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Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are versatile and promising, with diverse applications in environmental remediation, nanomedicine, cancer treatment, and drug delivery. In this study, ZnO NPs were synthesized utilizing extracts derived fromAcacia catechu, Artemisia vulgaris, andCynodon dactylon. The synthesized ZnO NPs showed an Ultraviolet–visible spectrum at 370 nm, and X-ray diffraction analysis indicated the hexagonal wurtzite framework with the average crystallite size of 15.07 nm, 16.98 nm, and 18.97 nm for nanoparticles synthesized utilizingA. catechu, A. vulgaris,andC. dactylonrespectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated spherical surface morphology with average diameters of 18.5 nm, 17.82 nm, and 17.83 nm for ZnO NPs prepared fromA. catechu, A. vulgaris, andC. dactylon,respectively. Furthermore, ZnO NPs tested againstStaphylococcus aureus, Kocuria rhizophila, Klebsiella pneumonia,andShigella sonneidemonstrated a zone of inhibition of 8 to 14 mm. The cell viability and cytotoxicity effects of ZnO NPs were studied on NIH-3T3 mouse fibroblast cells treated with different concentrations (5 μg/mL, 10 μg/mL, and 50 μg/mL). The results showed biocompatibility of all samples, except with higher doses causing cell death. In conclusion, the ZnO NPs synthesized through plant-mediated technique showed promise for potential utilization in various biomedical applications in the future.

 

Three-dimensional (3D) printing was utilized for the fabrication of a composite scaffold of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and calcium magnesium phosphate (CMP) bioceramics for bone tissue engineering application. Four groups of scaffolds, that is, PMC-0, PMC-5, PMC-10, and PMC-15, were fabricated using a custom 3D printer. Rheology analysis, surface morphology, and wettability of the scaffolds were characterized. The PMC-0 scaffolds displayed a smoother surface texture and an increase in the ceramic content of the composite scaffolds exhibited a rougher structure. The hydrophilicity of the composite scaffold was significantly enhanced compared to the control PMC-0. The effect of ceramic content on the bioactivity of fibroblast NIH/3T3 cells in the composite scaffold was investigated. Cell viability and toxicity studies were evaluated by comparing results from lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and Alamar Blue (AB) colorimetric assays, respectively. The live-dead cell assay illustrated the biocompatibility of the tested samples with more than 100% of live cells on day 3 compared to the control one. The LDH release indicated that the composite scaffolds improved cell attachment and proliferation. In this research, the fabrication of a customized composite 3D scaffold not only mimics the rough textured architecture, porosity, and chemical composition of natural bone tissue matrices but also serves as a source for soluble ions of calcium and magnesium that are favorable for bone cells to grow. These 3D-printed scaffolds thus provide a desirable microenvironment to facilitate biomineralization and could be a new effective approach for preparing constructs suitable for bone tissue engineering. 

Electrospun fibrous scaffolds made from polymers such as polycaprolactone (PCL) have been used in drug delivery and tissue engineering for their viscoelasticity, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and tunability. Hydrophobicity and the prolonged degradation of PCL causes inhibition of the natural tissue-remodeling processes. Poliglecaprone (PGC), which consists of PCL and Poly (glycolic acid) (PGA), has better mechanical properties and a shorter degradation time compared to PCL. A blend between PCL and PGC called PPG can give enhanced shared properties for biomedical applications. In this study, we fabricated a blend of PCL and PGC nanofibrous scaffold (PPG) at different ratios of PGC utilizing electrospinning. We studied the physicochemical and biological properties, such as morphology, crystallinity, surface wettability, degradation, surface functionalization, and cellular compatibility. All PPG scaffolds exhibited good uniformity in fiber morphology and improved mechanical properties. The surface wettability and degradation studies confirmed that increasing PGC in the PPG composites increased hydrophilicity and scaffold degradation respectively. Cell viability and cytotoxicity results showed that the scaffold with PGC was more viable and less toxic than the PCL-only scaffolds. PPG fibers were successfully coated with polydopamine (PDA) and collagen to improve degradation, biocompatibility, and bioactivity. The nanofibrous scaffolds synthesized in this study can be utilized for tissue engineering applications such as for regeneration of human articular cartilage regeneration and soft bones.

 

An engineered 3D architectural network of the biopolymeric hydrogel can mimic the native cell environment that promotes cell infiltration and growth. Among several bio-fabricated hydrogel structures, core–shell microcapsules inherit the potential of cell encapsulation to ensure the growth and transport of cells and cell metabolites. Herein, a co-axial electrostatic encapsulation strategy is used to create and encapsulate the cells into chitin nanofibrils integrated alginate hydrogel microcapsules. Three parameters that are critical in the electrostatic encapsulation process, hydrogel composition, flow rate, and voltage were optimized. The physicochemical characterization including structure, size, and stability of the core–shell microcapsules was analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), FTIR, and mechanical tests. The cellular responses of the core–shell microcapsules were evaluated through in vitro cell studies by encapsulating NIH/3T3 fibroblast cells. Notably, the bioactive microcapsule showed that the cell viability was found excellent for more than 2 weeks. Thus, the results of this core–shell microcapsule showed a promising approach to creating 3D hydrogel networks suitable for different biomedical applications such as in vitro tissue models for toxicity studies, wound healing, and tissue repair.

 

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have piqued the curiosity of researchers all over the world due to their extensive biological activity. They are less toxic and biodegradable with the capacity to greatly boost pharmacophore bioactivity. ZnO-NPs are the most extensively used metal oxide nanoparticles in electronic and optoelectronics because of their distinctive optical and chemical properties which can be readily modified by altering the morphology and the wide bandgap. The biosynthesis of nanoparticles using extracts of therapeutic plants, fungi, bacteria, algae, etc., improves their stability and biocompatibility in many biological settings, and its biofabrication alters its physiochemical behavior, contributing to biological potency. As such, ZnO-NPs can be used as an effective nanocarrier for conventional drugs due to their cost-effectiveness and benefits of being biodegradable and biocompatible. This article covers a comprehensive review of different synthesis approaches of ZnO-NPs including physical, chemical, biochemical, and green synthesis techniques, and also emphasizes their biopotency through antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antiviral, wound healing, and cardioprotective activity. Green synthesis from plants, bacteria, and fungus is given special attention, with a particular emphasis on extraction techniques, precursors used for the synthesis and reaction conditions, characterization techniques, and surface morphology of the particles. 

Nano-in-micro (NIM) system is a promising approach to enhance the performance of devices for a wide range of applications in disease treatment and tissue regeneration. In this study, polymeric nanofibre-integrated alginate (PNA) hydrogel microcapsules were designed using NIM technology. Various ratios of cryo-ground poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanofibres (CPN) were incorporated into PNA hydrogel microcapsule. Electrostatic encapsulation method was used to incorporate living cells into the PNA microcapsules (~500 µm diameter). Human liver carcinoma cells, HepG2, were encapsulated into the microcapsules and their physio-chemical properties were studied. Morphology, stability, and chemical composition of the PNA microcapsules were analysed by light microscopy, fluorescent microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The incorporation of CPN caused no significant changes in the morphology, size, and chemical structure of PNA microcapsules in cell culture media. Among four PNA microcapsule products (PNA-0, PNA-10, PNA-30, and PNA-50 with size 489 ± 31 µm, 480 ± 40 µm, 473 ± 51 µm and 464 ± 35 µm, respectively), PNA-10 showed overall suitability for HepG2 growth with high cellular metabolic activity, indicating that the 3D PNA-10 microcapsule could be suitable to maintain better vitality and liver-specific metabolic functions. Overall, this novel design of PNA microcapsule and the one-step method of cell encapsulation can be a versatile 3D NIM system for spontaneous generation of organoids within vivolike tissue architectures, and the system can be useful for numerous biomedical applications, especially for liver tissue engineering, cell preservation, and drug toxicity study.

 

Engineered composite scaffolds composed of natural and synthetic polymers exhibit cooperation at the molecular level that closely mimics tissue extracellular matrix's (ECM) physical and chemical characteristics. However, due to the lack of smooth intermix capability of natural and synthetic materials in the solution phase, bio‐inspired composite material development has been quite challenged. In this research, we introduced new bio‐inspired material blending techniques to fabricate nanofibrous composite scaffolds of chitin nanofibrils (CNF), a natural hydrophilic biomaterial and poly (ɛ‐caprolactone) (PCL), a synthetic hydrophobic‐biopolymer. CNF was first prepared by acid hydrolysis technique and dispersed in trifluoroethanol (TFE); and second, PCL was dissolved in TFE and mixed with the chitin solution in different ratios. Electrospinning and spin‐coating technology were used to form nanofibrous mesh and films, respectively. Physicochemical properties, such as mechanical strength, and cellular compatibility, and structural parameters, such as morphology, and crystallinity, were determined. Toward the potential use of this composite materials as a support membrane in blood–brain barrier application (BBB), human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured, and transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) was measured. Experimental results of the composite materials with PCL/CNF ratios from 100/00 to 25/75 showed good uniformity in fiber morphology and suitable mechanical properties. They retained the excellent ECM‐like properties that mimic synthetic‐bio‐interface that has potential application in biomedical fields, particularly tissue engineering and BBB applications.