Andréa Arruda Martins Shimojo

Sodium alginate-cross-linked polymyxin B sulphate-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles: Antibiotic resistance tests and HaCat and NIH/3T3 cell viability studies

Polymyxins are a group of antibiotics with a common structure of a cyclic peptide with a long hydrophobic tail. Polymyxin B sulphate (PLX) has cationic charge, which is an obstacle for the efficient loading into Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLN). In the present paper, we describe an innovative method to load PLX into SLN to achieve the sustained release of the drug. PLX was firstly cross-linked with sodium alginate (SA) at different ratios (1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 SA/PLX), and loaded into SLN produced by high pressure homogenization (HPH). Optimized SLN were produced applying 500bar pressure and 5 homogenization cycles. The best results were obtained with SA/PLX (1:1), recording 99.08±1.2% for the association efficiency of the drug with SA, 0.99±10g for the loading capacity and 212.07±5.84% degree of swelling. The rheological profile of aqueous SA solution followed the typical behaviour of concentrated polymeric solutions, whereas aqueous SA/PLX solution exhibited a gel-like dynamic behaviour. Micrographs show that SA/PLX depicted a porous and discontinuous amorphous phase in different ratios. The encapsulation efficiency of SA/PLX (1:1) in SLN, the mean particle diameter, polydispersity index and zeta potential were, respectively, 82.7±5.5%; 439.5±20.42nm, 0.241±0.050 and -34.8±0.55mV. The effect of SLN on cell viability was checked in HaCat and NIH/3T3 cell lines, and the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined in Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. SA/PLX-loaded SLN were shown to be less toxic than free PLX. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) showed the presence of the cross-linker polymer-drug complex, and SLN were shown to enhance MIC in the evaluated strains.

In vitro performance of injectable chitosan-tripolyphosphate scaffolds combined with platelet-rich plasma

This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro biological effectiveness of chitosan microparticles crosslinked with sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) in combination with activated pure platelet-rich plasma (aP-PRP) as an injectable composite scaffold for growth factors release, cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. Two main novelties were addressed in the field of scaffolds in regenerative medicine: the first is the approach including simultaneously the three vertices of the proliferation triangle formed by the capabilities genic progenitor cells, conductive scaffolds and inductive growth factors, which are provided by platelet rich plasma (PRP); secondly, the approach of an injectable composite scaffolds formed by the fibrin network from aP-PRP and the chitosan microparticles crosslinked with TPP. The microparticles were prepared by vortexing the chitosan and TPP solutions. The ionic crosslinking of chitosan with TPP was made at mass ratios of 2:1, 5:1, and 10:1 at pH 4.0. P-PRP was obtained via the controlled centrifugation of whole blood. The composite scaffolds were prepared by adding the microparticles to immediately activated P-PRP. The results showed that the microparticles had adequate physicochemical and mechanical properties for injection. Furthermore, the microparticles controlled the release of growth factors from P-PRP. The proliferation of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells was lower than in aP-PRP alone but significant at a 2:1 chitosan-TPP mass ratio. Osteogenic differentiation was stimulated at all studied mass ratios, as indicated by the alkaline phosphatase activity. These results offer perspectives for optimizing the composite scaffold, and to prove its potential as an injectable scaffold in regenerative medicine.

The crosslinking degree controls the mechanical, rheological, and swelling properties of hyaluronic acid microparticles

Viscosupplements, used for treating joint and cartilage diseases, restore the rheological properties of synovial fluid, regulate joint homeostasis and act as scaffolds for cell growth and tissue regeneration. Most viscosupplements are hydrogels composed of hyaluronic acid (HA) microparticles suspended in fluid HA. These microparticles are crosslinked with chemicals to assure their stability against enzyme degradation and to prolong the action of the viscosupplement. However, the crosslinking also modifies the mechanical, swelling and rheological properties of the HA microparticle hydrogels, with consequences on the effectiveness of the application. The aim of this study is to correlate the crosslinking degree (CD) with these properties to achieve modulation of HA/DVS microparticles through CD control. Because divinyl sulfone (DVS) is the usual crosslinker of HA in viscosupplements, we examined the effects of CD by preparing HA microparticles at 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, and 5:1 HA/DVS mass ratios. The CD was calculated from inductively coupled plasma spectrometry data. HA microparticles were previously sized to a mean diameter of 87.5 µm. Higher CD increased the viscoelasticity and the extrusion force and reduced the swelling of the HA microparticle hydrogels, which also showed Newtonian pseudoplastic behavior and were classified as covalent weak. The hydrogels were not cytotoxic to fibroblasts according to an MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay.

Performance of PRP Associated with Porous Chitosan as a Composite Scaffold for Regenerative Medicine

This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro performance of activated platelet-rich plasma associated with porous sponges of chitosan as a composite scaffold for proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells. The sponges were prepared by controlled freezing (−20, −80, or −196°C) and lyophilization of chitosan solutions (1, 2, or 3% w/v). The platelet-rich plasma was obtained from controlled centrifugation of whole blood and activated with calcium and autologous serum. The composite scaffolds were prepared by embedding the sponges with the activated platelet-rich plasma. The results showed the performance of the scaffolds was superior to that of activated platelet-rich plasma alone, in terms of delaying the release of growth factors and increased proliferation of the stem cells. The best preparation conditions of chitosan composite scaffolds that coordinated the physicochemical and mechanical properties and cell proliferation were 3% (w/v) chitosan and a −20°C freezing temperature, while −196°C favored osteogenic differentiation. Although the composite scaffolds are promising for regenerative medicine, the structures require stabilization to prevent the collapse observed after five days.

Stabilization of porous chitosan improves the performance of its association with platelet-rich plasma as a composite scaffold.

This study offers innovative perspectives for optimizing of scaffolds based on correlation structure-function aimed the regenerative medicine. Thus, we evaluated in vitro performance of stabilized porous chitosan (SPCHTs) associated with activated platelet-rich plasma (aP-PRP) as a composite scaffold for the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (h-AdMSCs). The porous structure of chitosan (PCHT) was prepared similarly to solid sponges by controlled freezing (-20 °C) and lyophilization of a 3% (w/v) chitosan solution. Stabilization was performed by treating the PCHT with sodium hydroxide (TNaOH), an ethanol series (TEtOH) or by crosslinking with tripolyphosphate (CTPP). The aP-PRP was obtained from the controlled centrifugation of whole blood and activated with autologous serum and calcium. Imaging of the structures showed fibrin networks inside and on the surface of SPCHTs as a consequence of electrostatic interactions. SPCHTs were non-cytotoxic, and the porosity, pore size and Youngs modulus were approximately 96%, 145 μm and 1.5 MPa for TNaOH and TEtOH and 94%, 110 μm and 1.8 MPa for CTPP, respectively. Stabilization maintained the integrity of the SPCHTs for at least 10 days of cultivation. SPCHTs showed controlled release of the growth factors TGF-β1 and PDGF-AB. Although generating different patterns, all of the stabilization treatments improved the proliferation of seeded h-AdMSCs on the composite scaffold compared to aP-PRP alone, and differentiation of the composite scaffold treated with TEtOH was significantly higher than for non-stabilized PCHT. We conclude that the composite scaffolds improved the in vitro performance of PRP and have potential in regenerative medicine.

The Performance of Crosslinking with Divinyl Sulfone as Controlled by the Interplay Between the Chemical Modification and Conformation of Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid (HA) microparticles crosslinked with divinyl sulfone (DVS) are primarily used in viscosupplementation to restore the viscoelastic properties of synovial fluid in the treatment of joint diseases. The crosslinking degree provides the swelling and rheological properties required for injectable application and biological stability. In this work, we studied the effects of alkaline medium on the crosslinking performance between HA and DVS. The crosslinking degree was evaluated based on the modification of the swelling and rheological properties of HA microparticles crosslinked at 1/1 HA/DVS mass ratio. Stable microparticles were obtained by shearing in the narrow pH range of 11.79 to 12.63. The microparticles exhibited gel-like dynamic mechanical behavior in the frequency range examined. Alkalinity increased the swelling and decreased the viscoelasticity of the HA microparticles. Ultimately, the interplay between the chemical modification and conformation of HA chains may control viscoelasticity and swelling at the levels required for specific applications.

Distribution, recovery and concentration of platelets and leukocytes in L-PRP prepared by centrifugation

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous product prepared from whole blood (WB) that is widely used in regenerative medicine. In clinical practice, discontinuous centrifugation is used for both hand- and machine-prepared PRP. However, separation of WB fractions via centrifugation is a complex process, and the lack of clear mechanisms limits the understanding and evaluation of PRP preparation methods This paper focuses on the distribution, recovery and concentration factor of platelets and leukocytes in L-PRP (leukocyte and platelet-rich plasma) to define a concentration pattern for these blood components due to centrifugation conditions. WB collected from three healthy donors was centrifuged for 10min at 50-800 xg in a first step and then at 400 xg in a second step. The results from the first centrifugation step showed most platelets to be distributed in the upper layer (UL) and the buffy coat (BC), with approximately 14.5±5.2% retained in the bottom layer (BL). Most leukocytes were present in the BL. The greatest platelet recoveries from L-PRP were obtained at up to 150 xg (88.5±16.9%). The cumulative concentration factors with respect to the WB from the second centrifugation step were 6 and 1.2 for platelets and leukocytes, respectively. Thus, the concentration patterns delineated three centrifugation ranges with platelet/leukocyte ratios of 205±18, 325±15 and 107±4 and lymphocyte/granulocyte ratios of 1.54±0.74, 0.90±0.08 and 0.42±0.07. These findings contribute to a scientifically based standardization of L-PRP preparations.

PREPARAÇÃO E CARACTERIZAÇÃO DE SCAFFOLDS DE ÁCIDO HIALURÔNICO E QUITOSANA PARA APLICAÇÕES EM MEDICINA REGENERATIVA

Resumo O presente projeto tem como objetivo preparar e caracterizar scaffolds porosos de ácido hialurônico autorreticulado (AHA) e de ácido hialurônico autorreticulado conjugado com quitosana (AHA-CHT) para aplicação na cicatrização de feridas envolvendo particularmente a liberação controlada de fatores de crescimento do plasma rico em plaquetas (PRP). AHA foi obtido por reação de autoesterificação organocatalisada e AHA-CHT foi obtido por coacervação complexa. Os scaffolds foram preparados por congelamento à -20°C e liofilização. Foi também realizado um estudo de escalonamento/otimização dos processos.