Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for IJMS Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Special Issue "Medical Polymers for Tissue Repair and Regeneration"

Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Macromolecules".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 February 2024 | Viewed by 1974

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Young-Jin Kim

E-Mail
Guest Editor

Department of Advanced Materials and Chemical Engineering, Daegu Catholic University, Gyeongsan 38430, Republic of Korea
Interests: biomaterials; nanofibrous membranes; bioceramics; synthesis of nanoparticles; composite materials; photodynamic therapy; cancer-targeting drugs; 3D printing; tissue regeneration
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The repair of damaged tissue is defined as the restoration of tissue architecture and function after an injury. In addition, regeneration refers to a type of healing in which new growth completely restores portions of damaged tissue to their normal state. Tissue repair may restore some of the original structures of the damaged tissue but may also result in structural abnormalities that impair organ function. The repair of tissue defects is a complex biological process that requires biocompatible materials, cells, and growth factors. Therefore, functionalized extracellular matrix (ECM) mimics using polymer materials are currently recognized as an ideal substitute for autologous grafts because of their biocompatibility and their similarity with the physical and chemical properties of ECM. Various methods can allow the successful fabrication of ECM mimics using biomaterials including polymers and their composites. The aim of this Special Issue is to fabricate and characterize functionalized ECM mimics for tissue repair and regeneration. Topics include various fabrication methods, unique characterization, polymer and composite materials, biomedical applications such as tissue regeneration, drug delivery for tissue defect healing, etc.

Prof. Dr. Young-Jin Kim
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

polymer materials
composite materials
biomedical application
tissue repair
tissue regeneration
extracellular matrix mimics
functionalization
fabrication

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

21 pages, 10464 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Berberine-Encapsulated Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)–Hydroxyapatite (PLGA/HA) Microspheres Synergistically Promote Bone Regeneration with DOPA-IGF-1 via the IGF-1R/PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway

and

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(20), 15403; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242015403 - 20 Oct 2023

Viewed by 484

Abstract

Polymer microspheres have recently shown outstanding potential for bone tissue engineering due to their large specific surface area, good porosity, injectable property, good biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Their good load-release function and surface modifiability make them useful as a carrier of drugs or growth factors for the repair of bone defects in irregularly injured or complex microenvironments, such as skull defects. In this study, berberine (BBR)-encapsulated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)/hydroxyapatite (HA) microspheres were fabricated using electrified liquid jets and a phase-separation technique, followed by modification with the 3,4-hydroxyphenalyalanine-containing recombinant insulin-like growth–factor-1 (DOPA-IGF-1). Both the BBR and the IGF-1 exhibited sustained release from the IGF-1@PLGA/HA-BBR microspheres, and the composite microspheres exhibited good biocompatibility. The results of the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assays showed that the BBR and IGF-1 in the composite microspheres synergistically promoted the osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. Furthermore, it was confirmed that immobilized IGF-1 enhances the mRNA expression of an osteogenic-related extracellular matrix and that BBR accelerates the mRNA expression of IGF-1-mediated osteogenic differentiation and cell mineralization. Further cellular studies demonstrate that IGF-1 could further synergistically activate the IGF-1R/PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway using BBR, thereby enhancing IGF-1-mediated osteogenesis. Rat calvarial defect repair experiments show that IGF-1@PLGA/HA-BBR microspheres can effectively promote the complete bony connection required to cover the defect site and enhance bone defect repair. These findings suggest that IGF-1@PLGA/HA-BBR composite microspheres show a great potential for bone regeneration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medical Polymers for Tissue Repair and Regeneration)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 23253 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Biomaterial Surface Properties on Engineering Neural Tissue for Spinal Cord Regeneration

Victor A. da Silva

Bianca C. Bobotis

Felipe F. Correia

Théo H. Lima-Vasconcellos

Gabrielly M. D. Chiarantin

Laura De La Vega

Christiane B. Lombello

Stephanie M. Willerth

Sônia M. Malmonge

Vera Paschon

and

Alexandre H. Kihara

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(17), 13642; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241713642 - 04 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 763

Abstract

Tissue engineering for spinal cord injury (SCI) remains a complex and challenging task. Biomaterial scaffolds have been suggested as a potential solution for supporting cell survival and differentiation at the injury site. However, different biomaterials display multiple properties that significantly impact neural tissue at a cellular level. Here, we evaluated the behavior of different cell lines seeded on chitosan (CHI), poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL), and poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA) scaffolds. We demonstrated that the surface properties of a material play a crucial role in cell morphology and differentiation. While the direct contact of a polymer with the cells did not cause cytotoxicity or inhibit the spread of neural progenitor cells derived from neurospheres (NPCdn), neonatal rat spinal cord cells (SCC) and NPCdn only attached and matured on PCL and PLLA surfaces. Scanning electron microscopy and computational analysis suggested that cells attached to the material’s surface emerged into distinct morphological populations. Flow cytometry revealed a higher differentiation of neural progenitor cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC-NPC) into glial cells on all biomaterials. Immunofluorescence assays demonstrated that PCL and PLLA guided neuronal differentiation and network development in SCC. Our data emphasize the importance of selecting appropriate biomaterials for tissue engineering in SCI treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medical Polymers for Tissue Repair and Regeneration)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

18 pages, 1759 KiB

Open AccessReview

Nature-Derived Polysaccharide-Based Composite Hydrogels for Promoting Wound Healing

and

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(23), 16714; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242316714 - 24 Nov 2023

Viewed by 484

Abstract

Numerous innovative advancements in dressing technology for wound healing have emerged. Among the various types of wound dressings available, hydrogel dressings, structured with a three-dimensional network and composed of predominantly hydrophilic components, are widely used for wound care due to their remarkable capacity to absorb abundant wound exudate, maintain a moisture environment, provide soothing and cooling effects, and mimic the extracellular matrix. Composite hydrogel dressings, one of the evolved dressings, address the limitations of traditional hydrogel dressings by incorporating additional components, including particles, fibers, fabrics, or foams, within the hydrogels, effectively promoting wound treatment and healing. The added elements enhance the features or add specific functionalities of the dressings, such as sensitivity to external factors, adhesiveness, mechanical strength, control over the release of therapeutic agents, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, and tissue regeneration behavior. They can be categorized as natural or synthetic based on the origin of the main components of the hydrogel network. This review focuses on recent research on developing natural polysaccharide-based composite hydrogel wound dressings. It explores their preparation and composition, the reinforcement materials integrated into hydrogels, and therapeutic agents. Furthermore, it discusses their features and the specific types of wounds where applied. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medical Polymers for Tissue Repair and Regeneration)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Special Issue "Medical Polymers for Tissue Repair and Regeneration"

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (3 papers)

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI