Biomedical Applications of the Biopolymer Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV): Drug Encapsulation and Scaffold Fabrication.

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) is a biodegradable and biocompatible biopolymer that has gained popularity in the field of biomedicine. This review provides an overview of recent advances and potential applications of PHBV, with special emphasis on drug encapsulation and scaffold construction. PHBV has shown to be a versatile platform for drug delivery, offering controlled release, enhanced therapeutic efficacy, and reduced side effects. The encapsulation of various drugs, such as anticancer agents, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory drugs, in PHBV nanoparticles or microspheres has been extensively investigated, demonstrating enhanced drug stability, prolonged release kinetics, and increased bioavailability. Additionally, PHBV has been used as a scaffold material for tissue engineering applications, such as bone, cartilage, and skin regeneration. The incorporation of PHBV into scaffolds has been shown to improve mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and cellular interactions, making them suitable for tissue engineering constructs. This review highlights the potential of PHBV in drug encapsulation and scaffold fabrication, showing its promising role in advancing biomedical applications.

Human Cartilage Engineering in an In Vitro Repair Model Using Collagen Scaffolds and Mesenchymal Stromal Cells.

The purpose of this study was to investigate cartilage repair of in vitro lesion models using human bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (hBMSCs) with different collagen (Col) scaffolds. Lesions were made in human cartilage biopsies. Injured samples were pre-treated with interleukin 1ß (IL1ß) for 24 h; also, samples were not pre-treated. hBMSCs were seeded on different types of collagen scaffolds. The resulting constructs were placed into the lesions, and the biopsies were cultured for 2 months in chondrogenic medium. Using the modified ICRSII scale, neotissues from the different scaffolds showed ICRS II overall assessment scores ranging from 50% (fibrocartilage) to 100% (hyaline cartilage), except for the Col I +Col II +HS constructs (fibrocartilage/hyaline cartilage, 73%). Data showed that hBMSCs cultured only on Col I +Col II +HS scaffolds displayed a chondrocyte-like morphology and cartilage-like matrix close to native cartilage. Furthermore, IL1ß pre-treated biopsies decreased capacity for repair by hBMSCs and decreased levels of chondrogenic phenotype of human cartilage lesions.

Ovine Mesenchymal Stromal Cells: Morphologic, Phenotypic and Functional Characterization for Osteochondral Tissue Engineering.

INTRODUCTION: Knowledge of ovine mesenchymal stromal cells (oMSCs) is currently expanding. Tissue engineering combining scaffolding with oMSCs provides promising therapies for the treatment of osteochondral diseases. PURPOSE: The aim was to isolate and characterize oMSCs from bone marrow aspirates (oBMSCs) and to assess their usefulness for osteochondral repair using ß-tricalcium phosphate (bTCP) and type I collagen (Col I) scaffolds. METHODS: Cells isolated from ovine bone marrow were characterized morphologically, phenotypically, and functionally. oBMSCs were cultured with osteogenic medium on bTCP and Col I scaffolds. The resulting constructs were evaluated by histology, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy studies. Furthermore, oBMSCs were cultured on Col I scaffolds to develop an in vitro cartilage repair model that was assessed using a modified International Cartilage Research Society (ICRS) II scale. RESULTS: oBMSCs presented morphology, surface marker pattern and multipotent capacities similar to those of human BMSCs. oBMSCs seeded on Col I gave rise to osteogenic neotissue. Assessment by the modified ICRS II scale revealed that fibrocartilage/hyaline cartilage was obtained in the in vitro repair model. CONCLUSIONS: The isolated ovine cells were demonstrated to be oBMSCs. oBMSCs cultured on Col I sponges successfully synthesized osteochondral tissue. The data suggest that oBMSCs have potential for use in preclinical models prior to human clinical studies.

Myofascial Release Therapy in the Treatment of Occupational Mechanical Neck Pain: A Randomized Parallel Group Study.

OBJECTIVE: As myofascial release therapy is currently under development, the objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of myofascial release therapy with manual therapy for treating occupational mechanical neck pain. DESIGN: A randomized, single-blind parallel group study was developed. The sample (n = 59) was divided into GI, treated with manual therapy, and GII, treated with myofascial release therapy. Variables studied were intensity of neck pain, cervical disability, quality of life, craniovertebral angle, and ranges of cervical motion. RESULTS: At five sessions, clinical significance was observed in both groups for all the variables studied, except for flexion in GI. At this time point, an intergroup statistical difference was observed, which showed that GII had better craniovertebral angle (P = 0.014), flexion (P = 0.021), extension (P = 0.003), right side bending (P = 0.001), and right rotation (P = 0.031). A comparative analysis between therapies after intervention showed statistical differences indicating that GII had better craniovertebral angle (P = 0.000), right (P = 0.000) and left (P = 0.009) side bending, right (P = 0.024) and left (P = 0.046) rotations, and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of occupational mechanical neck pain by myofascial release therapy seems to be more effective than manual therapy for correcting the advanced position of the head, recovering range of motion in side bending and rotation, and improving quality of life.

Tratamiento de lesiones del cartílago articular con terapia celular / Treatment of joint cartilage lesions with cell therapy

Las lesiones del cartílago articular que no afectan a la integridad del hueso subcondral no se reparan espontáneamente. El carácter asintomático de estas lesiones propicia la progresiva degeneración articular y el desarrollo de un proceso artrósico. Para evitar la necesidad de reemplazo protésico, se han desarrollado distintos tratamientos celulares con el objetivo de fomar un tejido de reparación con estructura, composición bioquímica y comportamiento funcional iguales que los del cartílago articular natural. Las técnicas basadas en facilitar el acceso al sistema vascular generan un tejido de reparación fibrocartilaginoso que no reúne las condiciones del cartílago articular. El implante de condrocitos autólogos y la mosaicoplastia autóloga aportan un tejido de reparación de mayor calidad, pero ambas técnicas implican la escisión de cartílago sano, bien para obtener una elevada cantidad de condrocitos, bien para extraer cilindros osteocondrales que se implantan en el defecto. Las células madre mesenquimales constituyen una prometedora herramienta de reparación del cartílago articular en fase de experimentación. Aunque las estrategias actuales de terapia celular producen mejorías clínicas y funcionales, todavía no es posible generar un tejido de reparación resistente a la degeneración y con características de cartílago articular normal (AU)

Articular cartilage lesions which do not affect the integrity of subchondral bone, they are not able to repair it expontaneously. The asymptomatic nature of these lesions induces articular cartilage degeneration and development of an arthrosic process. To avoid the necessity to receive joint replacement surgery, it has been developed different treatments of cellular therapy which are focused to create new tissues whose structure, biochemistry composition and function will be the same than native articular cartilage. Approaches used to access the stream produce a fibrocartilaginose tissue which is not an articular cartilage. Implantation of autologous chondrocytes and autologous mosaicplasties induces a quality better articular cartilage. Furthermore both techniques involve damage in the sane cartilage; because of trying to get a big amount of chondrocytes or because of extraction osteochondral cylinder which will be implanted in the injured joint. The stem cells are a promising toll to repair articular cartilage, however they are in a previous experimentation step yet. Although the present studies using cellular therapy improves clinically and functionally, it is not able to regenerate an articular cartilage which offer resistance the degeneration process (AU)

[Treatment of joint cartilage lesions with cell therapy]. / Tratamiento de lesiones del cartílago articular con terapia celular.

Articular cartilage lesions which do not affect the integrity of subchondral bone, they are not able to repair it expontaneously. The asymptomatic nature of these lesions induces articular cartilage degeneration and development of an arthrosic process. To avoid the necessity to receive joint replacement surgery, it has been developed different treatments of cellular therapy which are focused to create new tissues whose structure, biochemistry composition and function will be the same than native articular cartilage. Approaches used to access the stream produce a fibrocartilaginose tissue which is not an articular cartilage. Implantation of autologous chondrocytes and autologous mosaicplasties induces a quality better articular cartilage. Furthermore both techniques involve damage in the sane cartilage; because of trying to get a big amount of chondrocytes or because of extraction osteochondral cylinder which will be implanted in the injured joint. The stem cells are a promising toll to repair articular cartilage, however they are in a previous experimentation step yet. Although the present studies using cellular therapy improves clinically and functionally, it is not able to regenerate an articular cartilage which offer resistance the degeneration process.