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Objective(s): Several pathologic complications may lead to defects in urinary bladder tissue or organ loss. In this regard, bladder tissue engineering utilizing electrospun nanofibrous PCL and PCL/chitosan would be promising as replacing structures. Materials and Methods: The resultant nanofibers were characterized for their morphology, diameter and composition by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and also, FT-IR and CHN analyses. Then, isolation of smooth muscle cells of human urinary bladder biopsies was performed and the obtained cells were characterized by immunocytochemistry (ICC). Thereafter, seeded cells on PCL and PCL/CS nanofibers were assayed for their viability/toxicity, and also, cell-scaffold attachments and cell morphologies were investigated. Results: The findings illustrated that PCL and PCL/CS nanofibers of about 100 nm were successfully fabricated. The obtained scaffolds provided appropriate environment for attachment and expansion of seeded detrusor smooth muscle cells. Biocompatibility of both scaffolds was demonstrated by alamar blue assay. After 7 days of study, cells showed higher viability percentage on PCL/CS nanofibers. Conclusion: Nanofibrous PCL or PCL/CS scaffolds could properly help adhesion and proliferation/growth of human bladder smooth muscle cells (hBSMCs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significant consequences of spinal cord injury (SCI) include sensory and motor disability resulting from the death of neuronal cells and axon degeneration. In this respect, overcoming the consequences of SCI including the recovery of sensory and motor functions is considered to be a difficult tasks that requires attention to multiple aspects of treatment. The breakthrough in tissue engineering through the integration of biomaterial scaffolds and stem cells has brought a new hope for the treatment of SCI. In the present study, human endometrial stem cells (hEnSCs) were cultured with human Schwann cells (hSC) in transwells, their differentiation into nerve‐like cells was confirmed by quantitative real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) and immunocytochemistry techniques. The differentiated cells (co‐hEnSC) were then seeded on the poly ε‐caprolactone (PCL)/gelatin scaffolds. The SEM images displayed the favorable seeding and survival of the cells on the scaffolds. The seeded scaffolds were then transplanted into hemisected SCI rats. The growth of neuronal cells was confirmed with immunohistochemical study using NF‐H as a neuronal marker. Finally, the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) test confirmed the recovery of sensory and motor functions. The results suggested that combination therapy using the differentiated hEnSC seeded on PCL/gelatin scaffolds has the potential to heal the injured spinal cord and to limit the secondary damage. Combination therapy using the differentiated human endometrial stem cells (hEnSCs) seeded on poly ε‐caprolactone (PCL)/gelatin scaffolds has the potential to heal the injured spinal cord and to limit the secondary damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, gold nanoshell (GNS) were synthesised utilising the Halas method. The obtained nanoparticles (NPs) were characterised by Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–Vis spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering. FTIR spectra demonstrated the successful functionalisation of silica NP with 3‐aminopropyl trimethoxysilane. SEM and TEM images showed the morphology and diameter of the synthesised silica NPs (137 ± 26 nm) and GNS. UV–Vis spectrum illustrated the maximum absorbance of the resultant GNS and their average hydrodynamic diameter was 159 nm. For in vitro study, HCT‐116 cells were exposed to gold nanoshells and intense pulsed light in different experiment groups. The results showed that exposing the cells to nanoshells and 30 s irradiation would efficiently decrease the viability percentage of the cells to about 30% compared with the control. A continued exposure of 4 min decreased the viability of the cancer cells to 20%. The results demonstrated that photothermal therapy would be promising in treatment of colon cancer cells utilising gold nanoshells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]