BACKGROUND: Biopolymeric in situ hydrogels play a crucial role in the regenerative repair and replacement of infected or injured tissue. They possess excellent biodegradability and biocompatibility in the biological system, however only a few biopolymeric in situ hydrogels have been approved clinically. Researchers have been investigating new advancements and designs to restore tissue functions and structure, and these studies involve a composite of biometrics, cells and a combination of factors that can repair or regenerate damaged tissue. METHODS: Injectable hydrogels, cross-linking mechanisms, bioactive materials for injectable hydrogels, clinically applied injectable biopolymeric hydrogels and the bioimaging applications of hydrogels were reviewed. RESULTS: This article reviews the different types of biopolymeric injectable hydrogels, their gelation mechanisms, tissue engineering, clinical applications and their various in situ imaging techniques. CONCLUSION: The applications of bioactive injectable hydrogels and their bioimaging are a promising area in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. There is a high demand for injectable hydrogels for in situ imaging.
Biopolymers* ; Hydrogel* ; Hydrogels* ; Regenerative Medicine ; Tissue Engineering*

The effect of chitosan, a carbohydrate biopolymer extracted from chitin, on periodontal regeneration is of particular interest. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of chitosan on primary rat calvarial cells in vitro, with special focus on their proliferative properties by cell activity and the amount of total protein synthesis. The experimental groups were cultured with chitosan in concentration of 0.01, 0.1, 1.0, 2.0 and 5.0 mg/ml for MTT assay. In the experimental groups, cells were cultured with chitosan in concentration of 0.01, 0.1, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/ml. Each group was characterized by examining alkaline phosphatase activity at 3 and 7 days and the ability to produce mineralized nodules of rat calvarial cells at 14 and 21 days. The results were as follows: 1. The cell activity was not reduced in the concentration of 0.01~1.0 mg/ml whereas the cell activity was reduced in the concentration of 5.0 mg/ml than the control at day 1 and 3 (p<0.05). 2. Primary rat calvarial cells treated with chitosan in the concentration 0.01 mg/ml and 0.1 mg/ml showed more protein synthesis than the control at day 3 (p<0.01). But primary rat calvarial cells treated with chitosan showed more protein synthesis than in control but they didn't have statistically difference among groups at day 7. 3. At 3 and 7 days, alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly increased in the concentration of 0.01 mg/ml. 0.1 mg/ml and 1.0 mg/ml (p<0.05). 4. The percentage of mineralized bone nodule was more in the concentration of chitosan 0.1 mg/ml and 1.0 mg/ml than the control. These results suggested that chitosan has a positive effect on the bone formation of primary rat calvarial cells in the concentration of 0.1 mg/ml and 1.0 mg/ml.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Biopolymers ; Chitin ; Chitosan* ; Osteogenesis ; Rats* ; Regeneration

Hypolipidemic effect of biopolymers extracted from culture broth (CP), mycelia (MP), and fruiting bodies (FP) of Auricularia auricula-judae was investigated in dietary-induced hyperlipidemic rats. The experimental animals were administrated (100 mg/kg body weight) with different biopolymers, daily for 4 weeks. Hypolipidemic effects were achieved in all the experimental groups, however, FP was proved to be the most potent one. The administration of the FP reduced the plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and atherogenic index by 24.3, 28.5, 36.4, and 40.9%, respectively, while increased the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (9.0%), when compared to the saline (control) administered group.
Animals ; Biopolymers* ; Cholesterol ; Fruit* ; Lipoproteins ; Plasma ; Rats* ; Triglycerides

Natural biopolymers such as collagen and fibrin have been widely used in bone regenerative applications. Despite the frequent use, their comparative biological propertiesis are largely unknown. In a previous study, we found the superiority of fibrin to collagen in the adsorption of serum proteins and the proliferation and differentiation of cultured osteoblasts. In this study, we used an in vivo model to evaluate how effectively fibrin supports bone regeneration, as compared with collagen. Collagen and fibrin were placed in critical size defects made on rat calvarial bones. Compared with collagen, fibrin supported substantially more new bone tissue formation, which was confirmed by micro-CT measurement and histological analyses. The cells in the regenerative tissues of the fibrin-filled defects were immunostained strongly for Runx2, while collagen-placed defects were stained weakly. These in vivo results demonstrate that fibrin is superior to collagen in supporting bone regeneration.
Adsorption ; Animals ; Biopolymers ; Blood Proteins ; Bone and Bones ; Bone Regeneration* ; Collagen ; Fibrin* ; Osteoblasts ; Rats

Periodontal therapy has dealt primarily with attempts at arresting progression of disease, however, more recent techniques have focused on regenerating the periodontal ligament having the capacity to regenerate the periodontium. The effect of chitosan(poly-N-acetyl glucosaminoglycan), a carbohydrate biopolymer extracted from chitin, on periodontal ligament regeneration is of particular interest. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of chitosan on the human periodontal ligament fibroblasts(hPDLFs) in vitro, with special focus on their proliferative properties by MTT assay, the synthesis of type I collagen by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and the activity of alkaline phosphatase(ALP). Fibroblast populations were obtained from individuals with a healthy periodontium and cultured with alpha-MEM as the control group. The experimental groups were cultured with chitosan in concentration of 0.01, 0.1, 1, 2mg/ml. The results are as follows; 1. Chitosan-induced proliferative responses of hPDLFs reached a plateau at the concentration of 0.1mg/ml (p<0.05). 2. When hPDLFs were stimulated with 0.1mg/ml chitosan, mRNA expression of type I collagen was up-regulated. 3. When hPDLFs were stimulated with 0.1mg/ml chitosan, ALP activity was significantly upregulated(p<0.05). In summary, chitosan(0.1mg/ml) enhanced the type I collagen synthesis in the early stage, and afterwards, facilitated differentiation into osteogenic cells. The results of this in vitro experiment suggest that chitosan potentiates the differentiation of osteoprogenitor cells and may facilitate the formation of bone.
Biopolymers ; Chitin ; Chitosan* ; Collagen Type I ; Fibroblasts* ; Humans* ; Periodontal Ligament* ; Periodontium ; Regeneration ; RNA, Messenger

The anti-tumor effects of exo- (EX) and endo-biopolymers (EN) produced from submerged mycelial cultures of Ganoderma applanatum (GA), Collybia confluens (CC), and Pleurotus eryngii (PE) were studied using Sarcoma 180 bearing mice. Solid tumor growth was inhibited most effectively when 40 mg/kg body weight (BW) of GA-EX or PE-EN was administered to the intraperitoneal (i.p.) cavity of BALB/c mice. The spleen and liver indexes were increased in mice following i.p. administration of GA-EX and PE-EN fractions. GA-EX and PE-EN reduced the tumor formation by 30.7% and 29.4%, respectively. GA-EX and PE-EN increased the natural killer (NK) cell activity of splenocytes by 41.3% and 28.9%, respectively.
Agaricales ; Animals ; Biopolymers ; Body Weight ; Ganoderma ; Liver ; Mice ; Pleurotus ; Sarcoma 180 ; Spleen ; Ursidae

Cartilage repair is substantially intractable due to poor self-healing ability. Porous microspheres can be a fascinating three-dimensional matrix for cell culture and injectable carrier in cartilage engineering. In this study, we assessed the feasible use of porous biopolymer microspheres for chondrocyte carriers. When seeded onto the blended biopolymer microspheres and followed by a dynamic spinner flask culture, the chondrocytes showed robust growth behaviors during the culture period. The gene expressions of SOX9, type II collagen, and aggrecan were significantly upregulated after 2-week of culture. Furthermore, immunolocalization of type II collagen and secretion of glycosaminolglycan became prominent. The results suggest the feasible usefulness of the porous microspheres as the cell culture matrix and the subsequent delivery into cartilage defects.
Aggrecans ; Biopolymers ; Cartilage* ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Chondrocytes* ; Collagen Type II ; Feasibility Studies* ; Gene Expression ; Microspheres

In this study, the paclitaxel eluting stent (PES) was prepared by coating a biliary stent with paclitaxel using various biopolymer such as poly (vinyl acetate) (PVAc), poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), Silicone rubber for restenosis prevention in gastrointestinal disease by a dip-coating method. Drug contents of PES were increased as surface area of stent, concentration and molecular weight of coating polymer increase. In 1H-NMR specta, we know that drug did not change by confirming specific peaks of paclitaxel in PES. As shown in SEM image, PES prepared using various biopolymer is coated clearly and regularly except Silicone rubber coating polymer. In in vitro cell cytotoxicity test, bare stent showed low cytotoxic effect against CT-26 colon carcinoma cell line on 3 day. However, PES coated with PLGA 502H showed the highest cytotoxicity because PLGA 502H is biodegradable polymer and has less molecular weight than other coating polymer. These results suggest that PES coated various biopolymer can be prevented restenosis in gastrointestinal disease.
Biopolymers ; Cell Line ; Colon ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Lactic Acid ; Molecular Weight ; Paclitaxel ; Polyglycolic Acid ; Polymers ; Silicone Elastomers ; Stents

PURPOSE: Although traditional and current treatment strategies may demonstrate success, persistence or recurrence of difficult-to-heal wounds remain significant problems. A novel product, Hyalomatrix(R) (Fidia Advanced Biopolymer, Abano Terme, Italy) is a bilayer of an benzyl esterified hyaluronan scaffold beneath a silicone membrane. The scaffold delivers hyaluronan to the wound, and the silicone membrane acts as a temporary epidermal barrier. We present the results obtained with Hyalomatrix(R) in the treatment of difficult-to-heal wounds. METHODS: From November, 2008 to March, 2010, Hyalomatrix(R) has been used on total 10 patients with wounds that were expected difficult to heal with traditional and other current strategies. After average 37.4 days from development of wounds, Hyalomatrix(R) was applied after wound debridement. On the average, Hyalomatrix(R) application period was 17.6 days. After average 16.5 days from removal of Hyalomatrix(R) , skin grafts was performed. RESULTS: In all cases, regeneration of fibrous granulation tissues and edge re-epithelization were present after the application of the Hyalomatrix(R) . And all of the previous inflammatory signs were reduced. After skin grafts, no adverse reactions were recorded in 9 cases. But in one case, postoperative wound infection occured due to a lack of efficient fibrous tissues. In this model, the Hyalomatrix(R) acts as a hyaluronan delivery system and a barrier from the external environments. In tissue repair processes, the hyaluronan performs to facilitate the entry of a large number of cells into the wounds, to orientate the deposition of extracellular matrix fibrous components and to change the microenvironment of difficult-to-heal wounds. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that Hyalomatrix(R) could be a good and feasible approach for difficult-to-heal wounds. The Hyalomatrix(R) improves microenvironments of difficult-to-heal wounds, reduces infection rates and physical stimulus despite of aggravating factors.
Biopolymers ; Debridement ; Extracellular Matrix ; Granulation Tissue ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Membranes ; Recurrence ; Regeneration ; Silicones ; Skin ; Surgical Wound Infection ; Transplants

OBJECTIVE: Microbial aggregation around dental implants can lead to loss/loosening of the implants. This study was aimed at surface treating titanium microimplants with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to achieve antibacterial properties. METHODS: AgNP-modified titanium microimplants (Ti-nAg) were prepared using two methods. The first method involved coating the microimplants with regular AgNPs (Ti-AgNP) and the second involved coating them with a AgNP-coated biopolymer (Ti-BP-AgNP). The topologies, microstructures, and chemical compositions of the surfaces of the Ti-nAg were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Disk diffusion tests using Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguinis, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans were performed to test the antibacterial activity of the Ti-nAg microimplants. RESULTS: SEM revealed that only a meager amount of AgNPs was sparsely deposited on the Ti-AgNP surface with the first method, while a layer of AgNP-coated biopolymer extended along the Ti-BP-AgNP surface in the second method. The diameters of the coated nanoparticles were in the range of 10 to 30 nm. EDS revealed 1.05 atomic % of Ag on the surface of the Ti-AgNP and an astounding 21.2 atomic % on the surface of the Ti-BP-AgNP. XPS confirmed the metallic state of silver on the Ti-BP-AgNP surface. After 24 hours of incubation, clear zones of inhibition were seen around the Ti-BP-AgNP microimplants in all three test bacterial culture plates, whereas no antibacterial effect was observed with the Ti-AgNP microimplants. CONCLUSIONS: Titanium microimplants modified with Ti-BP-AgNP exhibit excellent antibacterial properties, making them a promising implantable biomaterial.
Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans ; Biopolymers ; Dental Implants ; Diffusion ; Methods ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Nanoparticles* ; Photoelectron Spectroscopy ; Silver* ; Streptococcus ; Streptococcus mutans ; Titanium