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Biomaterials represent a distinct class of materials used in various medical applications, such as replicating the shape or function of damaged tissue caused by disease or trauma. The increasing focus on polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) research can be attributed to their properties, such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, and bioresorbability. PHAs can be incorporated into polymeric complexes or combined with bioceramics or bioactive substances. Films of PHO-HAp-Curcumin were prepared, and optimization studies were conducted using Design-Expert software (Stat-Ease 360-Trial Version). The effects of independent variables (amount of PHO, HAp, and curcumin) on biodegradability, film thickness, and curcumin release were studied. Statistical modeling revealed significant interactions among the components, with the 2FI and quadratic models providing strong predictive accuracy. The interaction of HAp and PHO amounts (X2X3) has a significant effect on biodegradability (Y1) and film thickness (Y3). For the degree of the cumulative release of curcumin (CDR), there was no significant interaction between the independent variables (curcumin-X1, HAp-X2, and PHO-X3). Optimized film exhibited a maximum desirability of 0.777 with 1 mg of curcumin, 100 mg of HAp, and 172.31 mg of PHO. A morphological analysis of optimized film revealed a rough, particle-rich surface favorable for biomedical use. The findings highlight the promise of PHO-HAp-Curcumin composite films in advancing tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study's objective was to assess pullulan, in the form of pullulan acetate, as a matrix for senotherapeutics delivery. Polymeric nanoparticles loaded with various senotherapeutics (metformin, quercitin, kaempferol, curcumin, and luteolin) were prepared via nanoprecipitation or double emulsion methods using pullulan acetate as a biodegradable polymeric matrix. Quercitin, kaempferol, curcumin, and luteolin nanoparticles showed good yield (<70%), satisfactory values of entrapment efficiency (<60%), and nanometric sizes ranging between 205 and 270 nm, with narrow dispersity and good stability at 4 °C. The formulations demonstrated that pullulan showed great potential for producing nanoparticles with application in senotherapeutics delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Senolytics represent a group of substances that can eliminate senescent cells in several aging-related pathologies including Alzheimer's disease, atherosclerosis, and type 2 diabetes, etc. Also, senolytic use has been proposed as a potential adjuvant approach to improve the response to senescence-inducing conventional and targeted cancer therapies. In various studies natural compounds (quercetin, fisetin, piperlongumine and curcumin) have been discovered to be effective senolytic agents. Despite the unequivocal promise of senolytics, some senolytics have low bioavailability. In this review, we summarize and discuss the latest methods to improve the bioavailability of immunomodulatory and/or immunostimulatory senolytic bioactive substances. Therefore, an in-depth discussion on diverse delivery strategies of senolytic agents and latest updates on a novel senotherapeutic research will be provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worlwide, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is the leading cause of death, taking an estimated 17.8 million lives each year. CVDs include coronary heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and other conditions. In order to help the treatment of CVDs, this work aims to develop a food supplement based on liposomes. The market for food supplements is growing rapidly but many active ingredients have low bioavailability, especially when taken in high doses. Therefore, this paper is focused on obtaining and characterisation liposomes containing a combination of two plant extracts of Sambucus ebulus and Lycium barbarum. The preparation of liposomes was done by the technique of hydration of the lipid film. Reduction of particle size and degree of uniformity was ensured by the sonication process of the liposomal solutions. The formulations were characterised in terms of entrappment efficiency, particle size, polydispersity index, stability, and the evaluation of antioxidant activity was assessed by DPPH method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review highlights the applications of pullulan in biomedical field, focusing on drug delivery. Pullulan is a microbial exo-polysaccharide produced by yeast like fungus Aureobasidium pullulans and it has been declared safe by FDA in United States and has GRAS status. Pullulan has biocompatible, biodegradable, non-mutagenic, non-toxic, noncarcinogenic, non-immunogenic properties, as well as other functional properties. Furthermore, pullulan can be easily derivatized by several chemical reactions such as etherification, amidification, esterification, oxidation and copolymerization in order to widen its applications. Due to its unique features pullulan and its derivative is being explored for various biomedical applications like drug and gene delivery, tissue engineering, wound healing, diagnostic imaging, etc. This research was supported through Nucleu project PN 1941-04 01. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of herbal cosmetics is increasing in the world market, due to the good activity with no side effects of the active ingredients from plant extracts as compared to synthetic compounds. The aim of the present study was to formulate and characterize herbal creams containing several plant extracts (Arctium lappa, Magnolia virginiana, Tiliae flos) in different combinations. The creams were prepared with different ratio of plant extracts and essential oils, while the composition of the cream base was kept the same. The characterization of the formulated creams was carried out by standard methods, for evaluating the organoleptic characteristics, physicochemical properties, microbiological contamination level and in vitro antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Also, the plant extracts were evaluated in terms of cytotoxicity using MTS/MTT assay on L-929 fibroblasts. The creams were homogeneous, non-irritant and easily removable. The pH of creams was in the range of 5.0-5.5 which is safe for human skin. The samples were found to be populated with aerobic bacteria, yeast and fungi up to 10 CFU/g and showed moderate antibacterial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peanut allergy is one of the most common food allergies. Peanuts can cause a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). In order to improve consumer protection, our study is geared to quantification of proteins through several extraction methods. Fried peanuts samples were firstly defatted by stirring with pre-cooled acetone and 0.07% β-mercaptoethanol and then extracted with different buffers. The effect of various extraction procedures on the extraction efficiency for peanut protein was investigated by Lowry assay. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used as standard. Our work shows that the results depend on extraction method used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial cellulose (BC), a natural polymer with unique physical and mechanical properties, has several applications in the biomedical field, including drug loading and controlled drug delivery. For this study, a Box-Behnken experimental design was employed as a statistical tool to optimize the release of a model drug, amoxicillin, from BC membranes. Independent variables studied were the concentration of the drug (X), the concentration of glycerol (X) and the concentration of a permeation enhancer (X). From the variables studied, drug concentration had the highest effect on drug release. Among the other independent variables, th linear and quadratic X terms, the linear X term and the interaction term XX were found to affect the release of amoxicillin from bacterial cellulose membranes. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]