3D Scaffolds Research Articles

Chronic intermittent hypoxia remodels catecholaminergic nerve innervation in mouse atria.

Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH, a model for sleep apnoea) is a major risk factor for several cardiovascular diseases. Autonomic imbalance (sympathetic overactivity and parasympathetic withdrawal) has emerged as a causal contributor of CIH-induced cardiovascular disease. Previously, we showed that CIH remodels the parasympathetic pathway. However, whether CIH induces remodelling of the cardiac sympathetic innervation remains unknown. Mice (male, C57BL/6J, 2-3months) were exposed to either room air (RA, 21% O2 ) or CIH (alternating 21% and 5.7% O2 , every 6min, 10 hday-1 ) for 8-10weeks. Flat-mounts of their left and right atria were immunohistochemically labelled for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH, a sympathetic marker). Using a confocal microscope (or fluorescence microscope) and Neurlocudia 360digitization and tracing system, we scanned both the left and right atria and quantitatively analysed the sympathetic axon density in both groups. The segmentation data was mapped onto a 3D mouse heart scaffold. Our findings indicated that CIH significantly remodelled the TH immunoreactive (-IR) innervation of the atria by increasing its density at the sinoatrial node, the auricles and the major veins attached to the atria (P < 0.05, n=7). Additionally, CIH increased the branching points of TH-IR axons and decreased the distance between varicosities. Abnormal patterns of TH-IR axons around intrinsic cardiac ganglia were also found following CIH. We postulate that the increased sympathetic innervation may further amplify the effects of enhanced CIH-induced central sympathetic drive to the heart. Our work provides an anatomical foundation for the understanding of CIH-induced autonomic imbalance. KEY POINTS: Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH, a model for sleep apnoea) causes sympathetic overactivity, cardiovascular remodelling and hypertension. We determined the effect of CIH on sympathetic innervation of the mouse atria. In vivo CIH for 8-10weeks resulted in an aberrant axonal pattern around the principal neurons within intrinsic cardiac ganglia and an increase in the density, branching point, tortuosity of catecholaminergic axons and atrial wall thickness. Utilizing mapping tool available from NIH (SPARC) Program, the topographical distribution of the catecholaminergic innervation of the atria were integrated into a novel 3D heart scaffold for precise anatomical distribution and holistic quantitative comparison between normal and CIH mice. This work provides a unique neuroanatomical understanding of the pathophysiology of CIH-induced autonomic remodelling.

Development and characterization of antibacterial 3D porous hydroxyapatite-gelatin-PVA scaffolds containing zinc oxide nanoparticles

There is still a need to develop hydroxyapatite (HAp)/gelatin-based porous scaffolds to provide a hybrid system with structural and biochemical properties equivalent to those of bone. Here, we fabricated and characterized 3D hybrid scaffolds composed of HAp nanoparticles synthesized in situ in gelatin and PVA solutions and loaded with combustionally synthesized (10 wt%) zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) to ensure their homogeneous embedding in the polymer matrices. The phase analysis, composition, morphological and microstructural properties of ZnO NPs and freeze-dried hybrid scaffolds were studied. The compressive strength, porosity, swelling capacity, degradation rate, and antibacterial activity of the hybrid scaffolds were measured. The fabricated 3D scaffolds showed high porosity of up to 78 % with a pore size of about 50–300 μm, good mechanical strength in the range of about 55 kPa, high swelling capacity of up to 505 %, and long-term degradation rate of about 22–25 % for up to 35 days. ZnO NPs have a pure phase and a quasi-spherical shape with a size of about 78 ± 25 nm structure and there are no significant differences between the physicochemical properties of ZnO-free scaffolds and ZnO-loaded scaffolds. Incorporation of ZnO NPs into the scaffolds enhanced their antibacterial response against pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). This work provides advanced 3D porous hybrid bone scaffolds with favorable mechanical performance and antibacterial activity for bone repair and regeneration.

Silk fibroin/polyacrylamide-based tough 3D printing scaffold with strain sensing ability and chondrogenic activity

Cartilage tissue plays an important role in our life activities. The poor self-repair capacity makes cartilage tissue engineering an urgent clinical demand. Among them, the development of tissue engineering scaffolds with both biomimetic features and microenvironment signal sensing abilities could significantly promote the development of cartilage tissue engineering. While most of the reported cartilage scaffolds have no intelligent sensing features. Herein, a ternary composite 3D printing scaffold with both strain sensing ability and desired mechanical property was developed, by using regenerated silk fibroin (RSF) and polyacrylamide (PAM) as main matrixes, and oxidized bacterial cellulose nanofibers (OBC) as filler. Then, the mechanical property, strain sensing ability and corresponding ectopic chondrogenic activity of the RSF/PAM/OBC 3D printing scaffold were comprehensively investigated and verified through in vitro and in vivo studies. Results showed that the RSF/PAM/OBC (OBC-6.3 wt%) scaffold owns effective strain sensing property and desired ectopic chondrogenesis capabilities in the subcutaneous microenvironment. It could be used for reliable monitoring the joint movements, related motion amplitudes, and also promoting the cartilage specifical genes expression. These features not only confirmed the great potential of these smart scaffolds for applications in tissue reconstruction and mechanical stimulus monitoring of the corresponding tissue microenvironment, but also proved the possibility of employing various 3D printing scaffolds as flexible bioelectronics.

Bioactive and biomimetic 3D scaffolds for bone tissue engineering using graphitic carbon nitride as a sustainable visible light photoinitiator

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is explored as a novel sustainable visible light photoinitiator for the preparation of biomimetic 3D hydrogel scaffolds comprising gelatin methacrylamide (GelMA) and dopamine methacrylamide for use in tissue engineering. The initiator efficiency was assessed by comparing the swelling behavior and the stability of photopolymerized hydrogels prepared with GelMA of different degrees of functionalization and different comonomer compositions. Bioactive composite hydrogels with a 50 wt% nanohydroxyapatite (nHAp) content, to closely mimic the actual bone composition, were successfully obtained by the introduction of nHAp in the prepolymer solutions followed by photopolymerization. The composite hydrogels demonstrated enhanced mechanical properties and excellent stability in PBS verifying the preparation of robust 3D scaffolds for use in cancellous or pre-calcified bone tissue engineering applications. The in vitro cell response of the composite scaffolds exhibited high cell viability and enhanced differentiation of pre-osteoblasts to mature osteoblasts, demonstrating their osteogenic potential. This work establishes, for the first time, the excellent properties of g-C3N4 as a sustainable, visible light initiator, fully satisfying the principles of green chemistry, for the preparation of robust and biologically relevant hydrogels, and proposes a new approach to overcome the main challenges of conventional photoinitiators in cell scaffold fabrication, such as photobleaching, high cost and non-scalable synthesis employing toxic organic precursors and solvents.

Tuning the efficacy of decellularized apple by coating with alginate/gelatin to behave as a bioscaffold for cultured meat production

Substantial efforts are underway to tackle the current challenges of sustainability and environmental impacts linked to orthodox animal agriculture. This had led to advancement in food innovation guiding the fabrication of edible scaffolds based cultured meat. This current research work aims to develop and validate a new approach in fabricating a 3D porous scaffold of decellularized apple coated with a polymer mixture of gelatin/alginate for cultivated meat production. The fabricated noncoated (A) and coated (CA) 3D scaffolds presented different ratios of pore sizes with the medium-sized pores (100–250 µm) being higher in the case of CA. The water absorption capacity of CA (∼64 %) was almost two folds compared to A (∼31 %) with delayed digestion in the presence of gastric simulated juice with or without pepsin. Both the scaffolds showed the capability to adhere and proliferate muscle satellite cells as single cell culture and muscle satellite along with NIH/3T3 fibroblast cells as co-culture. However, the CA scaffolds showed enhanced capability to adhere and proliferate the two cell lines on its surface compared to A. This work demonstrates an efficient way to fabricate decellularized plant scaffolds with high potential to be used in the production of cultured meat for the food industry.

Longevous Cycling of Rechargeable Zn-Air Battery Enabled by "Raisin-Bread" Cobalt Oxynitride/Porous Carbon Hybrid Electrocatalysts.

Developing commercially viable electrocatalyst lies at the research hotspot of rechargeable Zn-air batteries, but it is still challenging to meet the requirements of energy efficiency and durability in realistic applications. Strategic material design is critical to addressing its drawbacks in terms of sluggish kinetics of oxygen reactions and limited battery lifespan. Herein, a "raisin-bread" architecture is designed for a hybrid catalyst constituting cobalt nitride as the core nanoparticle with thin oxidized coverings, which is further deposited within porous carbon aerogel. Based on synchrotron-based characterizations, this hybrid provides oxygen vacancies and Co-Nx -C sites as the active sites, resulting from a strong coupling between CoOx Ny nanoparticles and 3D conductive carbon scaffolds. Compared to the oxide reference, it performs enhanced stability in harsh electrocatalytic environments, highlighting the benefits of the oxynitride. Furthermore, the 3D conductive scaffolds improve charge/mass transportation and boost durability of these active sites. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the introduced N species into hybrid can synergistically tune the d-band center of cobalt and improve its bifunctional activity. As a result, the obtained air cathode exhibits bifunctional overpotential of 0.65V and a battery lifetime exceeding 1350 h, which sets a new record for rechargeable Zn-air battery reported so far.

Biocompatible Nanocomposites for Postoperative Adhesion: A State-of-the-Art Review.

To reduce and prevent postsurgical adhesions, a variety of scientific approaches have been suggested and applied. This includes the use of advanced therapies like tissue-engineered (TE) biomaterials and scaffolds. Currently, biocompatible antiadhesive constructs play a pivotal role in managing postoperative adhesions and several biopolymer-based products, namely hyaluronic acid (HA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG), are available on the market in different forms (e.g., sprays, hydrogels). TE polymeric constructs are usually associated with critical limitations like poor biocompatibility and mechanical properties. Hence, biocompatible nanocomposites have emerged as an advanced therapy for postoperative adhesion treatment, with hydrogels and electrospun nanofibers among the most utilized antiadhesive nanocomposites for in vitro and in vivo experiments. Recent studies have revealed that nanocomposites can be engineered to generate smart three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds that can respond to different stimuli, such as pH changes. Additionally, nanocomposites can act as multifunctional materials for the prevention of adhesions and bacterial infections, as well as tissue healing acceleration. Still, more research is needed to reveal the clinical potential of nanocomposite constructs and the possible success of nanocomposite-based products in the biomedical market.

Electromagnetic field-mediated chitosan/gelatin/nano-hydroxyapatite and bone-derived scaffolds regulate the osteoblastic and chondrogenic phenotypes of adipose-derived stem cells to construct osteochondral tissue engineering niche in vitro

It is critical to explore the effects of electromagnetic field (EMF) on the construction of functional osteochondral tissue, which has shown certain clinical significance for the treatment of osteochondral injury. At present, there are few studies on the effect of the direction of EMF on cells. This study aimed to investigate the effects of EMF coupling on different parameters to control adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) proliferation and specific chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation at 2D level and 3D level. The proliferation and differentiation of EMF-induced ADSCs are jointly regulated by EMF and space structure. In this study, Cs7/Gel3/nHAP scaffolds were prepared with good degradation rate (86.75 ± 4.96 %) and absorb water (1100 %), and the pore size was 195.63 ± 54.72 μm. The bone-derived scaffold with a pore size of 267.17 ± 129.18 μm was obtained and its main component was hydroxyapatite. Cs7/Gel3/nHAP scaffolds and bone-derived scaffolds are suitable as 3D level materials. The optimal EMF intensity was 2 mT for chondrogenic differentiation and proliferation and 1 mT for osteogenic differentiation and proliferation. It is noteworthy that EMF has a negative correlation with ADSCs proliferation in the vertical direction at 2D level, while it has a positive correlation with ADSCs proliferation at 3D level. EMF mediated 3D osteochondral scaffold provide good strategy for osteochondral tissue engineering construction.

Design of sol-gel bioactive glasses: Towards tailored architecture and ion-supply for bone tissue regeneration

This paper reports the synthesis of borosilicate bioactive glasses nanoparticles containing ions of interest (calcium, strontium or silver ions) for the purpose of bone tissue regeneration using a modified Stöber method and their shaping by robocasting to produce macroporous grid-like architectures with controlled interconnected porosity. Main focus is on the design of a paste formulation, the optimization of the robocasting process to produce 3D scaffolds and ion release from the sintered scaffold in solution. Pastes were developed (40 vol% powder loading), characterized, and extruded layer-by-layer to form three-dimensional scaffolds with a grid-like macrostructure (400 μm diameter of the rods). After drying under controlled atmosphere, scaffolds were sintered. The sintering study revealed that the addition of silver reduced the densification point of the borosilicate glass. After immersion in a buffer solution, ionic release (Si, B and Sr) of the sintered scaffold was evaluated, and compared with the synthetized powder. The shaping process did not affect Sr dissolution. This controllable ion-release behavior of the scaffolds are promising for their therapeutic application.

Tidal Mixed Ionic/Electronic Conductive Interlayer Enables Supersmooth Lithium Deposition for Stable Lithium Metal Batteries

AbstractLithium metal is the ultimate anode material for Li‐based battery chemistries with high energy density. However, inhomogeneous charge distribution derived from the unbalanced ion/electron transport is usually generated at the electrode/electrolyte interface, leading to uncontrollable dendrite growth with poor reversibility. Herein, a mixed ionic/electronic conductive (MIEC) interlayer activated from the in situ conversion and nano‐alloying reactions between the sputtered AlN arrays and metallic Li is efficiently constructed on the Li surface via facile mechanical calendaring. The 3D interconnected polyimide scaffolds with the extensive Li3N/Li9Al4 dual‐decoration promote charge redistribution while enhancing electrochemical kinetics. The significantly reduced nucleation/plateau overpotentials, the overwhelming bottom‐up lithium growth pattern derived from the tidal MIEC interlayer, combined with the inorganics‐dominating solid electrolyte interphase synergistically regulates the uniform Li nucleation/growth. As demonstrated, a prolonged lifespan of the symmetric cell over 7500 h with an ultralow polarization of 12 mV is achieved at 5 mA cm−2@5 mAh cm−2, further improving the rate capability and cycling performance of LiFePO4‐based practical full cells with a capacity retention of 85.4% after 220 cycles. The proposed approach is also applicable to match the roll‐to‐roll production process, presenting an efficient strategy to realize the high‐performance composite anode of industry‐adaptable potential.

Three-Dimensional Printing of Cellulose/Covalent Organic Frameworks (CelloCOFs) for CO2 Adsorption and Water Treatment.

The development of porous organic polymers, specifically covalent organic frameworks (COFs), has facilitated the advancement of numerous applications. Nevertheless, the limited availability of COFs solely in powder form imposes constraints on their potential applications. Furthermore, it is worth noting that COFs tend to undergo aggregation, leading to a decrease in the number of active sites available within the material. This work presents a comprehensive methodology for the transformation of a COF into three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds using the technique of 3D printing. As part of the 3D printing process, a composite material called CelloCOF was created by combining cellulose nanofibrils (CNF), sodium alginate, and COF materials (i.e., COF-1 and COF-2). The intervention successfully mitigated the agglomeration of the COF nanoparticles, resulting in the creation of abundant active sites that can be effectively utilized for adsorption purposes. The method of 3D printing can be described as a simple and basic procedure that can be adapted to accommodate hierarchical porous materials with distinct micro- and macropore regimes. This technology demonstrates versatility in its use across a range of COF materials. The adsorption capacities of 3D CelloCOF materials were evaluated for three different adsorbates: carbon dioxide (CO2), heavy metal ions, and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). The results showed that the materials exhibited adsorption capabilities of 19.9, 7.4-34, and 118.5-410.8 mg/g for CO2, PFOS, and heavy metals, respectively. The adsorption properties of the material were found to be outstanding, exhibiting a high degree of recyclability and exceptional selectivity. Based on our research findings, it is conceivable that the utilization of custom-designed composites based on COFs could present new opportunities in the realm of water and air purification.

Engineering biomimetic scaffolds by combining silk protein nanofibrils and hyaluronic acid

Nanofibrous scaffolds mimicking important features of the native extracellular matrix (ECM) provide a promising strategy for tissue regeneration. However, 3D scaffolds mimicking natural protein nanofibers and bioactive glycosaminoglycans remain poorly developed. In this study, a biomimetic nanofibrous scaffold composed of natural silk protein nanofibers and glycosaminoglycan hyaluronic acid (HA) was developed. HA functionalization significantly improved the hydrophilicity and bioactivity of silk nanofibers (SNFs). SNFs can be assembled into nanofibrous aerogel scaffolds with low density and desirable shapes on a large scale. More importantly, with the assistance of HA, the silk nanofibrous aerogel scaffolds with ultra-high porosity, natural bioactivity, and structural stability in aqueous environment can be fabricated. In the protease/hyaluronidase solution, the SNF scaffolds with 10.0 % HA can maintain their monolithic shape for >3 weeks. The silk nanofibrous scaffolds not only imitate the composition of ECM but also mimic the hierarchical structure of ECM, providing a favorable microenvironment for cell adhesion and proliferation. These results indicate that this structurally and functionally biomimetic system is a promising tissue engineering scaffold.

Combination of melt-electrospun poly-ε-caprolactone scaffolds and hepatocyte-like cells from footprint-free hiPSCs to create 3D biohybrid constructs for liver tissue engineering

The liver is a vital organ with numerous functions, including metabolic functions, detoxification, and the synthesis of secretory proteins. The increasing prevalence of liver diseases requires the development of effective treatments, models, and regenerative approaches. The field of liver tissue engineering represents a significant advance in overcoming these challenges. In this study, 3D biohybrid constructs were created by combining hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) derived from patient-specific footprint-free human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and 3D melt-electrospun poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) scaffolds. First, a differentiation procedure was established to obtain autologous HCLs from hiPSCs reprogrammed from renal epithelial cells using self-replicating mRNA. The obtained cells expressed hepatocyte-specific markers and exhibited important hepatocyte functions, such as albumin synthesis, cytochrome P450 activity, glycogen storage, and indocyanine green metabolism. Biocompatible PCL scaffolds were fabricated by melt-electrospinning and seeded with pre-differentiated hepatoblasts, which uniformly attached to the fibers of the scaffolds and successfully matured into HLCs. The use of patient-specific, footprint-free hiPSC-derived HLCs represents a promising cell source for personalized liver regeneration strategies. In combination with biocompatible 3D scaffolds, this innovative approach has a broader range of applications spanning liver tissue engineering, drug testing and discovery, and disease modeling.

Printed Electronic Devices and Systems for Interfacing with Single Cells up to Organoids

AbstractThe field of bioelectronics with the aim to contact cells, cell clusters, biological tissues and organoids has become a vast enterprise. Currently, it is mainly relying on classical micro‐ and nanofabrication methods to build devices and systems. Very recently the field is highly pushed by the development of novel printable organic, inorganic and biomaterials as well as advanced digital printing technologies such as laser and inkjet printing employed in this endeavor. Recent advantages in alternative additive manufacturing and 3D printing methods enable interesting new routes, in particular for applications requiring the incorporation of delicate biomaterials or creation of 3D scaffold structures that show a high potential for bioelectronics and building of hybrid bio‐/inorganic devices. Here the current state of printed 2D and 3D electronic structures and related lithography techniques for the interfacing of electronic devices with biological systems are reviewed. The focus lies on in vitro applications for interfacing single cell, cell clusters, and organoids. Challenges and future prospects are discussed for all‐printed hybrid bio/electronic systems targeting biomedical research, diagnostics, and health monitoring.

Development of 3D melanoma cultures on a hyaluronic acid-based scaffold with synthetic self-assembling peptides: Electroporation enhancement

Electrochemotherapy (ECT) with bleomycin is an effective antitumor treatment. Still, researchers are investigating new drugs and electroporation conditions to improve its efficacy. To this aim, in vivo assays are accurate but expensive and ethically questionable. Conversely, in vitro assays, although cheaper and straightforward, do not reflect the architecture of the biological tissue because they lack a tridimensional (3D) structure (as in the case of two-dimensional [2D] in vitro assays) or do not include all the extracellular matrix components (as in the case of 3D in vitro scaffolds). To address this issue, 3D in vitro models have been proposed, including spheroids and hydrogel-based cultures, which require a suitable low-conductive medium to allow cell membrane electroporation.In this study, a synthetic scaffold based on hyaluronic acid (HA) and self-assembling peptides (SAPs; EAbuK), condensed with a Laminin-derived adhesive sequence (IKVAV), is proposed as a reliable alternative. We compare SKMEL28 cells cultured in the HA-EAbuK-IKVAV scaffold to the control (HA only scaffold). Three days after seeding, the culture on the HA-EAbuK-IKVAV scaffold showed collagen production. SKMEL28 cells cultured on the HA-EAbuK-IKVAV scaffold started to be electroporated at 400 V/cm, whereas, at the same electric field intensity, those cultured on HA were not. As a reference, 2D experiments showed that electroporation of SKMEL28 cells starts at 600 V/cm using an electroporation buffer and at 800 V/cm in a culture medium, but with very low efficiency (<50 % of cells electroporated). 3D cultures on HA-EAbuK-IKVAV allowed the simulation of a more reliable microenvironment and may represent a valuable tool for studying electroporation conditions. Using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to compute the transmembrane potential, we detected the influence of inhomogeneity of the extracellular matrix on electroporation effect. Our 3D cell culture electroporation simulations showed that the transmembrane potential increased when collagen surrounded the cells. Of note, in the collagen-enriched HA-EAbuK-IKVAV scaffold, EP was already improved at lower electric field intensities. This study shows the influence of the extracellular matrix on electric conductivity and electric field distribution on cell membrane electroporation and supports the adoption of more reliable 3D scaffolds in experimental electroporation studies.

3D Printing Drug-Free Scaffold with Triple-Effect Combination Induced by Copper-Doped Layered Double Hydroxides for the Treatment of Bone Defects.

Tissue-engineered poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) scaffolds have been widely used to treat bone defects; however, poor biological activities have always been key challenges for its further application. To address this issue, introducing bioactive drugs or factors is the most commonly used method, but there are often many problems such as high cost, uncontrollable and monotonous drug activity, and poor bioavailability. Here, a drug-free 3D printing PLLA scaffold with a triple-effect combination induced by surface-modified copper-doped layered double hydroxides (Cu-LDHs) is proposed. In the early stage of scaffold implantation, Cu-LDHs exert a photothermal therapy (PTT) effect to generate high temperature to effectively prevent bacterial infection. In the later stage, Cu-LDHs can further have a mild hyperthermia (MHT) effect to stimulate angiogenesis and osteogenic differentiation, demonstrating excellent vascularization and osteogenic activity. More importantly, with the degradation of Cu-LDHs, the released Cu2+ and Mg2+ provide an ion microenvironment effect and further synergize with the MHT effect to stimulate angiogenesis and osteogenic differentiation, thus more effectively promoting the healing of bone tissue. This triple-effect combined scaffold exhibits outstanding antibacterial, osteogenic, and angiogenic activities, as well as the advantages of low cost, convenient procedure, and long-term efficacy, and is expected to provide a promising strategy for clinical repair of bone defects.

Fe3O4/Fe/FeS Tri‐Heterojunction Node Spawning N‐Carbon Nanotube Scaffold Structure for High‐Performance Sodium‐Ion Battery

The Fe‐based anode of sodium‐ion batteries attracts much attention due to the abundant source, low‐cost, and high specific capacity. However, the low electron and ion transfer rate, poor structural stability, and shuttle effect of NaS2 intermediate restrain its further development. Herein, the Fe3O4/Fe/FeS tri‐heterojunction node spawned N‐carbon nanotube scaffold structure (FHNCS) was designed using the modified MIL‐88B(Fe) as a template followed by catalytic growth and sulfidation process. During catalytic growth process, the reduced Fe monomers catalyze the growth of N‐doped carbon nanotubes to connect the Fe3O4/Fe/FeS tri‐heterojunction node, forming a 3D scaffold structure. Wherein the N‐doped carbon promotes the transfer of electrons between Fe3O4/Fe/FeS particles, and the tri‐heterojunction facilitates the diffusion of electrons at the interface, to organize a 3D conductive network. The unique scaffold structure provides more active sites and shortens the Na+ diffusion path. Meanwhile, the structure exhibits excellent mechanical stability to alleviate the volume expansion during circulation. Furthermore, the Fe in Fe3O4/Fe heterojunction can adjust the d‐band center of Fe in Fe3O4 to enhance the adsorption between Fe3O4 and Na2S intermediate, which restrains the shuttle effect. Therefore, the FHNCS demonstrates a high specific capacity of 436 mAh g−1 at 0.5 A g−1, 84.7% and 73.4% of the initial capacities are maintained after 100 cycles at 0.5 A g−1 and 1000 cycles at 1.0 A g−1. We believe that this strategy gives an inspiration for constructing Fe‐based anode with excellent rate capability and cycling stability.

Enhancing Osteoblastic Cell Cultures with Gelatin Methacryloyl, Bovine Lactoferrin, and Bioactive Mesoporous Glass Scaffolds Loaded with Distinct Parsley Extracts.

The increasing interest in innovative solutions for addressing bone defects has driven research into the use of Bioactive Mesoporous Glasses (MBGs). These materials, distinguished by their well-ordered mesoporous structure, possess the capability to accommodate plant extracts with well-established osteogenic properties, including bovine lactoferrin (bLF), as part of their 3D scaffold composition. This harmonizes seamlessly with the ongoing advancements in the field of biomedicine. In this study, we fabricated 3D scaffolds utilizing MBGs loaded with extracts from parsley leaves (PL) and embryogenic cultures (EC), rich in bioactive compounds such as apigenin and kaempferol, which hold potential benefits for bone metabolism. Gelatin Methacryloyl (GelMa) served as the polymer, and bLF was included in the formulation. Cytocompatibility, Runx2 gene expression, ALP enzyme activity, and biomineralization were assessed in preosteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cell cultures. MBGs effectively integrated PL and EC extracts with loadings between 22.6 ± 0.1 and 43.6 ± 0.3 µM for PL and 26.3 ± 0.3 and 46.8 ± 0.4 µM for EC, ensuring cell viability through a release percentage between 28.3% and 59.9%. The incorporation of bLF in the 3D scaffold formulation showed significant differences compared to the control in all assays, even at concentrations below 0.2 µM. Combinations, especially PL + bLF at 0.19 µM, demonstrated additive potential, with superior biomineralization compared to EC. In summary, this study highlights the effectiveness of MBGs in incorporating PL and EC extracts, along with bLF, into 3D scaffolds. The results underscore cytocompatibility, osteogenic activity, and biomineralization, offering exciting potential for future in vivo applications.

Polydopamine‐based surface functionalization of watermelon rind as a 3D nanofibrous cellulose scaffold for osteogenesis

Polydopamine‐based surface functionalization of watermelon rind as a 3D nanofibrous cellulose scaffold for osteogenesis

Two-Photon Direct Laser Writing of 3D Scaffolds through C, H-Insertion Crosslinking in a One-Component Material System.

The popularity of two-photon direct laser writing in biological research is remarkable as this technique is capable of 3D fabrication of microstructures with unprecedented control, flexibility and precision. Nevertheless, potential impurities such as residual monomers and photoinitiators remaining unnoticed from the photopolymerization in the structures pose strong challenges for biological applications. Here, the first use of high-precision 3D microstructures fabricated from a one-component material system (without monomers and photoinitiators) as a 3D cell culture platform is demonstrated. The material system consists of prepolymers with built- in crosslinker motieties, requiring only aliphatic C, H units as reaction partners following two-photon excitation. The material is written by direct laser writing using two-photon processes in a solvent-free state, which enables the generation of structures at a rapid scan speed of up to 500mms-1 with feature sizes scaling down to few micrometers. The generated structures possess stiffnesses close to those of common tissue and demonstrate excellent biocompatibility and cellular adhesion without any additional modification. The demonstrated approach holds great promise for fabricating high-precision complex 3D cell culture scaffolds that are safe in biological environments.