Designing of gradient scaffolds and their applications in tissue regeneration.

Gradient scaffolds are isotropic/anisotropic three-dimensional structures with gradual transitions in geometry, density, porosity, stiffness, etc., that mimic the biological extracellular matrix. The gradient structures in biological tissues play a major role in various functional and metabolic activities in the body. The designing of gradients in the scaffold can overcome the current challenges in the clinic compared to conventional scaffolds by exhibiting excellent penetration capacity for nutrients & cells, increased cellular adhesion, cell viability & differentiation, improved mechanical stability, and biocompatibility. In this review, the recent advancements in designing gradient scaffolds with desired biomimetic properties, and their implication in tissue regeneration applications have been briefly explained. Furthermore, the gradients in native tissues such as bone, cartilage, neuron, cardiovascular, skin and their specific utility in tissue regeneration have been discussed in detail. The insights from such advances using gradient-based scaffolds can widen the horizon for using gradient biomaterials in tissue regeneration applications.

Therapeutic Potential of Endophytic Compounds: A Special Reference to Drug Transporter Inhibitors.

From the discovery to the golden age of antibiotics (miracle), millions of lives have been saved. The era of negligence towards chemotherapeutic agents gave birth to drug resistance. Among all the regulators of drug resistance, drug transporters are considered to be the key regulators for multidrug resistance. These transporters are prevalent from prokaryotes to eukaryotes. Endophytes are one of the unexplored wealths of nature. Endophytes are a model mutualistic partner of plants. They are the reservoir of novel therapeutics. The present review deals with endophytes as novel drug resistance reversal agents by inhibiting the drug transporters across the genera. This review also focuses on drug transporters, and mutualistic chemical diversity, exploring drug transporter modulating potential of endophytes.