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The extract from Celastrus hindsii (C. hindsii), a plant that naturally grows in the forests of several provinces of Vietnam, has been traditionally used as an alternative medicine for the treatment of inflammation because of its anticancer and antitumor properties. This study reported the green synthesis of stable gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) derived from HAuCl4 using the extract of C. hindsii as reducing and capping agents. Their particle size could be controlled by adjusting the ratio of the extract to HAuCl4 solution used (1.25%, 2.5%, 3.75%, 5.0%, and 6.25%). The optimal ratio of the extract was 3.75% (Au-NPs-3.75%). The X-ray powder diffraction analysis demonstrated that the Au-NPs was successfully synthesized. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy result indicated the possible presence of phenolic acids and flavonoids (acting as reducing agents and potential natural antioxidants). Transmission electron microscopy images showed that the particle diameter of Au-NPs-3.75% varied between 13 and 53 nm (average: ∼30 nm) in its spherical shape. The biosynthesized Au-NPs-3.75% exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity against HeLa cells, and the inhibitory concentration (IC50) was 12.5 µg/mL at 48 h. Therefore, Au-NPs that were synthesized from environmentally friendly method without the presence of potentially toxic chemicals were highly possible in biomedical applications.

This study suggested a new method to produce the in vitro cartilage tissues by cartilage differentiation in spheroids from adipose-derived stem cells on porous scaffolds. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) were used to produce spheroids by the hanging-drop method. The spheroids were then loaded into a porous scaffold and induced to differentiate into cartilage. To confirm the cartilage phenotype of the differentiated spheroids in the scaffold, the complex was evaluated for the expression of chondrogenic-related genes and proteins. The cartilagenous tissues formed from the spheroid-scaffold complexes were primarily checked for in vivo functioning by transplanting them into rat models of cartilage damage. The results showed that the spheroid-scaffold complexes displayed the cartilage phenotype after inducing chondrogenic differentiation. The complexes stained positive with safranin O, alcian blue and collagen 2, significantly expressed Sox9, Col2, and aggrecan genes compared with that before differentiation. In vivo, the differentiated spheroid-scaffold complexes formed mature cartilage that stained strongly positive with safranin O and fast red. These results suggest a promising strategy to produce cartilaginous microtissue for regenerative medicine.

Introduction: Cartilage damage is one of the injuries that is difficult for the human body to self-repair due to the avascular and completely mature tissue with only few stem or progenitor cells present. Recently, some studies showed that engineered cartilage tissues could be used to treat or improve this injury. This study aimed to produce the cartilage microtissues from the differentiation of scaffold-free spheroids composed of human adipose-derived stem cells. Methods: Human adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) were isolated and expanded following the previously published study. They were then cultured in the non-adherent condition to produce spheroids. The spheroids of the ADSCs were collected and induced into cartilage microtissues in the inducible medium for 21 days. The cartilage microtissue was characterized by some cartilage phenotype markers, including the accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins (aggrecan, glycosaminoglycan, and type II collagen), and the expression of certain genes specific to chondrocytes (Sox9, Col2, Col1, and Acan). Results: The results showed that the expression of chondrocyte-specific genes gradually increased during the 21 days of culture for differentiation. On day 21, the microtissues expressed aggrecan, glycosaminoglycan, and type II collagen proteins. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that cartilage microtissues could easily be produced from scaffold-free spheroids from ADSCs. Thus, cartilage microtissues can be produced in this manner for in vivo transplantation to promote cartilage regeneration, or to produce cartilage tissues for in vitro studies.

Introduction: Cartilage injury is the most common injury among orthopedic diseases. The predominant treatment for this condition is cartilage transplantation. Therefore, production of cartilage for treatment is an important strategy in regenerative medicine of cartilage to provide surgeons with an additional option for treatment of cartilage defects. This study aimed to produce in vitro engineered cartilage tissue by culturing and differentiating umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cells on biodegradable Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) scaffold. Methods: Human umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) were isolated and expanded according to previous published protocols. UCMSCs were labeled with CD90 APC‑conjugated monoclonal antibody (CD90-APC) and then seeded onto porous PCL scaffolds. Cell adhesion and proliferation on PCL scaffolds were evaluated based on the strength/signal of APC, MTT assays, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The chondrogenic differentiation of UCMSCs on scaffolds was detected by Alcian Blue and Safranin O staining. Results: The results showed that UCMSCs successfully adhered, proliferated and differentiated into chondroblasts and chondrocytes on PCL scaffolds. The chondrocyte scaffolds were positive for some markers of cartilage, as indicated by Alcian Blue and Safranin O staining. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study showed successful production of cartilage tissues from UCMSCs on PCL scaffolds.

Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) are multiple potential stem cells that can differentiate into various kinds of functional cells, including adipocytes, osteoblasts, and chondroblasts. Thus, UCMSCs have recently been used in both stem cell therapy and tissue engineering applications to produce various functional tissues. This study aimed to evaluate the proliferation and differentiation of UCMSCs on porous scaffolds.UCMSCs were established in a previous study and kept in liquid nitrogen. They were thawed and expanded in vitro to yield enough cells for further experiments. The cells were characterized as having MSC phenotype. They were seeded onto culture medium-treated porous scaffolds or on non-treated porous scaffolds at different densities of UCMSCs (10The data showed that UCMSCs could attach, proliferate, and differentiate on both treated and non-treated scaffolds but were better on the treated scaffold. At a cell density of 10UCMSCs could adhere, proliferate, and differentiate into osteoblasts on porous scaffolds. Therefore, porous scaffolds (such as Variotis) may be suitable scaffolds for producing bone tissue in combination with UCMSCs.

Introduction: Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) are multiple potential stem cells that can differentiate into various kinds of functional cells, including adipocytes, osteoblasts, and chondroblasts. Thus, UCMSCs have recently been used in both stem cell therapy and tissue engineering applications to produce various functional tissues. This study aimed to evaluate the proliferation and differentiation of UCMSCs on porous scaffolds.