Biomedical Research and Therapy

Hydrogel dressings: Revolutionizing burn care with innovative wound healing technology

Phat Duc Huynh — 2025-03-31

Severe burns result in deep and extensive wounds that are associated with a high mortality rate. While wound closure is an essential part of the treatment for such injuries, merely providing superficial coverage of the defect is inadequate. Adequate reconstruction requires repairing the damaged area from the innermost layers outward. Hydrogel dressings have become a very popular choice due to their unique properties: contributing to wound moisture, cooling and soothing, and autolytic debridement. This type of dressing offers the potential to overcome disadvantages of traditional treatments and allows partial skin regeneration. This review aims to outline the benefits of hydrogel dressings, emphasizing their role in wound healing and tissue regeneration, particularly in the context of chronic burn wounds. The discussion also covers how these dressings may address current shortcomings in wound care and provides a focused overview of specific attributes and potential future improvements in the field. This review enhances the general understanding of their therapeutic implications by examining the benefits of hydrogel dressings.

Assessing inflammatory markers, C-reactive protein and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, in atrial fibrillation and normal sinus rhythm: A comparative analysis

Ji Yeon Chang — 2025-03-31

Introduction: C-reactive protein (CRP) has shown associations with multiple cardiovascular disorders, including atrial fibrillation (AF). Similarly, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is gaining recognition as a potential prognostic factor in cardiovascular health. Although AF has been widely studied, much of the current research emphasizes individuals of White ethnicity, underscoring the need for further investigation across more ethnically diverse populations.

Methods: To address this gap, this study utilized a Korean hospital database to examine the association of AF with CRP and NLR in a Korean patient population. A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 164 patients, equally divided between AF and normal sinus rhythm groups. CRP levels and NLR were measured using standard assays, and electrocardiography data confirmed AF diagnosis. Statistical analysis, including receiver operating characteristic curve evaluation, was performed to assess the discriminatory power of these biomarkers.

Results: Analysis of the study data revealed a significant difference in CRP levels between patients with AF and those with a normal sinus rhythm, indicating a pronounced inflammatory response associated with AF. Nevertheless, NLR did not demonstrate a significant difference between the AF and control groups.

Conclusion: While CRP could be a dependable marker for identifying inflammation in AF patients, NLR may not offer the same level of differentiation within this population. This study underscores the importance of evaluating inflammatory markers in AF within Korean individuals and highlights the need for broader, ethnicity-specific research in cardiovascular disease.

Antitumor effect of lavender essential oil-synthesized nanoparticles against MCF7 and SKBR3 cancer cell lines: Cytotoxicity and gene expression analysis

Elham Mojodi — 2025-03-31

Introduction: Lavandula angustifolia L. (Lamiaceae family) displays notable cytotoxic properties against bacteria and fungi, as well as antioxidant activity. Recently, drug delivery systems for cancer therapy have focused on novel carrier designs that demonstrate high efficiency and reduced side effects. The encapsulation and delivery of bioactive agents through essential oils has emerged as a new strategy in cancer research. This study aimed to investigate the effects of nanoparticles synthesized using L. angustifolia essential oil on MCF-7 and SK-BR-3 breast cancer cell lines.

Methods: Physical and chemical parameters—specifically, particle size, zeta potential, and polydispersity index—were optimized using various techniques. Chemical composition analyses via GC/MS identified thirteen components in the essential oil. Eucalyptol, (+)-2-Bornanone, and endo-Borneol were the major fractions, while acetic acid and p-Cymen-7-ol appeared in smaller amounts. Zeta potential measurements revealed the electrical charge on particle surfaces, and FTIR analysis displayed distinct peaks corresponding to functional groups. Cell viability was assessed via MTT assay to evaluate nanoparticle toxicity against MCF-7 and SK-BR-3 cells.

Results: The synthesized nanoliposome showed notable cytotoxic effects on MCF-7 and SK-BR-3 cells, with IC₅₀ values of 305 ± 0.29 and 400 ± 0.39 µg/ml, respectively. Expression of the caspase-3 gene increased approximately 2-fold in both treated cell lines at 48 hours after treatment, while Bcl2 expression decreased. The control group showed the lowest level of caspase-3 expression.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that nanoparticles synthesized from L. angustifolia essential oil, particularly those enriched with Eucalyptol and Bornanone, can enhance the precision of chemotherapeutic targeting in breast cancer. This nanoliposome formulation could be a promising novel candidate for pharmaceutical applications and improved cancer therapies.

Effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma and peripheral blood-derived very small embryonic-like stem cells in Parkinson’s disease management

Shahzad Anwar — 2025-03-31

Introduction: Stem cell-based therapies for Parkinson's disease (PD) represent a promising frontier in regenerative medicine. This study assesses the efficacy of regenerative treatments, specifically platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and peripheral blood-derived very small embryonic-like (PBD-VSEL) stem cell therapy, in managing PD.

Methods: A quasi-experimental study design was employed, involving 50 PD patients divided into two cohorts. Group A (n = 25) received only standard therapy, while Group B (n = 25) received the addition of PRP and PBD-VSEL stem cell therapy to the standard treatment. The primary outcomes measured were changes in the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 (PDQ-39) scores.

Results: The average age was 61.40 years in Group A and 62.16 years in Group B. At baseline, both groups exhibited comparable UPDRS and PDQ-39 scores. However, at the 6-month follow-up, Group B demonstrated greater improvement in PDQ-39 scores (64.16 ± 5.44) compared to Group A (71.64 ± 10.68). After one year, Group B presented significantly reduced UPDRS (60.80 ± 5.85) and PDQ-39 (59.88 ± 5.12) scores relative to Group A (69.44 ± 9.67 and 66.52 ± 5.52), highlighting superior enhancements in motor function and quality of life for Group B.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that PRP and PBD-VSEL stem cells from peripheral blood may offer a viable adjunctive treatment for Parkinson's disease. Nonetheless, additional research is essential to elucidate the mechanisms underlying cell therapy and substantiate its clinical application. Cell transplantation appears to be a safer and more efficacious strategy for treating Parkinson's disease. The management of advanced PD patients requires careful decision-making, including the introduction of new pharmacotherapies and adjustments to levodopa dosages. Larger studies with extended follow-up periods are necessary to confirm these results.

Evaluation of the effect of arabinogalactans extracted from matcha on gamma radiation-induced brain damage in rats

Mohamed Y.M. Awad — 2025-03-31

Introduction: Radiation has adverse effects on brain tissue. Natural products have anti-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory properties. This study investigates the protective effect of alginate extract from matcha against gamma radiation damage.

Methods: We isolated and characterized arabinogalactans (AG) from matcha powder. We randomly divided thirty-two male rats into four equal groups (n = 8 rats/group). The first group served as the control, while the second group administered MAG orally to the rats for 14 days. The third group of rats underwent a single dose of 10 Gy of head-localized irradiation (Rad). The fourth group, rats, received MAG for 7 days before and after 10 Gy γ irradiation (B &A). We examined the brain for markers of oxidative stress and inflammation. We used immunohistochemistry to monitor tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and apoptosis-regulating proteins BAX and BCL2. We measured levels of glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in brain tissues as indicators of oxidative stress. Western blot analysis assessed apoptotic markers like cleaved caspase-3 and neurotrophic factors, including Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Additionally, Double Delta Ct QPCR was employed to evaluate gene expression changes in monoamine oxidase (MOA), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). Histopathological tests were performed to verify the effects of therapy, elucidating neuronal damage and inflammation.

Results: Radiation exposure elevated oxidative stress indicators, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and apoptotic proteins, while diminishing antioxidant and BDNF levels. The MAG therapy (B & A) decreased MDA levels and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β). MAG lowers SOD and GSH levels while enhancing catalase activity. It also altered the concentrations of apoptosis-related proteins such as BAX, BCL2, and cleaved caspase-3. QPCR results indicated that MAG reinstated the modified MAO-A, AChE, and NF-κB genes. Histological analyses validated the protective properties of MAG, demonstrating decreased tissue injury and inflammation.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that matcha-derived arabinogalactans may protect neurons from radiation-induced cerebral injury. This is likely attributable to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic characteristics.

Peptides from hypothetical proteins of Lactobacillus acidophilus induce IL-4 and IL-10

Isaac Oluseun Adejumo — 2025-03-31

Commensal bacteria used for probiotics usually pose no health risk. However, the functional mechanisms of these probiotics are not fully understood, thereby necessitating new studies such as this. The study aimed to understand the functional mechanisms of microbial probiotics and characterize their uncharacterized hypothetical proteins. In this study, the probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus genome was explored for antibiotic resistance genes, characterization of hypothetical proteins, and their relationships with cytokine interleukin-4 (IL-4) and cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10). The genome has an average G+C content of 34.71 and 1,991,579 bp. It has 1,909, 61, and 12 protein-coding sequences, transfer RNA, and ribosomal RNA genes, respectively. Peptides from QHP2 and QHP5 induce IL-4 and IL-10. They are antigenic, nontoxic, and nonallergenic. This study provides insights into better understanding the functional mechanisms of microbial probiotics and lays a solid background for future studies that may focus on sustainable therapeutic feed additives, food supplements, and vaccine development from the hypothetical proteins of Lactobacillus acidophilus.