergence of Science and Engineering: A Promising Window toward Improving the Public Health)

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15 pages, 4093 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nanostructured ZnO-Based Electrochemical Sensor with Anionic Surfactant for the Electroanalysis of Trimethoprim

by Vinoda B. Patil, Davalasab Ilager, Suresh M. Tuwar, Kunal Mondal and Nagaraj P. Shetti

Bioengineering 2022, 9(10), 521; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering9100521 - 02 Oct 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 1644

Abstract

In this research, detection of trimethoprim (TMP) was carried out using a nanostructured zinc oxide nanoparticle-modified carbon paste electrode (ZnO/CPE) with an anionic surfactant and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) with the help of voltametric techniques. The electrochemical nature of TMP was studied in [...] Read more.

In this research, detection of trimethoprim (TMP) was carried out using a nanostructured zinc oxide nanoparticle-modified carbon paste electrode (ZnO/CPE) with an anionic surfactant and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) with the help of voltametric techniques. The electrochemical nature of TMP was studied in 0.2 M pH 3.0 phosphate-buffer solution (PBS). The developed electrode displayed the highest peak current compared to nascent CPE. Effects of variation in different parameters, such as pH, immersion time, scan rate, and concentration, were investigated. The electrode process of TMP was irreversible and diffusion controlled with two electrons transferred. The effective concentration range (8.0 × 10⁻⁷ M–1.0 × 10⁻⁵ M) of TMP was obtained by varying the concentration with a lower limit of detection obtained to be 2.58 × 10⁻⁸ M. In addition, this approach was effectively employed in the detection of TMP in pharmaceutical dosages and samples of urine with the excellent recovery data, suggesting the potency of the developed electrode in clinical and pharmaceutical sample analysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Convergence of Science and Engineering: A Promising Window toward Improving the Public Health)

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16 pages, 4535 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rational Design of Porous Poly(ethylene glycol) Films as a Matrix for ssDNA Immobilization and Hybridization

by Zhiyong Zhao, Saunak Das and Michael Zharnikov

Bioengineering 2022, 9(9), 414; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering9090414 - 24 Aug 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1425

Abstract

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) films, fabricated by thermally induced crosslinking of amine- and epoxy-terminated four-arm STAR-PEG precursors, were used as porous and bioinert matrix for single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) immobilization and hybridization. The immobilization relied on the reaction between the amine groups in the films [...] Read more.

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) films, fabricated by thermally induced crosslinking of amine- and epoxy-terminated four-arm STAR-PEG precursors, were used as porous and bioinert matrix for single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) immobilization and hybridization. The immobilization relied on the reaction between the amine groups in the films and N-hydroxy succinimide (NHS) ester groups of the NHS-ester-decorated ssDNA. Whereas the amount of reactive amine groups in the films with the standard 1:1 composition of the precursors turned out to be too low for efficient immobilization, it could be increased noticeably using an excess (2:1) concentration of the amine-terminated precursor. The respective films retained the bioinertness of the 1:1 prototype and could be successfully decorated with probe ssDNA, resulting in porous, 3D PEG-ssDNA sensing assemblies. These assemblies exhibited high selectivity with respect to the target ssDNA strands, with a hybridization efficiency of 78–89% for the matching sequences and full inertness for non-complementary strands. The respective strategy can be applied to the fabrication of DNA microarrays and DNA sensors. As a suitable transduction technique, requiring no ssDNA labeling and showing high sensitivity in the PEG-ssDNA case, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is suggested. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Convergence of Science and Engineering: A Promising Window toward Improving the Public Health)

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15 pages, 22652 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development and Characterization of Zein/Ag-Sr Doped Mesoporous Bioactive Glass Nanoparticles Coatings for Biomedical Applications

by Syeda Ammara Batool, Ushna Liaquat, Iftikhar Ahmad Channa, Sadaf Jamal Gilani, Muhammad Atif Makhdoom, Muhammad Yasir, Jaweria Ashfaq, May Nasser bin Jumah and Muhammad Atiq ur Rehman

Bioengineering 2022, 9(8), 367; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering9080367 - 04 Aug 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2357

Abstract

Implants are used to replace damaged biological structures in human body. Although stainless steel (SS) is a well-known implant material, corrosion of SS implants leads to the release of toxic metallic ions, which produce harmful effects in human body. To prevent material degradation [...] Read more.

Implants are used to replace damaged biological structures in human body. Although stainless steel (SS) is a well-known implant material, corrosion of SS implants leads to the release of toxic metallic ions, which produce harmful effects in human body. To prevent material degradation and its harmful repercussions, these implanted materials are subjected to biocompatible coatings. Polymeric coatings play a vital role in enhancing the mechanical and biological integrity of the implanted devices. Zein is a natural protein extracted from corn and is known to have good biocompatibility and biodegradability. In this study, zein/Ag-Sr doped mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (Ag-Sr MBGNs) were deposited on SS substrates via electrophoretic deposition (EPD) at different parameters. Ag and Sr ions were added to impart antibacterial and osteogenic properties to the coatings, respectively. In order to examine the surface morphology of coatings, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed. To analyze mechanical strength, a pencil scratch test, bend test, and corrosion and wear tests were conducted on zein/Ag-Sr doped MBGN coatings. The results show good adhesion strength, wettability, corrosion, and wear resistance for zein/Ag-Sr doped MBGN coatings as compared to bare SS substrate. Thus, good mechanical and biological properties were observed for zein/Ag-Sr doped MBGN coatings. Results suggested these zein/Ag-Sr MBGNs coatings have great potential in bone regeneration applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Convergence of Science and Engineering: A Promising Window toward Improving the Public Health)

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25 pages, 9375 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Oral Cells-On-Chip: Design, Modeling and Experimental Results

by Hamed Osouli Tabrizi, Abbas Panahi, Saghi Forouhi, Deniz Sadighbayan, Fatemeh Soheili, Mohammad Reza Haji Hosseini Khani, Sebastian Magierowski and Ebrahim Ghafar-Zadeh

Bioengineering 2022, 9(5), 218; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering9050218 - 19 May 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2969

Abstract

Recent advances in periodontal studies have attracted the attention of researchers to the relation between oral cells and gum diseases, which is a real threat to overall human health. Among various microfabrication technologies, Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductors (CMOSs) enable the development of low-cost [...] Read more.

Recent advances in periodontal studies have attracted the attention of researchers to the relation between oral cells and gum diseases, which is a real threat to overall human health. Among various microfabrication technologies, Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductors (CMOSs) enable the development of low-cost integrated sensors and circuits for rapid and accurate assessment of living cells that can be employed for the early detection and control of periodontal diseases. This paper presents a CMOS capacitive sensing platform that can be considered as an alternative for the analysis of salivatory cells such as oral neutrophils. This platform consists of two sensing electrodes connected to a read-out capacitive circuitry designed and fabricated on the same chip using Austria Mikro Systeme (AMS) 0.35 µm CMOS process. A graphical user interface (GUI) was also developed to interact with the capacitive read-out system and the computer to monitor the capacitance changes due to the presence of saliva cells on top of the chip. Thanks to the wide input dynamic range (IDR) of more than 400 femto farad (fF) and high resolution of 416 atto farad (aF), the experimental and simulation results demonstrate the functionality and applicability of the proposed sensor for monitoring cells in a small volume of 1 µL saliva samples. As per these results, the hydrophilic adhesion of oral cells on the chip varies the capacitance of interdigitated electrodes (IDEs). These capacitance changes then give an assessment of the oral cells existing in the sample. In this paper, the simulation and experimental results set a new stage for emerging sensing platforms for testing oral samples. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Convergence of Science and Engineering: A Promising Window toward Improving the Public Health)

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12 pages, 1151 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Efficacy of Ciprofloxacin and Amoxicillin Removal and the Effect on the Biochemical Composition of Chlorella vulgaris

by Rajamanickam Ricky, Fulvia Chiampo and Subramaniam Shanthakumar

Bioengineering 2022, 9(4), 134; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering9040134 - 24 Mar 2022

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2912

Abstract

Antibiotics are frequently detected in the aquatic environment due to their excessive usage and low-efficiency removal in wastewater treatment plants. This can provide the origin to the development of antibiotic-resistant genes in the microbial community, with considerable ecotoxicity to the environment. Among the [...] Read more.

Antibiotics are frequently detected in the aquatic environment due to their excessive usage and low-efficiency removal in wastewater treatment plants. This can provide the origin to the development of antibiotic-resistant genes in the microbial community, with considerable ecotoxicity to the environment. Among the antibiotics, the occurrence of ciprofloxacin (CIP) and amoxicillin (AMX) has been detected in various water matrices at different concentrations around the Earth. They are designated as emerging contaminants (ECs). Microalga Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris) has been extensively employed in phycoremediation studies for its acclimatization property, non-target organisms for antibiotics, and the production of value-added bioproducts utilizing the nutrients from the wastewater. In this study, C. vulgaris medium was spiked with 5 mg/L of CIP and AMX, and investigated for its growth-stimulating effects, antibiotic removal capabilities, and its effects on the biochemical composition of algal cells compared to the control medium for 7 days. The results demonstrated that C. vulgaris adapted the antibiotic spiked medium and removed CIP (37 ± 2%) and AMX (25 ± 3%), respectively. The operating mechanisms were bioadsorption, followed by bioaccumulation, and biodegradation, with an increase in cell density up to 46 ± 3% (CIP) and 36 ± 4% (AMX), compared to the control medium. Further investigations revealed that, in the CIP stress-induced algal medium, an increase in major photosynthetic pigment chlorophyll-a (30%) and biochemical composition (lipids (50%), carbohydrates (32%), and proteins (65%)) was observed, respectively, compared to the control medium. In the AMX stress-induced algal medium, increases in chlorophyll-a (22%), lipids (46%), carbohydrates (45%), and proteins (49%) production were observed compared to the control medium. Comparing the two different stress conditions and considering that CIP is more toxic than AMX, this study provided insights on the photosynthetic activity and biochemical composition of C. vulgaris during the stress conditions and the response of algae towards the specific antibiotic stress. The current study confirmed the ability of C. vulgaris to adapt, bioadsorb, bioaccumulate, and biodegrade emerging contaminants. Moreover, the results showed that C. vulgaris is not only able to remove CIP and AMX from the medium but also can increase the production of valuable biomass usable in the production of various bioproducts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Convergence of Science and Engineering: A Promising Window toward Improving the Public Health)

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11 pages, 1324 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Study on Lower Limb Asymmetries in Parkinson’s Disease during Gait Assessed through Kinematic-Derived Parameters

by Federico Arippa, Bruno Leban, Marco Monticone, Giovanni Cossu, Carlo Casula and Massimiliano Pau

Bioengineering 2022, 9(3), 120; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering9030120 - 16 Mar 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2712

Abstract

Unilaterality of motor symptoms is a distinctive feature of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and represents an important co-factor involved in motor deficits and limitations of functional abilities including postural instability and asymmetrical gait. In recent times, an increasing number of studies focused on the [...] Read more.

Unilaterality of motor symptoms is a distinctive feature of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and represents an important co-factor involved in motor deficits and limitations of functional abilities including postural instability and asymmetrical gait. In recent times, an increasing number of studies focused on the characterization of such alterations, which have been associated with increased metabolic cost and risk of falls and may severely compromise their quality of life. Although a large number of studies investigated the gait alterations in people with PD (pwPD), few focused on kinematic parameters and even less investigated interlimb asymmetry under a kinematic point of view. This retrospective study aimed to characterize such aspects in a cohort of 61 pwPD (aged 68.9 ± 9.3 years) and 47 unaffected individuals age- and sex-matched (66.0 ± 8.3 years), by means of computerized 3D gait analysis performed using an optical motion-capture system. The angular trends at hip, knee and ankle joints of pwPD during the gait cycle were extracted and compared with those of unaffected individuals on a point-by-point basis. Interlimb asymmetry was assessed using angle–angle diagrams (cyclograms); in particular, we analyzed area, orientation, trend symmetry and range offset. The results showed that pwPD are characterized by a modified gait pattern particularly at the terminal stance/early swing phase of the gait cycle. Significant alterations of interlimb coordination were detected at the ankle joint (cyclogram orientation and trend symmetry) and at the hip joint (range offset). Such findings might be useful in clinical routine to characterize asymmetry during gait and thus support physicians in the early diagnosis and in the evaluation of the disease progression. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Convergence of Science and Engineering: A Promising Window toward Improving the Public Health)

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Review

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16 pages, 2177 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Review of Conventional and Novel Treatments for Osteoporotic Hip Replacements

by Fahad Alabdah, Adel Alshammari, Araida Hidalgo-Bastida and Glen Cooper

Bioengineering 2023, 10(2), 161; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10020161 - 25 Jan 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1833

Abstract

Introduction: Osteoporosis is a skeletal disease that severely affects the mechanical properties of bone. It increases the porosity of cancellous bone and reduces the resistance to fractures. It has been reported in 2009 that there are approximately 500 million osteoporotic patients worldwide. Patients [...] Read more.

Introduction: Osteoporosis is a skeletal disease that severely affects the mechanical properties of bone. It increases the porosity of cancellous bone and reduces the resistance to fractures. It has been reported in 2009 that there are approximately 500 million osteoporotic patients worldwide. Patients who suffer fractures due to fragility cost the National Healthcare Systems in the United Kingdom £4.4 billion in 2018, in Europe €56 billion in 2019, and in the United States $57 billion in 2018. Thus, osteoporosis is problematic for both patients and healthcare systems. Aim: This review is conducted for the purpose of presenting and discussing all articles introducing or investigating treatment solutions for osteoporotic patients undergoing total hip replacement. Methods: Searches were implemented using three databases, namely Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science to extract all relevant articles. Predetermined eligibility criteria were used to exclude articles out of the scope of the study. Results: 29 articles out of 183 articles were included in this review. These articles were organised into three sections: (i) biomechanical properties and structure of osteoporotic bones, (ii) hip implant optimisations, and (iii) drug, cells, and bio-activators delivery through hydrogels. Discussion: The findings of this review suggest that diagnostic tools and measurements are crucial for understanding the characteristics of osteoporosis in general and for setting patient-specific treatment plans. It was also found that attempts to overcome complications associated with osteoporosis included design optimisation of the hip implant; however, only short-term success was reported, while the long-term stability of implants was compromised by the progressive nature of osteoporosis. Finally, it was also found that targeting implantation sites with cells, drugs, and growth factors has been outworked using hydrogels, where promising results have been reported regarding enhanced osteointegration and inhibited bacterial and osteoclastic activities. Conclusions: These results may encourage investigations that explore the effects of these impregnated hydrogels on osteoporotic bones beyond metallic scaffolds and implants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Convergence of Science and Engineering: A Promising Window toward Improving the Public Health)

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21 pages, 1316 KiB

Open AccessReview

Application of Micro-Engineered Kidney, Liver, and Respiratory System Models to Accelerate Preclinical Drug Testing and Development

by Hanieh Gholizadeh, Shaokoon Cheng, Agisilaos Kourmatzis, Hanwen Xing, Daniela Traini, Paul M. Young and Hui Xin Ong

Bioengineering 2022, 9(4), 150; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering9040150 - 02 Apr 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3449

Abstract

Developing novel drug formulations and progressing them to the clinical environment relies on preclinical in vitro studies and animal tests to evaluate efficacy and toxicity. However, these current techniques have failed to accurately predict the clinical success of new therapies with a high [...] Read more.

Developing novel drug formulations and progressing them to the clinical environment relies on preclinical in vitro studies and animal tests to evaluate efficacy and toxicity. However, these current techniques have failed to accurately predict the clinical success of new therapies with a high degree of certainty. The main reason for this failure is that conventional in vitro tissue models lack numerous physiological characteristics of human organs, such as biomechanical forces and biofluid flow. Moreover, animal models often fail to recapitulate the physiology, anatomy, and mechanisms of disease development in human. These shortfalls often lead to failure in drug development, with substantial time and money spent. To tackle this issue, organ-on-chip technology offers realistic in vitro human organ models that mimic the physiology of tissues, including biomechanical forces, stress, strain, cellular heterogeneity, and the interaction between multiple tissues and their simultaneous responses to a therapy. For the latter, complex networks of multiple-organ models are constructed together, known as multiple-organs-on-chip. Numerous studies have demonstrated successful application of organ-on-chips for drug testing, with results comparable to clinical outcomes. This review will summarize and critically evaluate these studies, with a focus on kidney, liver, and respiratory system-on-chip models, and will discuss their progress in their application as a preclinical drug-testing platform to determine in vitro drug toxicology, metabolism, and transport. Further, the advances in the design of these models for improving preclinical drug testing as well as the opportunities for future work will be discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Convergence of Science and Engineering: A Promising Window toward Improving the Public Health)

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Other

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9 pages, 1305 KiB

Open AccessBrief Report

Verification of the Efficacy of Mexiletine Treatment for the A1656D Mutation on Downgrading Reentrant Tachycardia Using a 3D Cardiac Electrophysiological Model

by Ali Ikhsanul Qauli, Yedam Yoo, Aroli Marcellinus and Ki Moo Lim

Bioengineering 2022, 9(10), 531; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering9100531 - 07 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1526

Abstract

The SCN5A mutations have been long associated with long QT variant 3 (LQT3). Recent experimental and computation studies have reported that mexiletine effectively treats LQT3 patients associated with the A1656D mutation. However, they have primarily focused on cellular level evaluations and have only [...] Read more.

The SCN5A mutations have been long associated with long QT variant 3 (LQT3). Recent experimental and computation studies have reported that mexiletine effectively treats LQT3 patients associated with the A1656D mutation. However, they have primarily focused on cellular level evaluations and have only looked at the effects of mexiletine on action potential duration (APD) or QT interval reduction. We further investigated mexiletine’s effects on cardiac cells through simulations of single-cell (behavior of alternant occurrence) and 3D (with and without mexiletine). We discovered that mexiletine could shorten the cell’s APD and change the alternant’s occurrence to a shorter basic cycle length (BCL) between 350 and 420 ms. The alternant also appeared at a normal heart rate under the A1656D mutation. Furthermore, the 3D ventricle simulations revealed that mexiletine could reduce the likelihood of a greater spiral wave breakup in the A1656D mutant condition by minimizing the appearance of rotors. In conclusion, we found that mexiletine could provide extra safety features during therapy for LQT3 patients because it can change the alternant occurrence from a normal to a faster heart rate, and it reduces the chance of a spiral wave breakup. Therefore, these findings emphasize the promising efficacy of mexiletine in treating LQT3 patients under the A1656D mutation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Convergence of Science and Engineering: A Promising Window toward Improving the Public Health)

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