BACKGROUND:Some scholars have prepared zein/chitosan composite membrane based on blending methods, and preliminary evaluation ofitsphysical and chemical properties showsthat chitosan partly improvesthe mechanical properties and hydrophilic properties of zein. Therefore, zein/chitosan composite membrane presumably has good cytocompati bility, which is beneficial to osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels.
OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect of zein/chitosan composite membrane on the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels into osteoblasts and its feasibility asabone tissue-engineered material.
METHODS:With 60% acetic acid as solvent, zein/chitosan composite membrane was prepared by blending and casting method. The structure and physicochemical properties of the composite membrane were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, tensile testing, water absorption testing and scanning electron microscopy. And the cytocompatibility of the membrane was evaluated byin vitrocel cufture. Besides,bone marrow mesenchymal stem celsfrom Sprague-Dawley ratwere isolatedvia adherence screening method, andthe effects of thecompositemembrane on theosteogenic differentiation ofthese celswere observedby scanning electron microscopy, fluorescent labeling and alkaline phosphatase assay.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The tensile strength, water absorption and hydrophilicity of the films were improved with the chitosan increased; chitosan could promote cel proliferation indicating the good cytocompatibility of the composite films. Moreover, osteogenic induction occurredin bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels cultured on the compositem embrane, and with an increase of chitosan, the induction was promoted. In conclusion, zein/chitosan composite membrane can be applied widely in the field of bone tissue engineering.

The generation of induced pluripotent stem cells through somatic cell reprogramming requires a global reorganization of cellular functions. This reorganization occurs in a multi-phased manner and involves a gradual revision of both the epigenome and transcriptome. Recent studies have shown that the large-scale transcriptional changes observed during reprogramming also apply to long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a type of traditionally neglected RNA species that are increasingly viewed as critical regulators of cellular function. Deeper understanding of lncRNAs in reprogramming may not only help to improve this process but also have implications for studying cell plasticity in other contexts, such as development, aging, and cancer. In this review, we summarize the current progress made in profiling and analyzing the role of lncRNAs in various phases of somatic cell reprogramming, with emphasis on the re-establishment of the pluripotency gene network and X chromosome reactivation.