Treatment of Periodontal Inflammation in Diabetic Rats with IL-1ra Thermosensitive Hydrogel

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that is considered to be the main cause of adult tooth loss. Diabetes mellitus (DM) has a bidirectional relationship with periodontitis. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is an important pre-inflammatory factor, which participates in the pathophysiological process of periodontitis and diabetes. The interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) is a natural inhibitor of IL-1, and the balance between IL-1ra and IL-1β is one of the main factors affecting chronic periodontitis (CP) and diabetes. The purpose of this study is to develop a drug carrier that is safe and nontoxic and can effectively release IL-1ra, which can effectively slow down the inflammation of periodontal tissues with diabetes, and explore the possibility of lowering the blood sugar of this drug carrier. Therefore, in this experiment, a temperature-sensitive hydrogel loaded with IL-1ra was prepared and characterized, and its anti-inflammatory effect in high-sugar environments in vivo and in vitro was evaluated. The results showed that the hydrogel could gel after 5 min at 37 °C, the pore size was 5–70 μm, and the cumulative release of IL-1ra reached 83.23% on the 21st day. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) showed that the expression of IL-1β, Interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) inflammatory factors decreased after the treatment with IL-1ra-loaded thermosensitive hydrogel. Histological evaluation and micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT) showed that IL-1ra-loaded thermosensitive hydrogel could effectively inhibit periodontal inflammation and reduce alveolar bone absorption in rats with diabetic periodontitis. It is worth mentioning that this hydrogel also plays a role in relieving hyperglycemia. Therefore, the temperature-sensitive hydrogel loaded with IL-1ra may be an effective method to treat periodontitis with diabetes.     

Preparation and Properties of Double-Crosslinked Hydroxyapatite Composite Hydrogels

Natural polymer hydrogels have good mechanical properties and biocompatibility. This study designed hydroxyapatite-enhanced photo-oxidized double-crosslinked hydrogels. Hyaluronic acid (HA) and gelatin (Gel) were modified with methacrylate anhydride. The catechin group was further introduced into the HA chain inspired by the adhesion chemistry of marine mussels. Hence, the double-crosslinked hydrogel (HG) was formed by the photo-crosslinking of double bonds and the oxidative-crosslinking of catechins. Moreover, hydroxyapatite was introduced into HG to form hydroxyapatite-enhanced hydrogels (HGH). The results indicate that, with an increase in crosslinking network density, the stiffness of hydrogels became higher; these hydrogels have more of a compact pore structure, their anti-degradation property is improved, and swelling property is reduced. The introduction of hydroxyapatite greatly improved the mechanical properties of hydrogels, but there is no change in the stability and crosslinking network structure of hydrogels. These inorganic phase-enhanced hydrogels were expected to be applied to tissue engineering scaffolds.     

Adjusting Some Properties of Poly(methacrylic acid) (Nano)Composite Hydrogels by Means of Silicon-Containing Inorganic Fillers

The present work aims to show how the main properties of poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) hydrogels can be engineered by means of several silicon-based fillers (Laponite XLS/XLG, montmorillonite (Mt), pyrogenic silica (PS)) employed at 10 wt% concentration based on MAA. Various techniques (FT-IR, XRD, TGA, SEM, TEM, DLS, rheological measurements, UV-VIS) were used to comparatively study the effect of these fillers, in correlation with their characteristics, upon the structure and swelling, viscoelastic, and water decontamination properties of (nano)composite hydrogels. The experiments demonstrated that the nanocomposite hydrogel morphology was dictated by the way the filler particles dispersed in water. The equilibrium swelling degree (SDe) depended on both the pH of the environment and the filler nature. At pH 1.2, a slight crosslinking effect of the fillers was evidenced, increasing in the order Mt < Laponite < PS. At pH > pKa_MAA (pH 5.4; 7.4; 9.5), the Laponite/Mt-containing hydrogels displayed a higher SDe as compared to the neat one, while at pH 7.4/9.5 the PS-filled hydrogels surprisingly displayed the highest SDe. Rheological measurements on as-prepared hydrogels showed that the filler addition improved the mechanical properties. After equilibrium swelling at pH 5.4, G’ and G” depended on the filler, the Laponite-reinforced hydrogels proving to be the strongest. The (nano)composite hydrogels synthesized displayed filler-dependent absorption properties of two cationic dyes used as model water pollutants, Laponite XLS-reinforced hydrogel demonstrating both the highest absorption rate and absorption capacity. Besides wastewater purification, the (nano)composite hydrogels described here may also find applications in the pharmaceutical field as devices for the controlled release of drugs.     

CMCS/PNIPA/粘土纳米复合水凝胶的结构与性能

以无机粘土作为交联剂制备了pH/温度双重响应的羧甲基壳聚糖/聚(N-异丙基丙烯酰胺)/粘土半互穿网络(CMCS/PNIPA/Clay semi-IPN)纳米复合水凝胶,对其结构、形态及溶胀行为等进行了研究。实验表明,无机粘土被剥离成纳米尺寸的片层,均匀分散在凝胶网络中,起交联剂的作用,CMCS以线性大分子存在于水凝胶中。CMCS/PNIPA/Clay纳米复合水凝胶在33℃出现体积相转变,与传统PNIPA凝胶一致;当pH值在CMCS的等电点附近时,凝胶的溶胀度出现最小值。     

熔体过热度对Zr基非晶合金力学性能和热稳定性能的影响

采用吸铸法制备Zr70Cu13.5Ni8.5Al8非晶合金,采用同步差示扫描量热仪(DSC)和万能试验机对非晶合金显微结构进行表征和力学性能测试,并利用XRD和SEM对试样的相组成和的剪切带观察。研究发现：随着吸铸功率增加,热稳定性、玻璃形成能力不断提高;Zr70Cu13.5Ni8.5Al8非晶合金的锯齿流变现象越明显,综合力学性能越好,其中吸铸功率8 kW时,试样的屈服强度、抗压强度和塑性达到最值,室温综合力学性能最好,且剪切带分布情况最好,但是继续提高吸铸功率,力学性能反而变差。     

负载二甲酸钾缓释抗菌微球的构建

为避免二甲酸钾(KDF)在酸性环境下分解过快,调节仔猪肠胃道酸碱性和菌落平衡,实现KDF靶向释放抗菌,本研究以可生物降解的壳聚糖(CS)、羧甲基纤维素(CMC)和无机刚性材料P型沸石分子筛(Zeolite P)为载体,负载抗菌药物二甲酸钾制备控释水凝胶微球。发现CS中–NH2与CMC中–COOH离子作用,可形成结构稳定的聚电解质复合物。溶胀率的差异性表明CS/CMC/ZeoliteP水凝胶微球对pH高度敏感。加入ZeoliteP使水凝胶微球在pH1.2保持原有形貌且不被降解破裂。CS/CMC/Zeolite P/KDF抗菌微球的包封率为47.75%,载药率为23.88%,可有效缓释KDF,在p H7.4磷酸盐缓冲溶液中的缓释性比p H1.2更优。CS/CMC/Zeolite P/KDF抗菌微球浓度为96 mg/mL时对大肠杆菌最大抑菌率为83%,有效提高了KDF利用率。     

SPS烧结M42粉末冶金高速钢的显微组织与性能

采用放电等离子烧结技术(SPS)制备了M42粉末冶金高速钢,研究了SPS烧结M42粉末冶金高速钢及其热处理后的显微组织与性能。结果表明:与普通粉末冶金高速钢相比,SPS烧结制备的M42粉末冶金高速钢显微组织均匀、晶粒细小、无碳化物偏析。经过在1180℃×5min×550℃×1h的热处理后,硬度比普通粉末冶金高速钢提高1～2HRC。     

Phloroglucinol Derivative Carbomer Hydrogel Accelerates MRSA-Infected Wounds’ Healing

Globally, wound infection is considered to be one of the major healthcare problems, with bacterial infections being the most critical threat, leading to poor and delayed wound healing, and even death. As a superbug, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) causes a profound hazard to public health safety, prompting us to search for alternative treatment approaches. Herein, the MTT test and Hoechst/propidium iodide (PI) staining demonstrated that PD was slightly less toxic to human fibroblasts including Human keratinocytes (HaCaT) cell line than Silver sulfadiazine (SSD), and Vancomycin (Van). In the MRSA-infected wound model, PD hydrogel (1%, 2.5%) was applied with for 14 days. The wound healing of PD hydrogel groups was superior to the SSD, Van, and control groups. Remarkably, the experimental results showed that PD reduced the number of skin bacteria, reduced inflammation, and upregulated the expression of PCNA (keratinocyte proliferation marker) and CD31 (angiogenesis manufacturer) at the wound site by histology (including hematoxylin–eosin (HE) staining, Masson staining) and immunohistochemistry. Additionally, no toxicity, hemocompatibility or histopathological changes to organs were observed. Altogether, these results suggested the potential of PD hydrogel as a safe, effective, and low toxicity hydrogel for the future clinical treatment of MRSA-infected wounds.     

Sericin-Based Poly(Vinyl) Alcohol Relieves Plaque and Epidermal Lesions in Psoriasis; a Chance for Dressing Development in a Specific Area

The noncontagious immune-mediated skin disease known as psoriasis is regarded as a chronic skin condition with a 0.09–11.4% global prevalence. The main obstacle to the eradication of the disease continues to be insufficient treatment options. Sericin, a natural biopolymer from Bombyx mori cocoons, can improve skin conditions via its immunomodulatory effect. Many external therapeutic methods are currently used to treat psoriasis, but sericin-based hydrogel is not yet used to treat plaques of eczema. Through the use of an imiquimod rat model, this study sought to identify the physical and chemical characteristics of a silk sericin-based poly(vinyl) alcohol (SS/PVA) hydrogel and assess both its therapeutic and toxic effects on psoriasis. The cytokines, chemokines, and genes involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis were investigated, focusing on the immuno-pathological relationships. We discovered that the SS/PVA had a stable fabrication and proper release. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic properties of SS/PVA reduced the severity of psoriasis in both gross and microscopic skin lesions. This was demonstrated by a decrease in the epidermal histopathology score, upregulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and interleukin (IL)-10, and a decrease in the expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-20. Moreover, the genes S100a7a and S100a14 were downregulated. Additionally, in rats given the SS/PVA treatment, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase levels were within normal limits. Our findings indicate that SS/PVA is safe and may be potentiated to treat psoriasis in a variety of forms and locations of plaque because of its physical, chemical, and biological characteristics.     

脐橙新型壳聚糖水凝胶抑菌保鲜研究

以纽荷尔脐橙为试材,研究了壳聚糖水凝胶对青霉菌(Penicillium italicum)的抑制及其对脐橙的保鲜效果。结果表明不同浓度壳聚糖水凝胶对脐橙采后P.italicum均有一定的抑制作用。当浓度为2.0%时,培养5d后,菌落直径15mm,抑菌率42%,抑菌圈直径65mm,且涂膜后贮藏90d品质最好。说明壳聚糖水凝胶对脐橙采后P.italicum具有明显抑制作用,其中以2.0%的壳聚糖水凝胶效果最优,同时能够提高脐橙贮藏品质。