Biomedical Potential Research Articles

Protein-polymer bioconjugation, immobilization, and encapsulation: a comparative review towards applicability, functionality, activity, and stability.

Polymer-based biomaterials have received a lot of attention due to their biomedical, agricultural, and industrial potential. Soluble protein-polymer bioconjugates, immobilized proteins, and encapsulated proteins have been shown to tune enzymatic activity, improved pharmacokinetic ability, increased chemical and thermal stability, stimuli responsiveness, and introduced protein recovery. Controlled polymerization techniques, increased protein-polymer attachment techniques, improved polymer surface grafting techniques, controlled polymersome self-assembly, and sophisticated characterization methods have been utilized for the development of well-defined polymer-based biomaterials. In this review we aim to provide a brief account of the field, compare these methods for engineering biomaterials, provide future directions for the field, and highlight impacts of these forms of bioconjugation.

DNA-modulated dimerization and oligomerization of cell membrane receptors.

DNA-based nanostructures and nanodevices have recently been employed for a broad range of applications in modulating the assemblies and interaction patterns of different cell membrane receptors. These versatile nanodevices can be rationally designed with modular structures, easily programmed and tweaked such that they may act as smart chemical biology and cell biology tools to reveal insights into complicated cellular signaling processes. Their outstanding in vitro and cellular features have also begun to be further validated for some in vivo applications and demonstrated their great biomedical potential. In this review, we will highlight some key current advances in the molecular engineering and biological applications of DNA-based functional nanodevices, with a focus on how these tools have been used to respond and modulate membrane receptor dimerizations and/or oligomerizations, as a way to control cellular signaling processes. Some current challenges and future directions to further develop and apply these DNA nanodevices will also be discussed.

Fabrication, Characterization, Antibacterial and Biocompatibility Studies of Graphene Oxide Loaded Alginate Chitosan Scaffolds for Potential Biomedical Applications

Graphene oxide nanomaterial possesses greater biocompatibility. Chitosan alginate is produced from chitin by deacetylation, it is a biodegradable and biocompatible biomaterial. Graphene has a large specific surface area that enhances the antibacterial effect by enabling biocompatible interactions with bacterial membranes. To fabricate a biocompatible graphene oxide loaded alginate chitosan scaffold for potential biomedical uses and perform the characterization, antibacterial, and biocompatibility properties of ALG-CHI-GO scaffolds. The scaffolds were prepared by mixing the solution of ChitosanHCl (5 %) and graphene oxide-oxidized alginate (10 %). This gelled mixture is freeze-dried (lyophilization) to form the scaffold and is later characterized using FTIR and SEM, The scaffolds were then tested for in biocompatibility towards peripheral blood mononuclear cells and antibacterial properties against Enterococcus faecalis and Streptococcus mutans. The biocompatibility towards peripheral blood mononuclear was checked using the annexin V PI assay. To conclude that the fabricated Graphene oxide loaded chitosan alginate scaffold was found to be biocompatible and showed antibacterial properties. Keywords: Antibacterial activity, Biocompatibility, Chitosan alginate scaffolds, Graphene oxide.

The “Carpenter,” a substrate for green synthesis: Biosynthesis and antimicrobial potential

The frequent use of antibiotics has created favorable conditions for bacteria to develop resistance. Bacterial resistance is an issue for global health killing at least 1 million people worldwide annually. The quest for new and effective antimicrobials with activities against resistance bacteria demands immediate attention. The use of nanoparticles as antimicrobials alternatives to conventional antibiotics may have the potential to combat bacterial resistance. Silver nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles have captivated the interest of most researchers by virtue of their broad-range antimicrobial activity against bacteria due to their strong biocidal effect against microorganisms. Silver nanoparticles have been traditionally synthesized by physical chemical and biological process. However, biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles from wings of carpenter bees Xylocopa virginica, which is abundantly available in summer in the United States of America, is yet to be explored. Herein, we report the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using wing extract of carpenter bees X. virginica. Subsequently the biosynthesized nanoparticles were characterized by UV–Visible absorption spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity of the biosynthesized nanoparticles was investigated against two common Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogenic bacteria viz Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli, Micrococcus luteus and Staphylococcus aureus using microdilution method. The results of this study indicate that biosynthesized silver nanoparticles from X. virginica wing extract showed an absorption band at 440 nm and SEM revealed spherical nanoparticles 20- 60 nm in size. Additionally, biosynthesizes silver nanoparticles from the wings of X. virginica exhibited antimicrobial activity against all the tested bacteria signifying their biomedical, pharmaceutical, and agricultural potential.

Evaluation of the hardness and wear behavior of date seed powder/epoxy composites as potential biomaterials

The date palm, or Phoenix dactylifera, is a crop that is grown for food and is used by many people on a regular basis. The cultivation of date palms, their processing, and consumer demand all produce tons of waste. Date palm seeds can account for up to 10 % of the total weight of the fruits. A topic of interest for research is the application of date seed waste in the fields of engineering, nutrition, and cosmetics. This work aims to show that epoxy/palm seed date composites are suitable for use as biomaterials by examining their wear behavior. Give a brief introduction to a few ideas before going over the fundamental idea of wear resistance. Future wear resistance improvements in biomedical applications and other industries that might benefit from this addition will continue to be achieved through the use of date palm seed microparticles in epoxy. In this study, epoxy composites containing palm seed particles are made by the mixing procedure. The studied composites made from date palm seed powder particles has micron particle size of 150 which is mixed with epoxy as a matrix. The percentages of date palm seeds are varying from 5 % to 20 %. The 20 percent sample had the best results, losing 7.03 percent of their starting weight. The 10 percent group, which lost 9.4 percent, the 15 percent group, which lost 12.2 percent, and the 5 percent sample, which lost 19.95 percent, were the next in line. Each of the four samples had 1 kg to 5 kg of weight applied to them at five different rotation speeds. Upon analysis of all the samples under investigation, it was discovered that the date palm seeds enhanced and increased wear resistance, leading to better outcomes.

Thymol-Modified Oleic and Linoleic Acids Encapsulated in Polymeric Nanoparticles: Enhanced Bioactivity, Stability, and Biomedical Potential.

Unsaturated fatty acids, such as oleic acid (OA) and linoleic acid (LA), are promising antimicrobial and cytostatic agents. We modified OA and LA with thymol (TOA and TLA, respectively) to expand their bioavailability, stability, and possible applications, and encapsulated these derivatives in polymeric nanoparticles (TOA-NPs and TLA-NPs, respectively). Prior to synthesis, we performed mathematical simulations with PASS and ADMETlab 2.0 to predict the biological activity and pharmacokinetics of TOA and TLA. TOA and TLA were synthesized via esterification in the presence of catalysts. Next, we formulated nanoparticles using the single-emulsion solvent evaporation technique. We applied dynamic light scattering, Uv-vis spectroscopy, release studies under gastrointestinal (pH 1.2-6.8) and blood environment simulation conditions (pH 7.4), and in vitro biological activity testing to characterize the nanoparticles. PASS revealed that TOA and TLA have antimicrobial and anticancer therapeutic potential. ADMETlab 2.0 provided a rationale for TOA and TLA encapsulation. The nanoparticles had an average size of 212-227 nm, with a high encapsulation efficiency (71-93%), and released TOA and TLA in a gradual and prolonged mode. TLA-NPs possessed higher antibacterial activity against B. cereus and S. aureus and pronounced cytotoxic activity against MCF-7, K562, and A549 cell lines compared to TOA-NPs. Our findings expand the biomedical application of fatty acids and provide a basis for further in vivo evaluation of designed derivatives and formulations.

Effect of Strontium-Substituted Calcium Phosphate Coatings Prepared by One-Step Electrodeposition at Different Temperatures on Corrosion Resistance and Biocompatibility of AZ31 Magnesium Alloys.

As potential degradable biomaterials, magnesium (Mg) alloys have development prospects in the field of orthopedic load-bearing, whereas the clinical application has encountered a bottleneck due to a series of problems caused by its rapid corrosion. In this study, strontium-substituted calcium phosphate (CaP) coatings with different structures were prepared on the surface of the Mg matrix by a simple one-step electrodeposition method at different temperatures, which enhanced the poor corrosion resistance of the Mg matrix. The coated sample prepared at 65 °C reduced the corrosion current density by 3 orders of magnitude and increased the impedance by nearly 2 orders of magnitude compared with bare Mg alloy, thanks to its dense fibrous structure similar to that of natural bones. Although the coating composition varies with different preparation temperatures, CaP, as an inorganic component similar to natural bone, has good cytocompatibility. Doping the right amount of strontium, which is a trace element in human bones, is beneficial to stimulate osteoblast differentiation, inhibit the activity of osteoclasts, and induce the formation of bone tissues. This provides a new option for modifying the Mg alloy with CaP coatings as a base.

Ultrashort Cationic Peptide Fmoc-FFK as Hydrogel Building Block for Potential Biomedical Applications.

Fmoc-diphenylalanine (Fmoc-FF) is a low-molecular-weight peptide hydrogelator. This simple all-aromatic peptide can generate self-supporting hydrogel materials, which have been proposed as novel materials for diagnostic and pharmaceutical applications. Our knowledge of the molecular determinants of Fmoc-FF aggregation is used as a guide to design new peptide-based gelators, with features for the development of improved tools. Here, we enlarge the plethora of Fmoc-FF-based hydrogelated matrices by studying the properties of the Fmoc-FFK tripeptide, alone or in combination with Fmoc-FF. For multicomponent matrices, the relative weight ratios between Fmoc-FFK and Fmoc-FF (specifically, 1/1, 1/5, 1/10, and 1/20 w/w) are evaluated. All the systems and their multiscale organization are studied using different experimental techniques, including rheology, circular dichroism, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Preliminary profiles of biocompatibility for the studied systems are also described by testing them in vitro on HaCaT and 3T3-L1 cell lines. Additionally, the lysine (K) residue at the C-terminus of the Fmoc-FF moiety introduces into the supramolecular material chemical functions (amino groups) which may be useful for modification/derivatization with bioactive molecules of interest, including diagnostic probes, chelating agents, active pharmaceutical ingredients, or peptide nucleic acids.

Facile General Injectable Gelatin/Metal/Tea Polyphenol Double Nanonetworks Remodel Wound Microenvironment and Accelerate Healing.

Treating the most widespread complication of diabetes: diabetic wounds poses a significant clinical obstacle due to the intricate nature of wound healing in individuals with diabetes. Here a novel approach is proposed using easily applicable injectable gelatin/metal/tea polyphenol double nanonetworks, which effectively remodel the wound microenvironment and accelerates the healing process. The gelatin(Gel) crosslink with metal ions (Zr4+ ) through the amino acids, imparting advantageous mechanical properties like self-healing, injectability, and adhesion. The nanonetwork's biological functions are further enhanced by incorporating the tea polyphenol metal nanonetwork through in situ doping of the epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) with great antibacterial, self-healing, antioxidant, and anticancer capabilities. The in vitro and in vivo tests show that this double nanonetworks hydrogel exhibits faster cell migration and favorable anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and can greatly reshape the microenvironment of diabetic wounds and accelerate the wound healing rate. In addition, this hydrogel is completely degraded after subcutaneous injection for 7 days, with nondetectable cytotoxicity in H&E staining of major mice organs and the serum level of liver function indicators. Considering the above-mentioned merits of this hydrogel, it is believed that the injectable gelatin/metal/tea polyphenol double nanonetworks have broad biomedical potential, especially in diabetic wound repair and tissue engineering.

STRUCTURE AND BIOMEDICAL PROPERTIES OF LIGNINS (REVIEW)

The proposed literature review is in line with current trends in the development of nature-like technologies and is devoted to the analysis of the chemical structure and the search for new ways to use lignins for biomedical applications. Lignins are unique biopolymers of plant origin, the structural organization of which is multivariate and largely depends on the biological species of the plant. Fundamental structural and chemical studies are increasingly clarifying our understanding of the macromolecules structure of this key plant biopolymer, and the study of various taxonomic origins lignins shows to what extent evolution and natural variability have led to a complication of the chemical structure of macromolecules, including through the inclusion of "unconventional" phenolic monomers. This suggests that lignins contain much more structural units than the three monolignol variants described in lignin chemistry textbooks. As a result, as the analysis of the literature data shows, the very definition of lignin continues to expand and refine. Currently, there is a dramatic increase in interest in lignin-based materials, mainly due to their diverse beneficial properties, such as biodegradability, reactivity, biocompatibility, low toxicity and a wide range of biological activity. One of the main objectives of this article is to identify and discuss the mechanisms of biological action of lignins on living organisms to assess the biomedical potential and substantiate the possibility of their use as innovative drugs of antioxidant, radioprotective and geroprotective action. Finding new ways to use lignins is necessary to meet the challenges of maintaining health and improving the quality and duration of people's lives.

Improving the Physical Properties of Starch-Based Powders for Potential Anti-Adhesion Applications.

Postoperative adhesion is one of the most common complications that occur during and after surgery; thus, materials that can prevent adhesion are often applied. Starch powders with a high water absorption capacity are preferred, and many studies have focused on increasing the water absorption of modified starches, as native starch powders display poor water-holding capacities. The effects of salts on the physical properties of acetylated distarch phosphate potato starch powders were investigated here. Changes in functional groups, the crystal structures of modified starch, particle morphologies, water absorption, viscosity, and in vivo adhesion were investigated. The results showed that salts greatly improved the water absorption and viscosity of acetylated distarch phosphate potato starch powders. Among the three different salt-modified starch powders, NaCl-modified starch powders displayed higher water absorption and viscosity and demonstrated better in vivo anti-adhesion performance. The results of this study propose a potential biomaterial that may function as an anti-adhesive, potentially leading to reduced surgical risks and a better quality of life for patients.

Biocompatibility of ABS and PLA Polymers with Dental Pulp Stem Cells Enhance Their Potential Biomedical Applications.

Polylactic Acid (PLA) and Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) are commonly used polymers in 3D printing for biomedical applications. Dental Pulp Stem Cells (DPSCs) are an accessible and proliferative source of stem cells with significant differentiation potential. Limited knowledge exists regarding the biocompatibility and genetic safety of ABS and PLA when in contact with DPSCs. This study aimed to investigate the impact of PLA and ABS on the adhesion, proliferation, osteogenic differentiation, genetic stability, proteomics, and immunophenotypic profile of DPSCs. A total of three groups, 1- DPSC-control, 2- DPSC+ABS, and 3- DPSC+PLA, were used in in vitro experiments to evaluate cell morphology, proliferation, differentiation capabilities, genetic stability, proteomics (secretome), and immunophenotypic profiles regarding the interaction between DPSCs and polymers. Both ABS and PLA supported the adhesion and proliferation of DPSCs without exhibiting significant cytotoxic effects and maintaining the capacity for osteogenic differentiation. Genetic stability, proteomics, and immunophenotypic profiles were unaltered in DPSCs post-contact with these polymers, highlighting their biosafety. Our findings suggest that ABS and PLA are biocompatible with DPSCs and demonstrate potential in dental or orthopedic applications; the choice of the polymer will depend on the properties required in treatment. These promising results stimulate further studies to explore the potential therapeutic applications in vivo using prototyped polymers in personalized medicine.

Biomedical Potential of Keratin-Biphalin Wound Dressing in Diabetic Mice: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

ABSTRACTStrategies for successful healing of diabetic wounds are lacking. Natural-derived dressings have gained much attention due to their promising properties. We hypothesized that keratin-biphalin fiber-dressing accelerates skin wound healing in a mouse model of diabetes. Keratin fibers were obtained from mouse fur and soaked in a biphalin solution. Studies on NIH/3T3 cells showed that keratin-biphalin fibers increase cell viability. In vivo studies were made on C57BL/6J mice with iatrogenically induced diabetes. Two full-thickness wounds were created on the back of the mice, one untreated and the other treated with an experimental dressing. Western blot analysis, histopathological and immunohistochemical staining were performed. Biphalin was slowly released from keratin fibers. The obtained keratin-biphalin fibers were biocompatible and supported cell growth. Western blot analysis showed that cells treated with our dressing had an increasing expression level of mTOR, and p-AKT 72 h post-treatment compared to 24 h and 48 h. Animal studies showed that the keratin-biphalin dressing accelerated wound healing on days 5 and 15. Treated wounds showed faster reepithelization and developed thicker epidermis. Histopathological and immunohistochemical studies confirmed that keratin-biphalin fibers stimulate macrophage infiltration, which promotes tissue remodeling and regeneration. Exogenous keratin-biphalin fibers p-AKT/mTOR expression protein in vitro and accelerate skin wound healing in diabetic mice.

Bacterial diversity and community structure of salt pans from Goa, India.

In Goa, salt production from the local salt pans is an age-old practice. These salt pans harbor a rich diversity of halophilic microbes with immense biotechnological applications, as they tolerate extremely harsh conditions. Detecting the existence of these microbes by a metabarcoding approach could be a primary step to harness their potential. Three salt pans viz. Agarwado, Curca, and Nerul adjoining prominent estuaries of Goa were selected based on their unique geographical locations. The sediments of these salt pans were examined for their bacterial community and function by 16S rRNA amplicon-sequencing. These salt pans were hypersaline (400-450 PSU) and alkaline (pH 7.6-8.25), with 0.036-0.081 mg/L nitrite, 0.0031-0.016 mg/L nitrate, 6.66-15.81 mg/L sulfate, and 20.8-25.6 mg/L sulfide. The relative abundance revealed that the Pseudomonadota was dominant in salt pans of Nerul (13.9%), Curca (19.6%), and Agarwado (32.4%). The predominant genera in Nerul, Curca, and Agarwado salt pan sediments were Rhodopirellula (1.12%), Sulfurivermis (1.28%), and Psychrobacter (25.5%) respectively. The highest alpha diversity (Shannon-diversity Index) was observed in the Nerul salt pan (4.8) followed by Curca (4.3) and Agarwado (2.03). Beta diversity indicated the highest dissimilarity between Agarwado and the other two salt pans (0.73) viz. Nerul and Curca and the lowest dissimilarity was observed between Nerul and Curca salt pans (0.48). Additionally, in the Agarwado salt pan, 125 unique genera were detected, while in Nerul 119, and in Curca 28 distinct genera were noted. The presence of these exclusive microorganisms in a specific salt pan and its absence in the others indicate that the adjacent estuaries play a critical role in determining salt pan bacterial diversity. Further, the functional prediction of bacterial communities indicated the predominance of stress adaptation genes involved in osmotic balance, membrane modification, and DNA repair mechanisms. This is the first study to report the bacterial community structure and its functional genes in these three salt pans using Next-Generation Sequencing. The data generated could be used as a reference by other researchers across the world for bioprospecting these organisms for novel compounds having biotechnological and biomedical potential.

Effect of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) weight ratio on spray-dried apatite–PVA composites

Türkiye has the largest colemanite reserves in the world, mainly used in glass and boric acid production. To broaden the current applications of colemanite, it was previously transformed to apatite using a novel method by the same working group of the authors. Natural bone is an organic–inorganic composite where inorganic apatite crystals are accumulated on organic collagen fibers. With inspiration from nature, one further step was taken as an addition to the previous study: apatite, produced from colemanite, and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were mixed at different weight ratios and then dried using a spray dryer to investigate the effect of PVA content on the composite structure and to see the effect of using a spray dryer on the morphology of the composites. The weight ratios of apatite–PVA were maintained as 3:7, 5:5 and 8:2. The samples in each step were analyzed using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. It was shown that spray-dried apatite–PVA composites were successfully synthesized and could be potential biomaterials. Using a spray dryer and the manipulation of the weight ratios of apatite–PVA were effective ways to tailor the particle size of the powder and the morphology of the particles, which could be beneficial for their biomedical usage.

Effect of withdrawal speed variations on coating quality of electrophoretically deposited biogenic hydroxyapatite on AISI 316L

The use of biogenic waste for multipurpose materials has started to be encouraged in the current decade to support the world’s environmental sustainability campaign. Biogenic calcium phosphate-derived materials are potential biomaterials because of their similar properties to human bone. This paper used hydroxyapatite (HAp) powder derived from green mussel shells (Perna viridis) to coat the AISI 316L metallic implant material using the electrophoretic deposition coating method. In this study, the post-deposition withdrawal speeds of 5mm/s, 3mm/s, and 1mm/s were varied to find their effect on the quality of the HAp coating layer. Crystallography, micrography, and image processing were used to characterize the coating and calculate the percentage of HAp layer and cracks. The crystallographic data shows the HAp peaks, which conclude that the green mussel shells HAp successfully coat the substrate and can be used to coat the AISI 316L implant material. However, the appearance of the substrate crystal peaks and color difference on high withdrawal speed specimens conclude that the coating layer has cracks. In conclusion, the emergence of cracks can be minimized using 1mm/s post-deposition withdrawal speed and eventually produce high-quality HAp coating.

Evaluation of phytochemical, antibacterial, thrombolytic, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxicity profile of Achyranthes aspera aerial part extracts

This investigation was designed and performed to compare the phytochemical profiling, activities of antibacterial, thrombolytic, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxicity of methanol extract (ME-E) and aqueous extract (AQ-E) of aerial parts of Achyranthes aspera through in-vitro approach. Also characterize the functional groups of bioactive compounds in the ME-E through Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis. Interestingly, qualitative phytochemical screening proved that the ME-E contain more number of vital phytochemicals such as phenolics. saponins, tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, steroids, and phlobatannins than AQ-E. Similarly, the ME-E showed notable antibacterial activity as dose dependent manner against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa at 1000 μg mL−1 concentration. ME-E also showed 75.2 ± 2% of clot lysis (thrombolytic activity) at 1000 μg mL−1 dosage and it followed by AQ-E 51.24 ± 3%. The ME-E showed moderate and AQ-E demonstrate poor anti-inflammatory activity evidenced by albumin denaturation inhibition and anti-lipoxygenase assays. Furthermore, the ME-E demonstrated a dose dependent cytotoxicity was noted against brine shrimp larvae. In support of this ME-E considerable activities, the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis confirmed that this extract contain more number peaks attributed to the stretch of various essential functional groups belongs to different bioactive compounds. Hence this ME-E of A. aspera can be considered for further in depth scientific investigations to validate their maximum biomedical potential.

A Review Study on the Biomedical Potentials of Seaweeds Species

A Review Study on the Biomedical Potentials of Seaweeds Species

Assessment of multi-biomedical efficiency of Andrographis paniculata shoot extracts through in-vitro analysis and major compound identification

The present investigation looked into the various biomedical potentials of Andrographis paniculata shoot extracts. The results showed that the methanol extract (Met-E) of A. paniculata contains more phytochemicals than the acetone and petroleum ether extracts, including alkaloids, saponins, tannins, phenolics, flavonoids, glycosides, terpenoids, phytosterol, steroids, and protein. Accordingly, the Met-E alone showed considerable bactericidal activity (through agar well diffusion method) against the bacterial pathogens namely Shigella dysenteriae, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella typhi, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphlococcus aureus, E. coli, and B. subtilis. This bactericidal activity was found as dose dependent manner, since at 1000 μg ml concentration, the Met-E showed better antibacterial activity. Similarly, at increased concentration (1000 μg ml) it showed notable antidiabetic (α-amylase inhibition: 74.31% and α-glucosidase inhibition: 72.34%), antioxidant (DPPH: 78.24%), and anti-inflammatory (albumin denaturation inhibition: 79.84% and lipoxigenase inhibition: 69.4%) activities. The phytochemical profiling of Met-E was characterized by UV–visible spectrophotometer (UV–vis), Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analyses. The results showed the Met-E contain bioactive compounds such as gallic acid, epicatechin, catechin, naringin, vitexin-2-rhamnoside, taxifolin, kaempferol, hesperidin, myricetin, rutin, quercetin, phloretin, and ursolic acid compounds. While most of these substances have been recognised for their pharmacological application perspective, the biological properties of particular substances must be studied in the future using in-vivo strategies.

Schottky Heterojunction Facilitates Osteosarcoma Ferroptosis and Enhances Bone Formation in a Switchable Mode

AbstractEffective antitumor agents with concurrent osteogenic properties are essential for comprehensive osteosarcoma (OS) treatment. However, the current clinical therapeutic strategies of OS fail to completely eradicate tumors while simultaneously encouraging bone formation. To address this issue, a switchable strategy for dynamic OS ablation and static bone regeneration is developed by integrating piezoelectric BaTiO3 (BTO) with atomic‐thin Ti3C2 (TC) through a Schottky heterojunction, resulting in the formation of TC@BTO. Under sequential ultrasound and near‐infrared irradiation, the optimized carrier transport of TC@BTO, based on Schottky heterojunction, exhibits excellent characteristics of photothermal conversion and reactive oxygen species generation. This results in ferroptosis of tumor cells and eventual elimination of OS. Moreover, in the static state, the interfacial Schottky heterojunction facilitates the carriers’ directed transfer from the semiconductor to the metal. The Schottky heterojunction‐enhanced static electrical stimulation enhances the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells and repair of bone defects. Furthermore, RNA‐sequencing analysis reveals that static TC@BTO promotes bone regeneration by activating Wnt signaling pathway, and remarkably, pharmacological inhibition of Wnt signaling suppresses the TC@BTO‐induced osteogenesis. Overall, this work broadens the biomedical potential of Schottky heterojunction‐based therapies and provides a comprehensive strategy for overall OS ablation and bone regeneration.