Search

Bone defects resulting from trauma, disease, or aging present significant challenges in the clinic. Although biomaterial scaffolds for bone-tissue engineering have shown promising results, challenges remain, including the need for adequate mechanical strength and suitable bioactive agents within scaffolds to promote bone formation. Oxygen is a critical factor for successful bone formation, and low oxygen tension inhibits it. In this study, we developed gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel-impregnated electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds that can release oxygen over 3 weeks. We investigated the potential of composite scaffolds for cell survival in bone-tissue engineering. Our results showed that the addition of an increased amount of CaO2 nanoparticles to the PCL scaffolds significantly increased oxygen generation, which was modulated by GelMA impregnation. Moreover, the resulting scaffolds showed improved cytocompatibility, pre-osteoblast adhesion, and proliferation under hypoxic conditions. This finding is particularly relevant since hypoxia is a prevalent feature in various bone diseases. In addition to providing oxygen, CaO2 nanoparticles also act as reinforcing agents improving the mechanical property of the scaffolds, while the incorporation of GelMA enhances cell adhesion and proliferation properties. Overall, our newly developed self-oxygenating composite biomaterials are promising scaffolds for bone-tissue engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We are developing a transmission-based probe for point-of-care assessment of vertebrae strength needed for fabricating the instrumentation used in supporting the spinal column during spinal fusion surgery. The device is based on a transmission probe whereby thin coaxial probes are inserted into the small canals through the pedicles and into the vertebrae, and a broad band signal is transmitted from one probe to the other across the bone tissue. Simultaneously, a machine vision scheme has been developed to measure the separation distance between the probe tips while they are inserted into the vertebrae. The latter technique includes a small camera mounted to the handle of one probe and associated fiducials printed on the other. Machine vision techniques make it possible to track the location of the fiducial-based probe tip and compare it to the fixed coordinate location of the camera-based probe tip. The combination of the two methods allows for straightforward calculation of tissue characteristics by exploiting the antenna far field approximation. Validation tests of the two concepts are presented as a precursor to clinical prototype development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing novel nanocarriers for anticancer drug delivery has become a 'promising niche'. The toxicity of the carrier and its efficacy in treatment modalities have become cardinal points as they can impede the progress of the therapy. In this study, a drug delivery system composed of a blend of polymers coated with a lipid, which is able to release cisplatin efficiently, was contrived. Here, cisplatin was encapsulated inside thermo-responsive dextran/gelatine blend nanocarriers coated with a lipid-PEG shell. The cisplatin encapsulated nanoparticles had a cube-like structure with a mean diameter of 210.25 ± 31.58 nm. The developed drug delivery system has showed a drug loading capacity of more than 90% and exhibited pH-responsive release of cisplatin. Moreover, the desirable features of the nanoparticles include biodegradability, biocompatibility, and blood compatibility. The potency of the drug delivery system was tested against breast cancer cells (MDA-MB 231), which provided excellent results establishing the vigour of cisplatin-loaded nanoparticles in human breast cancer interventions. Furthermore, imperceptible systemic toxicity and side effects and its anti-tumor effects make cisplatin-loaded nanoparticles predominate as an eminent tool in cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study reports the fabrication of hybrid nanoparticles consisting of nickel ferrite (NFO) for anti cancer drug delivery. The hybrid system was formulated from poly(vinyl alcohol)/stearic acid with PEG containing nickel ferrite for zidovudine (AZT) delivery. The nickel ferrite nanoparticles were characterized by XRD and TEM analysis. The hybrid nanoparticles were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and their influence on biological systems was evaluated by blood compatibility and cell viability studies. The encapsulation of AZT into the hybrid nanoparticles was assessed by evaluating the drug loading, encapsulation efficiency and release studies. The advantages of incorporating magnetic nanoparticles into self-assembled hybrid nanoparticles include the ability to load large amounts of drugs along with control over drug release. In this regard, the presented nickel ferrite reinforced hybrid nanoparticles containing zidovudine is a demanding platform that can act in a pH responsive manner enabling site specific intracellular anticancer drug delivery. Its impact is therefore noteworthy, extensive, and prevalent in cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curcumin loaded lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles dispersions were fabricated from carboxymethylcellulose, stearic acid, polyethylene glycol and sesame oil using emulsion solvent evaporation method for their possible application as edible coatings for fresh vegetables and fruits. They were characterized by FTIR and TEM analysis. In addition, anti-bacterial, blood compatibility, cytotoxicity and anticancer studies were also carried out. The prepared nanodispersions showed excellent mixed nanostructured morphology with an average size of 94.96 nm. The hybrid nanodispersions showed excellent blood compatibility, non-toxicity and antitumor activity. The synthesized nanoparticle dispersion was employed as an edible coating solution for fresh apples and tomatoes. The hybrid system coated vegetables and fruits shows minimal weight loss after 15 days of storage. Hence, the formulated hybrid nanostructures of CMC are promising as edible coating solution, in addition to possessing the properties to fight cancer. Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrospinning is one of the most promising techniques for generating porous, nonwoven, and submicron fiber-based membranes for various applications such as catalysis, sensing, tissue engineering and wound healing. Wide range of biopolymers including chitosan can be used to generate submicron fibrous membranes. Owing to the extra cellular matrix (ECM) mimicking property, exudate uptake capacity, biocompatibility, antibacterial activity and biodegradability, electrospun membranes based on chitosan loaded with biologically active agents can play important role in wound healing applications. In order to improve the mechanical stability, degradation, antimicrobial property, vascularization potential and wound healing capacity, various active components such as other polymers, therapeutic agents, nanoparticles and biomolecules were introduced. Approaches such as coaxial electrospinning with other polymers have also been tried to improve the properties of chitosan membranes. To improve the mechanical stability under in vivo conditions, various crosslinking strategies ranging from physical, chemical and biological approaches were also tried by researchers. Electrospun chitosan meshes have also been designed in a highly specialized manner with specific functionalities to deal with the challenging wound environment of diabetic and burn wounds. This review provides a detailed overview of electrospun chitosan-based membranes containing various bioactive and therapeutic agents in the perspective of wound healing and skin regeneration. • Electrospun chitosan membranes are excellent for wound healing applications due to cytocompatibility, antimicrobial activity and wound healing properties. • Blending with other polymers and incorporation of bioactive agents improve the wound healing property of chitosan membranes. • Different strategies to improve antibacterial bioactivity, cell proliferation and wound healing are highlighted. • Challenges and future perspectives of chitosan based wound coverage matrices are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Intentional and regulated induction of blood vessels formation which is generally referred to as therapeutic angiogenesis has a lot of potential in the management of various kinds of ischemic complications as well as in wound healing, bone regeneration and tissue engineering. Conventionally, therapeutic angiogenesis relies on the controlled application of growth factors that helps to initiate the formation of blood vessels in the target tissues and bioengineered constructs. The emergence of nanotechnology in medicine, particularly its application in molecular medicine has the potential for a tremendous progress in the therapeutic angiogenesis interventions. Although a good number of systems, which include growth factor delivery, use of gene therapeutic agents, and nanomaterials, are in experimental or preclinical phase, there is a huge potential for them in the clinical implication in upcoming years. In this article, we review the main advances of therapeutic angiogenesis over the past few years, explore the application prospects and discuss about the principles, approaches, importance and challenges with the aim of facilitating its clinical translation in near future. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Importance of therapeutic angiogeneis has been detailed. • Therapeutic angiogenesis is a promising approach in the treatment of ischemic disease and chronic wounds. • Conventional approaches like VEGF application and cell-based approaches provided significant progress. • Use of various nanoparticles is a novel approach in therapeutic angiogenesis. • Clinical translation of recent angiogenesis approaches still needs a lot of validations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Abstract The most important prerequisites for wound coverage matrices are biocompatibility, adequate porosity, degradability and exudate uptake capacity. A moderate hydrophilicity and exudate uptake capacity can often favour cell adhesion and wound healing potential, however, most of the synthetic polymers like polycaprolactone (PCL) are hydrophobic. Hydrogels based on natural polymers can improve the hydrophilicity and exudate uptake capacity of synthetic dressings and improve healing. In this work, we report the development of chitosan ascorbate-infiltrated electrospun PCL membranes. Our study demonstrated that chitosan ascorbate infiltration improves the hydrophilicity as well as water uptake capacity of the membranes and highly favoured the adhesion of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and human mesenchymal stem cells on the membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• O 2 -generating tissue engineering scaffolds minimize hypoxia-induced cell death. • It is critical to minimize the free radical formation for prevention of cytotoxicity. • Controlled delivery of O 2 from engineered scaffolds is crucial for cell survival. • O 2 -generating scaffolds are promising for ex vivo and in situ tissue engineering. • O 2 -generating bioinks provide additional O 2 to the cells in bioprinted constructs. The lack of oxygen supply in engineered constructs has been an ongoing challenge for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Upon implantation of an engineered tissue, spontaneous blood vessel formation does not happen rapidly, therefore, there is typically a limited availability of oxygen in engineered biomaterials. Providing oxygen in large tissue-engineered constructs is a major challenge that hinders the development of clinically relevant engineered tissues. Similarly, maintaining adequate oxygen levels in cell-laden tissue engineered products during transportation and storage is another hurdle. There is an unmet demand for functional scaffolds that could actively produce and deliver oxygen, attainable by incorporating oxygen-generating materials. Recent approaches include encapsulation of oxygen-generating agents such as solid peroxides, liquid peroxides, and fluorinated substances in the scaffolds. Recent approaches to mitigate the adverse effects, as well as achieving a sustained and controlled release of oxygen, are discussed. Importance of oxygen-generating materials in various tissue engineering approaches such as ex vivo tissue engineering, in situ tissue engineering, and bioprinting are highlighted in detail. In addition, the existing challenges, possible solutions, and future strategies that aim to design clinically relevant multifunctional oxygen-generating biomaterials are provided in this review paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of highly porous cell supportive polymeric scaffolds with sufficient mechanical strength has always been a challenging task in tissue engineering. The widely used nanofiber fabrication methods like electrospinning are time consuming and the obtained nanofibrous scaffolds are generally consist of compactly packed fibers, which affect proper cell penetration. On the other hand, air-jet spinning is an upcoming, less explored alternative approach for generating loosely arranged nanofibrous scaffolds within short time. However, air-jet spun scaffolds show inferior mechanical properties due to loosely organized fibers. Herein, we report the fabrication and detailed characterization of polycaprolactone (PCL) tissue engineering scaffolds loaded with diamond nanosheets (DNS) by air-jet spinning. Our results showed that the inclusion of DNS could improve the mechanical strength of the scaffolds. In vitro biocompatibility, and in vivo implantation studies demonstrated that PCL-DNS scaffolds are highly biocompatible and are suitable for tissue engineering applications. Our studies showed that mammalian cells can proliferate well in the presence of PCL-DNS scaffolds and the nanocomposite scaffolds implanted in rats did not show any considerable adverse effects. Overall, the findings show that the developed novel air-jet spun PCL-DNS nanocomposite scaffolds can be used as cell supportive scaffolds for various tissue engineering applications. [Display omitted] • Diamond nanosheets loaded Air-jet spun PCL scaffolds were fabricated. • Diamond nanosheets improved the mechanical properties of PCL scaffolds. • Diamond nanosheets loaded scaffolds were biocompatible in vitro and in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT In this paper, an approach to analyze the bone mineral density (BMD) based on microwave reflectivity is presented The proposed method enables us to overcome the health risks associated with diagnostic techniques such as X-rays for repeated study of the rate of mineralization in the case of fractures or de-mineralization in the case of osteoporosis. The proposed method is used to demonstrate the application of microwaves for continuous observation of skull healing process during post-cranial surgery period. The proposed technique can be a potential clinical model in future for extracting target characteristics such as bone deposition thickness and other cranial defects. Based on the conclusions of wideband measured data and signal processing techniques, we propose to design the Transceiver using ultra-wideband (UWB) pulsed technology. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 59:21-26, 2017 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone)/titanium dioxide nanocomposite membranes were fabricated and characterized. Fourier transform infrared analysis showed an increase in absorbance of vibrational peaks of poly(ε-caprolactone) as the titanium dioxide nanoparticle concentration was increased. From the X-ray diffraction spectra, it was observed that the incorporation of titanium dioxide nanoparticles does not affect the crystalline structure of the poly(ε-caprolactone); instead, the degree of crystallinity has been increased significantly. However, at higher concentrations of titanium dioxide nanoparticles, crystallinity was decreased to a lower value. Differential scanning calorimeter thermograms have also confirmed this tendency. Finally, efficacy of gentamicin-loaded poly(ε-caprolactone)/titanium dioxide nanocomposite membranes against a wound isolate of methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureushas been evaluated. The results demonstrated that poly(ε-caprolactone)/titanium dioxide nanocomposite membranes can synergistically act with gentamicin to inhibit the growth of methicillin-resistantS. aureus. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Development of novel drug delivery systems (DDS) represents a promising opportunity to overcome the various bottlenecks associated with the chronic antiretroviral (ARV) therapy of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Oral drug delivery is the most convenient and simplest route of drug administration that involves the swallowing of a pharmaceutical compound with the intention of releasing it into the gastrointestinal tract. In oral delivery, drugs can be formulated in such a way that they are protected from digestive enzymes, acids, etc. and released in different regions of the small intestine and/or the colon. Not surprisingly, with the exception of the subcutaneous enfuvirtide, all the marketed ARVs are administered orally. However, conventional (marketed) and innovative (under investigation) oral delivery systems must overcome numerous challenges, including the acidic gastric environment, and the poor aqueous solubility and physicochemical instability of many of the approved ARVs. In addition, the mucus barrier can prevent penetration and subsequent absorption of the released drug, a phenomenon that leads to lower oral bioavailability and therapeutic concentration in plasma. Moreover, the frequent administration of the cocktail (ARVs are administered at least once a day) favors treatment interruption. To improve the oral performance of ARVs, the design and development of more efficient oral drug delivery systems are called for. The present review highlights various innovative research strategies adopted to overcome the limitations of the present treatment regimens and to enhance the efficacy of the oral ARV therapy in HIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices have been utilized for the sensing of chemical and biological phenomena in microscale for the past few decades. In this study, SAW device was fabricated by electrospinning poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF−TrFE)) incorporated with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles over the delay line area of the SAW device. The morphology, composition, and crystallinity of P(VDF−TrFE)/ZnO nanocomposites were investigated. After measurement of SAW frequency response, it was found that the insertion loss of the SAW devices incorporated with ZnO nanoparticles was much less than that of the neat polymer-deposited device. The fabricated device was expected to be used in acoustic biosensors to detect and quantify the cell proliferation in cell culture systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clogging of polymer at the tip of the needle is a major problem in electrospinning that hinders the continuous electrospinning. A new combination of two environmentally benign solvents, acetone/acetic acid mixture, was investigated to eliminate clogging. Our results show that the use of acetone/acetic acid mixture in the ratio 3:7 as the solvent system completely avoided the clogging. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Even though the biodegradability of polycaprolactone (PCL) is well established, few studies have carried out on the effect of nanofillers on thein vitrodegradability of electrospun PCL membranes. Thus, the authors incorporated common nanofiller zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles in electrospun PCL membranes. From the study of morphological schanges as well as the changes in crystallinity, it is clear that the ZnO nanoparticles accelerated the degradation of PCL. The FTIR results ascertain that the hydrolysis of the PCL nanofibers generates free hydroxyl and carbonyl groups in the bulk of the polymer. The tensile property of the PCL/ZnO nanocomposite membranes decreased with an increase in filler loading during degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Impaired diabetic wounds are serious pathophysiological complications associated with persistent microbial infections including failure in the closure of wounds, and the cause of a high frequency of lower limb amputations. The healing of diabetic wounds is attenuated due to the lack of secretion of growth factors, prolonged inflammation, and/or inhibition of angiogenic activity. Diabetic wound healing can be enhanced by supplying nitric oxide (NO) endogenously or exogenously. NO produced inside the cells by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) naturally aids wound healing through its beneficial vasculogenic effects. However, during hyperglycemia, the activity of eNOS is affected, and thus there becomes an utmost need for the topical supply of NO from exogenous sources. Thus, NO-donors that can release NO are loaded into wound healing patches or wound coverage matrices to treat diabetic wounds. The burst release of NO from its donors is prevented by encapsulating them in polymeric hydrogels or nanoparticles for supplying NO for an extended duration of time to the diabetic wounds. In this article, we review the etiology of diabetic wounds, wound healing strategies, and the role of NO in the wound healing process. We further discuss the challenges faced in translating NO-donors as a clinically viable nanomedicine strategy for the treatment of diabetic wounds with a focus on the use of biomaterials for the encapsulation and in vivo controlled delivery of NO-donors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrospun membranes of polycaprolactone are widely used for biomedical applications such as wound dressings and tissue engineering scaffolds. It is important to sterilize this material using the most accepted method, the gamma irradiation. In this study, the authors evaluated the sterilizability of electrospun polycaprolactone membranes with gamma radiation of varying doses. The irradiated materials were assessed for the changes in morphology, crystallinity, surface degradation, hydrophilicity, mechanical property, sterility, and the cell proliferation. The results demonstrate that electrospun polycaprolactone can be effectively sterilized by gamma irradiation, however a higher dose of radiation affects the materials properties. The irradiated membranes showed improved hydrophilicity and fibroblast cell proliferation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel technique for skull implant diagnostics is presented in this paper. Specially designed highly directive antenna is used for osseointegration analysis with respect to the dielectric profile variation of the implant. The extreme dielectric constant variation of implant and bone gives a high degree of discrimination in the resonant frequency of the antenna. Special care is taken in antenna design to give a perfect matching and to keep the resonant frequency band width for different background properties. The antenna simulated on three different substrates is fabricated and experimentally verified with phantom models. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The rapid spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), has had a dramatic negative impact on public health and economies worldwide. Recent studies on COVID-19 complications and mortality rates suggest that there is a higher prevalence in cardiovascular diseases (CVD) patients. Past investigations on the associations between pre-existing CVDs and susceptibility to coronavirus infections including SARS‐CoV and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), have demonstrated similar results. However, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. This has impeded adequate risk stratification and treatment strategies for CVD patients with SARS-CoV-2 infections. Generally, dysregulation of the expression of angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) and the counter regulator, angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a hallmark of cardiovascular risk and CVD. ACE2 is the main host receptor for SARS-CoV-2. Although further studies are required, dysfunction of ACE2 after virus binding and dysregulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) signaling may worsen the outcomes of people affected by COVID-19 and with preexisting CVD. Here, we review the current knowledge and outline the gaps related to the relationship between CVD and COVID-19 with a focus on the RAAS. Improved understanding of the mechanisms regulating viral entry and the role of RAAS may direct future research with the potential to improve the prevention and management of COVID-19. [Display omitted] • There is a higher risk of COVID-19 amongst people with cardiovascular disease. • Dysregulation of ACE and the counter regulator, ACE2, is a hallmark of CVD. • SARS-CoV-2 binding results in ACE2 dysfunction and dysregulation of the RAAS. • High level of Angiotensin II results in pathological events in COVID-19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial mapping of heterogeneity in gene expression in cancer tissues can improve our understanding of cancers and help in the rapid detection of cancers with high accuracy and reliability. Significant advancements have been made in recent years in OMICS technologies, which possess the strong potential to be applied in the spatial mapping of biopsy tissue samples and their molecular profiling to a single-cell level. The clinical application of OMICS technologies in spatial profiling of cancer tissues is also advancing. The current review presents recent advancements and prospects of applying OMICS technologies to the spatial mapping of various analytes in cancer tissues. We benchmark the current state of the art in the field to advance existing OMICS technologies for high throughput spatial profiling. The factors taken into consideration include spatial resolution, types of biomolecules, number of different biomolecules that can be detected from the same assay, labeled versus label-free approaches, and approximate time required for each assay. Further advancements are still needed for the widespread application of OMICs technologies in performing fast and high throughput spatial mapping of cancer tissues as well as their effective use in research and clinical applications. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study we have investigated the effect of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles on the fiber diameter, fiber morphology, antibacterial activity, and enhanced cell proliferation of the electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) non-woven membrane. The effect of the ZnO nanoparticle concentration on the fiber diameter and fiber morphology was investigated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis was carried out to determine the nature of the interaction between the PCL and the ZnO nanoparticles. We also investigated the mechanical stability and antibacterial activity of the fabricated material. Interestingly, the membranes with ZnO nanoparticles showed enhanced mechanical stability, antibacterial properties, fibroblast proliferation, and improved metabolic activity of the cells. Further, this is the first report regarding the ability of a biomaterial containing ZnO nanoparticles to enhance cell proliferation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biological synthesis of nanoparticles is emerging as a potential method for nanoparticle synthesis due to its non-toxicity and simplicity. We report the ability of Bacillus subtilis strains isolated from rhizosphere soil to produce iron oxide nanoparticles. B. subtilis strains having the potential for the extracellular biosynthesis of FeOnanoparticles were isolated from rhizosphere soil, identified and characterized. A bactericidal protein subtilin was isolated from all the isolates of B. subtilis, which is a characteristic for the species. The isolated subtilin was tested against the bacterial strain, E. coli. The supernatant of the bacterial culture was used for the synthesis of FeO nanoparticles. The formation of nanoparticles was assessed by using UV-Visible spectrophotometer. FTIR and SEM analysis were used in order to confirm the formation and size of the nanoparticles. Further, the effect of incubation time, pH, and temperature on the formation of FeO nanoparticles was studied. The successful synthesis of stabilized FeO nanoparticles, which was capped by the organic group, indicates the applicability of the isolated B. subtilis strain for the bulk synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beta tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) bioceramics and chitosan biopolymers are used as biomedical implants because of their better biocompatibility and good bioresorption characteristics. As they are biomaterials, they have good interactions with microwave frequencies. β-TCP and chitosan powder, films, pellets, and gel are prepared and studied at the S-band microwave frequencies. Dielectric parameters such as dielectric constant, dielectric loss, conductivity, and S-parameters are evaluated. Dielectric parameters of different forms of β-TCP and chitosan show resemblance with that of human tissues. Hence, these materials can also be considered as potential phantoms for specific absorption rate measurements as well as in microwave imaging applications. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 2923–2927, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24752 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea) is an edible starch, commercially available as powder, prepared from the roots of the plant family Marantaceae. Arrowroot is well known for its medicinal effects and use as chief ingredient in infant cookies. Arrowroot in film form is prepared and its microwave absorption characteristics, permittivity, loss factor, conductivity, skin depth, and heating coefficient are analyzed. The results are quite promising and can be concluded that arrowroot in film form is a potential candidate for several applications in medical field, when compared with well studied chitosan film. © 2009 Wiley Pe riodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 1267–1270, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24304 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxyapatite (HAp, Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) bioceramic and chitosan (poly [(β-1-4) D-glucosamine]) biopolymer show good biocompatibility in vivo. They have biological origin and show excellent interactions with microwave. Microwave study of HAp made using different drying techniques and their composites with chitosan in the ISM band is presented. Pastes are made using HAp and chitosan with different ratios of mixing. The dielectric properties of this composites match with that of human fat, collagen tissues. Some of the compositions exhibit dielectric property close to that of natural bone. This makes them more biocompatible and better substitutes for natural bone. Thus composite bioceramics can be considered as phantom model constituents for imaging purposes. Their dielectric properties prove that they are biocompatible. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 2931–2934, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23806 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management of non-healing and slow to heal diabetic wounds is a major concern in healthcare across the world. Numerous techniques have been investigated to solve the issue of delayed wound healing, though, mostly unable to promote complete healing of diabetic wounds due to the lack of proper cell proliferation, poor cell-cell communication, and higher chances of wound infections. These challenges can be minimized by using hydrogel based wound healing patches loaded with bioactive agents. Gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) has been proven to be a highly cell friendly, cell adhesive, and inexpensive biopolymer for various tissue engineering and wound healing applications. In this study, S-Nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), a nitric oxide (NO) donor, was incorporated in a highly porous GelMA hydrogel patch to improve cell proliferation, facilitate rapid cell migration, and enhance diabetic wound healing. We adopted a visible light crosslinking method to fabricate this highly porous biodegradable but relatively stable patch. Developed patches were characterized for morphology, NO release, cell proliferation and migration, and diabetic wound healing in a rat model. The obtained results indicate that SNAP loaded visible light crosslinked GelMA hydrogel patches can be highly effective in promoting diabetic wound healing. Schematic shows the fabrication of NO releasing gelatin methacrylate based visible light crosslinked hydrogel and its efficacy in diabetic wound healing. [Display omitted] • Visible light crosslinked gelatin methacrylate hydrogel was developed. • Nitric Oxide (NO) donor (SNAP) was encapsulated into the hydrogel patch. • The developed NO donor incorporated hydrogel promotes cell proliferation and cell migration. • NO loaded GelMA hydrogel facilitates rapid closure of diabetic wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of nanostructured materials in medicine is a rapidly evolving area of research that includes both the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. Metals, metal oxides and carbon-based nanomaterials have shown much promise in medical technological advancements due to their tunable physical, chemical and biological properties. The nanoscale properties, especially the size, shape, surface chemistry and stability makes them highly desirable for diagnosing and treating various diseases, including cancers. Major applications of nanomaterials in cancer diagnosis include in vivo bioimaging and molecular marker detection, mainly as image contrast agents using modalities such as radio, magnetic resonance, and ultrasound imaging. When a suitable targeting ligand is attached on the nanomaterial surface, it can help pinpoint the disease site during imaging. The application of nanostructured materials in cancer diagnosis can help in the early detection, treatment and patient follow-up. This review aims to gather and present the information regarding the application of nanotechnology in cancer diagnosis. We also discuss the challenges and prospects regarding the application of nanomaterials as cancer diagnostic tools. [Display omitted] • This review describes how various nanomaterials are useful in cancer diagnosis • Nanomaterials are extensively studied for optical, radio, magnetic, ultrasound and multimodal cancer imaging • Tuning of structural and functional features of nanomaterial are needed to effectively use them in cancer diagnosis • Image contrast by nanomaterials is dependent on their morphological, physicochemical and surface properties [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Cardiac tissue engineering strategies focusing on biomaterial scaffolds incorporating cells and growth factors are emerging as highly promising for cardiac repair and regeneration. The use of stem cells within cardiac microengineered tissue constructs present an inherent ability to differentiate into cell types of the human heart. Stem cells derived from various tissues including bone marrow, dental pulp, adipose tissue and umbilical cord can be used for this purpose. Approaches ranging from stem cell injections, stem cell spheroids, cell encapsulation in a suitable hydrogel, use of prefabricated scaffold and bioprinting technology are at the forefront in the field of cardiac tissue engineering. The stem cell microenvironment plays a key role in the maintenance of stemness and/or differentiation into cardiac specific lineages. This review provides a detailed overview of the recent advances in microengineering of autologous stem cell-based tissue engineering platforms for the repair of damaged cardiac tissue. A particular emphasis is given to the roles played by the extracellular matrix (ECM) in regulating the physiological response of stem cells within cardiac tissue engineering platforms. [Display omitted] • Comprehensive review of the stem cell microenvironment in tissue engineering. • Outline of cardiac tissue engineering approaches targeting stem cell microenvironment. • Application and function of stem cell-based cardiac tissue engineering constructs. • The challenges and prospects of stem cell based cardiac tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrospinning is a widely investigated process for forming nanofibers. Nanofibers in drug delivery systems are extensively tested due to its remarkable properties e.g. small pore size or large surface area. Recent articles have informed about formation of fibers using triaxial electrospinning in drug delivery systems. This paper summarizes the process of triaxial electrospinning and its application in drug delivery. Triaxial electrospinning has advantages in forming complex nanostructures for specific drug delivery applications. This paper summarizes the possibility to use triaxial electrospinning to resolve the problem of limited drug solubility, to protect biomolecules from hostile environment, and to control drug release kinetics, with the possibility of loading of various drugs. There are literature data evidencing the possibility to achieve sustained release with a border case of zero rate order kinetics. There is no doubt that triaxial electrospinning opens a new way to develop sophisticated nanomaterials for achieving the desired functional performances and to expand the applications in the drug delivery area. Triaxial electrospinning method is interdisciplinary area with great potential in nanotechnology. Triaxial electrospun fibers in drug delivery applications. [Display omitted] • The process of tri-axial electrospinning and its application in drug delivery has been highlighted here. • Tri-axial electrospinning has evident advantages in creating complex nanostructures. • Triaxial electrospinning process is able overcome the problem of limited drug solubility, to protect biomolecules. • Tri-axial process is able to control drug release kinetics, with possibility of loading of multiple drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management of chronic diabetic ulcers remains as a major challenge in healthcare which requires extensive multidisciplinary approaches to ensure wound protection, management of excess wound exudates and promoting healing. Developing wound healing patches that can act as a protective barrier and support healing is highly needed to manage chronic diabetic ulcers. In order to boost the wound healing potential of patch material, bioactive agents such as growth factors can be used. Porous membranes made of nanofibers generated using electrospinning have potential for application as wound coverage matrices. However, electrospun membranes produced from several biodegradable polymers are hydrophobic and cannot manage the excess exudates produced by chronic wounds. Gelatin-methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogels absorb excess exudates and provide an optimal biological environment for the healing wound. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) promotes cell migration, angiogenesis and overall wound healing. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate- co -3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) membranes provide microbial, thermal and mechanical barrier properties to the wound healing patch. Herein, we developed a biodegradable polymeric patch based on the combination of mechanically stable electrospun PHBV, GelMA hydrogel and EGF for promoting diabetic wound healing. In vitro and in vivo studies were carried out to evaluate the effect of developed patches on cell proliferation, cell migration, angiogenesis and wound healing. Our results showed that EGF loaded patches can promote the migration and proliferation of multiple types of cells (keratinocytes, fibroblasts and endothelial cells) and enhance angiogenesis. In situ development of the patch and subsequent in vivo wound healing study in diabetic rats showed that EGF loaded patches provide rapid healing compared to control wounds. Interestingly, 100 ng EGF per cm2 of the patches was enough to provide favourable cellular response, angiogenesis and rapid diabetic wound healing. Overall results indicate that EGF loaded PHBV-GelMA hybrid patch could be a promising approach to promote diabetic wound healing. Unlabelled Image • In situ photocrosslinking of the patch in wound. • GelMA provide exudate management capacity while PHBV membranes provide mechanical strength. • EGF loaded patches promote cell migration, cell proliferation and angiogenesis. • EGF loaded hybrid patches facilitate rapid diabetic wound healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aggressive outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) as COVID-19 (coronavirus disease-2019) pandemic demands rapid and simplified testing tools for its effective management. Increased mass testing and surveillance are crucial for controlling the disease spread, obtaining better pandemic statistics, and developing realistic epidemiological models. Despite the advantages of nucleic acid- and antigen-based tests such as accuracy, specificity, and non-invasive approaches of sample collection, they can only detect active infections. Antibodies (immunoglobulins) are produced by the host immune system within a few days after infection and persist in the blood for at least several weeks after infection resolution. Antibody-based tests have provided a substitute and effective method of ultra-rapid detection for multiple contagious disease outbreaks in the past, including viral diseases such as SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome). Thus, although not highly suitable for early diagnosis, antibody-based methods can be utilized to detect past infections hidden in the population, including asymptomatic ones. In an active community spread scenario of a disease that can provide a bigger window for mass detections and a practical approach for continuous surveillance. These factors encouraged researchers to investigate means of improving antibody-based rapid tests and employ them as reliable, reproducible, sensitive, specific, and economic tools for COVID-19 mass testing and surveillance. The development and integration of such immunoglobulin-based tests can transform the pandemic diagnosis by moving the same out of the clinics and laboratories into community testing sites and homes. This review discusses the principle, technology, and strategies being used in antibody-based testing at present. It also underlines the immense prospect of immunoglobulin-based testing and the efficacy of repeated planned deployment in pandemic management and post-pandemic sustainable screenings globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rampant spread of COVID-19 and the worldwide prevalence of infected cases demand a rapid, simple, and cost-effective Point of Care Test (PoCT) for the accurate diagnosis of this pandemic. The most common molecular tests approved by regulatory bodies across the world for COVID-19 diagnosis are based on Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). While PCR-based tests are highly sensitive, specific, and remarkably reliable, they have many limitations ranging from the requirement of sophisticated laboratories, need of skilled personnel, use of complex protocol, long wait times for results, and an overall high cost per test. These limitations have inspired researchers to search for alternative diagnostic methods that are fast, economical, and executable in low-resource laboratory settings. The discovery of Loop-mediated isothermal Amplification (LAMP) has provided a reliable substitute platform for the accurate detection of low copy number nucleic acids in the diagnosis of several viral diseases, including epidemics like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). At present, a cocktail of LAMP assay reagents along with reverse transcriptase enzyme (Reverse Transcription LAMP, RT-LAMP) can be a robust solution for the rapid and cost-effective diagnosis for COVID-19, particularly in developing, and low-income countries. In summary, the development of RT-LAMP based diagnostic tools in a paper/strip format or the integration of this method into a microfluidic platform such as a Lab-on-a-chip may revolutionize the concept of PoCT for COVID-19 diagnosis. This review discusses the principle, technology and past research underpinning the success for using this method for diagnosing MERS and SARS, in addition to ongoing research, and the prominent prospect of RT-LAMP in the context of COVID-19 diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In situ tissue engineering is emerging as a novel approach in tissue engineering to repair damaged tissues by boosting the natural ability of the body to heal itself. This can be achieved by providing suitable signals and scaffolds that can augment cell migration, cell adhesion on the scaffolds and proliferation of endogenous cells that facilitate the repair. Lack of appropriate cell proliferation and angiogenesis are among the major issues associated with the limited success of in situ tissue engineering during in vivo studies. Exploitation of metal oxide nanoparticles such as yttrium oxide (Y 2 O 3) nanoparticles may open new horizons in in situ tissue engineering by providing cues that facilitate cell proliferation and angiogenesis in the scaffolds. In this context, Y 2 O 3 nanoparticles were synthesized and incorporated in polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds to enhance the cell proliferation and angiogenic properties. An optimum amount of Y 2 O 3 -containing scaffolds (1% w/w) promoted the proliferation of fibroblasts (L-929) and osteoblast-like cells (UMR-106). Results of chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay and the subcutaneous implantation studies in rats demonstrated the angiogenic potential of the scaffolds loaded with Y 2 O 3 nanoparticles. Gene expression study demonstrated that the presence of Y 2 O 3 in the scaffolds can upregulate the expression of cell proliferation and angiogenesis related biomolecules such as VEGF and EGFR. Obtained results demonstrated that Y 2 O 3 nanoparticles can perform a vital role in tissue engineering scaffolds to promote cell proliferation and angiogenesis. Unlabelled Image • PCL tissue engineering scaffolds incorporated with Y2O3 nanoparticles have been developed. • Results of cell culture study showed that Y 2 O 3 nanoparticles can enhance the cell proliferation. • Presence of Y 2 O 3 nanoparticles in the scaffolds enhanced the angiogenesis. • Y 2 O 3 nanoparticles upregulated the expression of VEGF and EGFR in the tissue isolated from implanted scaffolds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applying nanotechnology to deliver drug could result in several benefits such as prolong duration of action, enhancement in overall bioavailability, targeting to specific site, low initial loading dose require, systemic stability enhancement etc. Halloysite is one of those clay minerals showing maximum effectiveness when consider as a nano drug carriers for different kind applications. Here, we have used norfloxacin as the model drug for loading into halloysite nanotube (HNT) for its anti-bacterial activity. Norfloxacin was loaded into halloysites by vacuum operation and sonication. The nanotubes were evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy, water absorption studies, cytotoxicity studies, antimicrobial studies and in vitro diffusion studies. SEM, FT-IR and XRD analysis data showed that the norfloxacin was successfully loaded into nanotubes. TEM analysis confirmed loading of norfloxacin in halloysites' lumen. The halloysite/chitosan nanocomposites were prepared by solvent casting and freeze-drying method. SEM analysis revealed compact and rugged surface of nanocomposites due to existing norfloxacin loaded halloysite. FTIR and XRD confirmed formation of nanocomposite. The nanocomposites showed good antimicrobial effect and good biocompatibility in cytotoxicity study. The in-vitro release studies revealed that halloysite/chitosan nanocomposites were able to sustain the drug release. Also, the nanocomposites were stable in various humidity conditions. Therefore, all the outcomes suggest that the prepared nanocomposites can provide enhanced therapeutic benefits and they can be very potential nano vehicle for sustaining drug delivery. Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an interview with professor Robin Augustine of Angstrom Laboratory in Uppsala, Sweden who talks about his research on monitoring the progression of osteoporosis using ultra-wideband (UWB) technique in distal femur model.

Abstract: After craniotomy, the monitoring of the skull healing progression is strongly needed to take a proper medical intervention. The CT scans is however currently used for follow‐up after craniotomy resulting in lack of an effective and safety problem. This research proposes an alternative for monitoring the skull healing using ultra‐wide band (UWB) antenna. For the healing of the skull surgical defect, a compact resistively‐loaded dipole antenna is designed and analyzed in terms of its performance in the time domain. The head phantoms having a wideband characteristic are fabricated and used as models for the skull healing process. To represent various mineralization stages, phantoms with various dielectric constants from hydrogel scaffold to the normal skull and their intermediate values are used. The UWB radar technique in the time domain is implemented in the healing process of skull injuries emulating cranial cavities that are made as part of craniosynostosis treatment. The measurement results at the defect area show that the variations in amplitude of the reflected pulse as the skull healing is progressed. The results obtained can contribute to the development of microwave‐based techniques as a preliminary study of a proof concept before clinical trial in the healing process after cranial surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A variety of techniques for measuring lower limb loading exists, each with their own limitations. A new ambulatory biofeedback system was developed to overcome these limitations. In this study, we described the technical aspects and validated the accuracy of this system. Methods: A bench press was used to validate the system in the static situation. Ten healthy volunteers were measured by the new biofeedback system and a dual-belt instrumented treadmill to validate the system in the dynamic situation. Results: Bench press results showed that the sensor accurately measured peak loads up to 1000 N in the static situation. In the healthy volunteers, the load curves measured by the biofeedback system were similar to the treadmill. However, the peak loads and loading rates were lower in the biofeedback system in all participants at all speeds. Conclusions: Advanced sensor technologies used in the new biofeedback system resulted in highly accurate measurements in the static situation. The position of the sensor and the design of the biofeedback system should be optimized to improve results in the dynamic situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tissue engineering aims to exploit the regenerative capacity of cells and connect the inherent ability of the body to repair and regenerate. Cells are seeded onto a porous three-dimensional scaffold in tissue engineering, which will provide protection and direct cells to the development of new tissue-like structures. These scaffolds can provide a medium for the delivery, under controlled conditions of growth factors release and drug delivery. Herein, nanocellulose was extracted from Ixora coccinea L. plant root, plasticized scaffold of nanocellulose were prepared by using glycerol, gelatin, and PEG 600 followed by morphological characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM, and tensile modulus analysis. FTIR indicated extracted nanocellulose is without any hemicelluloses, lignin, and non-cellulosic materials. XRD data displayed the extracted nanocellulose has a crystal size of around 3.6 nm while SEM data revealed the fiber diameter was around 20 µm. In the tensile modulus analysis, 1% PEG 600 exhibited the highest (tensile strength 69 MPa with young's modulus 67.326 MPa) as compared to glycerol and gelatin and hence selected for further studies. The In vitro cytocompatibility studies revealed that nanocellulose and 1% PEG 600 incorporated nanocellulose scaffolds were cell-friendly, promote cell proliferation, and do not show RBC aggregation as well as haemolysis suggesting its potential in various tissue engineering applications. The novelty of this work is that the nanocellulose extracted from the root of I. coccineahas traditional medicinal values in Ayurveda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an approach to design from scratch planar microwave antennas for the purpose of ultra-wideband (UWB) near-field sensing. Up to about 120 000 design variables associated with square grids on planar substrates are subject to design, and a numerical optimization algorithm decides, after around 200 iterations, for each edge in the grid whether it should consist of metal or a dielectric. The antenna layouts produced with this approach show UWB impedance matching properties and near-field coupling coefficients that are flat over a much wider frequency range than a standard UWB antenna. The properties of the optimized antennas are successfully cross-verified with a commercial software and, for one of the designs, also validated experimentally. We demonstrate that an antenna optimized in this way shows a high sensitivity when used for near-field detection of a phantom with dielectric properties representative of muscle tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this article, a novel and highly efficient metamaterial (MTM) integrated approach is presented for the development of a wireless power transfer system (WPT) specifically tailored for implantable medical devices. The system is designed by using a biocompatible implantable ring slot antenna constructed on a flexible dielectric, functioning as a receiving (Rx) antenna. Additionally, a conventional patch antenna is modelled for the use in free space, serving as an external transmitting (Tx) element. By exploiting the unique characteristics of MTMs, the power transfer efficiency (PTE) of the introduced system is effectively improved. To ensure the system's performance stability in real-time application scenario, the effects of misalignment (lateral and angular) and the flexibility of the implantable antenna are meticulously performed. The prototypes of the Tx, Rx, and MTM structures are fabricated, and comprehensive measurements are performed in human-equivalent tissue models, such as skin-mimicking gel and minced pork. Both the simulated and measured results established the proposed methodology, showcasing marked improvements in PTE due to the use of MTMs. The efficiency of the pioneering MTM-integrated WPT system increases from 0.19% to 3.07% in skin-mimicking gel and from 0.24% to 3.26% in minced pork, respectively. This study highlights the potential of MTM-integrated WPT systems in advancing the field of implantable medical devices and expanding their practical applicability. • Article presents a biocompatible, efficient, compact WPT system for implants. • Simple compact antenna design boost implant WPT efficiency. • Zero-index MTM enhances WPT for implants, tackling real-world issues. • WPT system validated via simulations and tissue-model tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Microwave energy was used for producing DRI powders from BF dust and EAF dust. • Core-shell composite pellets were designed and prepared based on impedance matching. • Microwave-assisted reduction of the composite pellets removed Zn and Pb efficiently. • DRI powders were obtained by magnetic separation of reduction products. In this study, a novel method for producing direct reduced iron (DRI) powders based on microwave-assisted self-reduction of core–shell composite pellets composed of blast furnace (BF) dust and hazardous electric arc furnace (EAF) dust followed by magnetic separation was reported. The proper core–shell structure of the composite pellets was designed according to the rule of impedance matching and properties of BF dust and EAF dust by adjusting the thickness of shell (i.e., thickness of impedance matching layer) via controlling the C/O molar ratio of the raw materials from 0.55 to 0.70. The results showed that the EAF dust with high content of CaO was beneficial to the mechanical strength of green, dried, and metallized pellets (collected after reduction), while the BF dust with high content of carbon enabled sufficient microwave-assisted reduction of the pellets, facilitating subsequent magnetic separation and also the removal of zinc from EAF dust. By reduction of the core–shell BF dust-EAF dust composite pellets with the C/O molar ratio of 0.65 at 1050 °C for 15 min, the resulting metallized pellets showed superior reduction and magnetic separation indexes with higher removal percentages of zinc and lead, in comparison with conventional metallized pellets. The DRI powders obtained after magnetic separation had total iron content of 91.2 wt%, iron metallization degree of 95.8%, yield of 68.1%, and iron recovery of 88.0%. This study provided a good example for efficient and environmentally friendly comprehensive utilization of typical and hazardous wastes in the iron and steel industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conducting polymers have found significant applications in the past decade in industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) fields. The characteristic features of conducting polymers like reversible proton doping, variable conductivity, facile synthesis, and low cost make them potential candidates in various microelectronic applications. Conventional microwave absorbing materials such as carbon and graphite in the powder form were blended with polyaniline as base at different proportions and microwave properties such as transmission, reflection, and shielding efficiency (SE) were evaluated from S parameter measurements using HP 8714ET network analyzer. The newly developed polyaniline blend exhibits high-electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency when compared with previously developed materials and is a promising candidate for shielding applications. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 52: 393–397, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24939 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The diagnosis of ARVC remains complex requiring both imaging and electrocardiographic (ECG) techniques. The purpose was therefore to investigate whether QRS dispersion assessed by body surface mapping (BSM) could be used to detect early signs of ARVC, particularly in gene carriers. Methods: ARVC patients, gene carriers without a history of arrhythmias or structural cardiac changes and healthy controls underwent 12‐lead resting ECG, signal‐averaged ECG, echocardiographic examination, 24‐hours Holter monitoring, and BSM with electrocardiographic imaging. All 252‐leads BSM recordings and 12‐leads ECG recordings were manually analyzed for QRS durations and QRS dispersion. Results: Eight controls, 12 ARVC patients with definite ARVC and 20 healthy gene carriers were included. The ECG‐QRS dispersion was significantly greater in ARVC patients (42 vs. 25 ms, p <.05), but failed to fully differentiate them from controls. The BSM‐derived QRS dispersion was also significantly greater in ARVC patients versus controls (65 vs. 29 ms, p <.05) and distinguished 11/12 cases from controls using the cut‐off 40msec. The BSM derived QRS dispersion was abnormal (> 40 ms) in 4/20 healthy gene carriers without signs of ARVC, which may indicate early depolarization changes. Conclusions: QRS dispersion, when assessed by BSM versus 12‐lead ECG, seem to better distinguish ARVC patients from controls, and could potentially be used to detect early ARVC in gene carriers. Further studies are required to confirm the value of BSM‐QRS dispersion in this respect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent breakthroughs in the fields of antennas, electromagnetic sensors, propagation, and advanced materials have unveiled new opportunities for body area sensing, disease detection, and continuous monitoring. Traditional healthcare approaches not only incur substantial costs but also suffer from inherent drawbacks such as ionizing radiation risks. A range of medical devices, including pacemakers, implants, endoscopy equipment, microwave imaging, and thermal ablation clinical apparatus have greatly benefited from the incorporation of electromagnetic sensors and wireless body area networks. Electromagnetic sensors hold significant potential to transform not only the healthcare sector but also the sports and wearable electronics industries, offering myriad innovative applications. This comprehensive review paper provides an in-depth exploration of the challenges and prospects associated with electromagnetic sensors, including but not limited to microwave probes, resonators, and antennas. We aim to shed light on the potential of these emerging technologies and provide a roadmap for their future development in the context of healthcare and beyond. • This Article reviews on health-focused EM Sensors, analyzing their challenges & opportunities. • EM sensors in healthcare are classified into Microwave Probes, Resonators, & Antennas. • Microwave probes are key for dielectric characterization, providing tissue property data. • Microwave resonators and wearable antennas are popular in healthcare for being non-invasive. • EM sensors in healthcare excel in Diagnosis, Imaging, and Monitoring over traditional methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a metamaterial (MTM)‐based high‐gain compact‐wearable antenna for 2.45 GHz industrial, scientific and medical radio band application has been proposed. To achieve the flexibility of the antenna, textile material felt fabric has been chosen as the substrate of the antenna as well as MTM. An omega (Ω) like structure has been taken as MTM unit cell design. High value of permeability is utilised for the gain enhancement of the antenna. In addition, very low specific absorption rate (SAR) is obtained using the MTM which makes the proposed antenna suitable for the biomedical application. The proposed antenna has achieved about 3 dB gain enhancement along with SAR value of 0.405 W/kg (1 g tissue). The design has been optimised and the prototype with the optimised parameter has been fabricated and tested over the semi‐solid phantom and human body. Further, the proposed antenna over different type of textile material has also been validated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study applied microwave energy for rapid self-reduction of electric arc furnace (EAF) dust-biochar composite briquettes to produce powdered direct reduced iron (DRI), based on the good electromagnetic response of EAF dust-biochar composite briquettes. The reduction experimental results showed that the iron-bearing components in the dust were reduced to metallic iron, leading to a high iron metallization degree of the reduced briquettes (94.7%). Meanwhile, the zinc-containing phases of EAF dust in the composite briquettes were converted to metallic zinc which then volatilized together with lead in the form of PbCl 2. The volatilization percentages of zinc and lead were 99.6% and 92.9%, respectively, after reduction with the mass ratio of biochar to EAF dust of 0.25 and heating rate of 25 °C/min at 1050 °C for 15 min. By magnetic separation of the reduced briquettes, a magnetic concentrate with iron content of 91.32 wt% and recovery of 87.36% was obtained, meeting the quality requirements of DRI. Unlabelled Image • Microwave-assisted reduction of EAF dust-biochar composite briquettes was studied. • The microwave absorption capabilities of the briquettes were evaluated. • The volatized matter during reduction was mainly constituted by metallic zinc. • The direct reduced iron was obtained by magnetic separation of reduced briquettes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of angiogenic activity is one of the serious complications of chronic wounds associated with delayed wound closure, chronic ulceration, and subsequent limb amputation. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that nitric oxide (NO) produced endogenously by nitric oxide synthase pathway plays a significant role in angiogenic activity and accelerates wounds closure. In this work, chitosan (CS), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and S-nitroso- N -acetyl-DL-penicillamine (SNAP) hydrogel was fabricated to accelerate angiogenesis and promote healing in chronic wounds due to better wound closure potential of CS-PVA hydrogel and angiogenic properties of SNAP. The developed CS-PVA hydrogels loaded with SNAP produced a continuous and sustained supply of NO. 3T3 and HaCaT cells showed a significant increase in cell proliferation with 5‰ SNAP loaded CS-PVA hydrogel compared to the control group. Wound scratch assay resulted in four-fold faster recovery of the scratched wound area and an enhanced degree of angiogenic activity was observed in the chick embryo model with the SNAP incorporated CS-PVA hydrogel compared to the control group. The results depict that the use of CS-PVA hydrogel impregnated with SNAP could be a promising material for promoting angiogenesis followed by accelerated healing of the chronic wounds in burns and diabetic patients. Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Non-healing wound is a serious complication of diabetes, associated with extremely slow wound closure, and a high rate of infection, resulting in amputation or losses of limbs, high health care cost and poor quality of patient's life. In the present study, we hypothesized that nanofiber mats composed of a combination of chitosan, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and Zinc oxide (ZnO) could be an effective option for faster healing of diabetic wounds due to the wound healing activities of chitosan-PVA nanofibers and antibacterial properties of ZnO. Nanofiber mats of chitosan, PVA and ZnO were synthesized using electrospinning technique. The developed nanofibrous mats were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), antibacterial and antioxidant assays as well as in vivo wound healing experiments in rabbits. The results revealed that chitosan/PVA/ZnO nanofibrous membranes possessed higher antibacterial potential against E. coli , P. aeruginosa , B. subtilis and S. aureus compared to chitosan/PVA nanofibrous membranes. Moreover, chitosan/PVA/ZnO nanofibrous membranes exhibited higher antioxidant potential compared to chitosan/PVA nanofibrous mats. The in vivo wound healing studies showed that chitosan/PVA/ZnO nanofibrous membranes resulted in accelerated wound healing as compared to chitosan/PVA nanofibers. The current study, thus, reveals that chitosan/PVA/ZnO electrospun scaffolds could be effectively helpful in dressings for diabetic wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The Co 0.33 Ni 0.33 Mn 0.33 Fe 2 O 4 /graphene nanocomposite for electromagnetic wave absorption was successfully synthesized from metal chlorides solutions and graphite powder by a simple and rapid microwave-assisted polyol method via anchoring the Co 0.33 Ni 0.33 Mn 0.33 Fe 2 O 4 nanoparticles on the layered graphene sheets. The Fe3+, Co2+, Ni2+ and Mn2+ ions in the solutions were attracted by graphene oxide obtained from graphite and converted to the precursors Fe(OH) 3 , Co(OH) 2 , Ni(OH) 2 , and Mn(OH) 2 under slightly alkaline conditions. After the transformations of the precursors to Co-Ni-Mn ferrites and conversion of graphene oxide to graphene under microwave irradiation at 170 °C in just 25 min, the Co 0.33 Ni 0.33 Mn 0.33 Fe 2 O 4 /graphene nanocomposite was prepared. The composition and structure of the nanocomposite were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), inductive coupled plasma emission spectroscopy (ICP), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy (RS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), etc. It was found that with the filling ratio of only 20 wt% and the thickness of 2.3 mm, the nanocomposite showed an ultra-wide effective absorption bandwidth (less than −10 dB) of 8.48 GHz (from 9.52 to 18.00 GHz) with the minimum reflection loss of − 24.29 dB. Compared to pure graphene sheets, Co 0.33 Ni 0.33 Mn 0.33 Fe 2 O 4 nanoparticles and the counterparts reported in literature, the nanocomposite exhibited much better electromagnetic wave absorption, mainly attributed to strong wave attenuation, as a result of synergistic effects of dielectric loss, conductive loss and magnetic loss, and to good impedance matching. In view of its thin thickness, light weight and outstanding electromagnetic wave absorption property, the nanocomposite could be used as a very promising electromagnetic wave absorber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]