Livia Visai | University of Pavia (original) (raw)
Papers by Livia Visai
Biomedical Science and Engineering, 2020
An airway mucus model is proposed thus serving as an in vitro screening tool with the aim to redu... more An airway mucus model is proposed thus serving as an in vitro screening tool with the aim to reduce the number of noneffective drugs reaching the preclinical trials. The engineered mucus model is an easy-to-use and easy-to-produce tool that can be easily coupled to state-of-art diffusion models and it is compatible with high throughput analysis. This platform will serve as the basis to implement the complexity of the model in terms of components, also including the effect of bacteria
Scientific Reports, 2019
Recent advances in nanotechnology applied to medicine and regenerative medicine have an enormous ... more Recent advances in nanotechnology applied to medicine and regenerative medicine have an enormous and unexploited potential for future space and terrestrial medical applications. The Nanoparticles and Osteoporosis (NATO) project aimed to develop innovative countermeasures for secondary osteoporosis affecting astronauts after prolonged periods in space microgravity. Calcium- and Strontium-containing hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (nCa-HAP and nSr-HAP, respectively) were previously developed and chemically characterized. This study constitutes the first investigation of the effect of the exogenous addition of nCa-HAP and nSr-HAP on bone remodeling in gravity (1 g), Random Positioning Machine (RPM) and onboard International Space Station (ISS) using human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMMSCs). In 1 g conditions, nSr-HAP accelerated and improved the commitment of cells to differentiate towards osteoblasts, as shown by the augmented alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and the up-regu...
Microgravity induced bone loss is a major concern for space travellers. Ground-based microgravity... more Microgravity induced bone loss is a major concern for space travellers. Ground-based microgravity simulators are crucial to study the effect of microgravity exposure on biological systems and to address the limitations posed by restricted access to real space. In this work, for the first time we adopt a multidisciplinary approach to characterize the morphological, biochemical, and molecular changes underlying the response of human bone marrow stromal cells to long-term simulated microgravity exposure during osteogenic differentiation. Our results show that osteogenic differentiation is reduced while energy metabolism is promoted. We found novel proteins were dysregulated under simulated microgravity, including CSC1-like protein, involved in the mechanotransduction of pressure signals, and PTPN11, SLC44A1 and MME which are involved in osteoblast differentiation pathways and which may become the focus of future translational projects. The investigation of cell proteome highlighted how...
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
The fine-tuning of the physicochemical properties of gold nanoparticles has facilitated the rapid... more The fine-tuning of the physicochemical properties of gold nanoparticles has facilitated the rapid development of multifunctional gold-based nanomaterials with diagnostic, therapeutic, and therapeutic applications. Work on gold nanoparticles is increasingly focusing on their cancer application. This review provides a summary of the main biological effects exerted by gold nanoparticles on cancer cells and highlights some critical factors involved in the interaction process (protein corona, tumor microenvironment, surface functionalization). The review also contains a brief discussion of the application of gold nanoparticles in target discovery.
Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing
Nickel–titanium (NiTi) is a shape-memory alloy, a type of material whose name is derived from its... more Nickel–titanium (NiTi) is a shape-memory alloy, a type of material whose name is derived from its ability to recover its original shape upon heating to a certain temperature. NiTi falls under the umbrella of metallic materials, offering high superelasticity, acceptable corrosion resistance, a relatively low elastic modulus, and desirable biocompatibility. There are several challenges regarding the processing and machinability of NiTi, originating from its high ductility and reactivity. Additive manufacturing (AM), commonly known as 3D printing, is a promising candidate for solving problems in the fabrication of near-net-shape NiTi biomaterials with controlled porosity. Powder-bed fusion and directed energy deposition are AM approaches employed to produce synthetic NiTi implants. A short summary of the principles and the pros and cons of these approaches is provided. The influence of the operating parameters, which can change the microstructural features, including the porosity conte...
MG significantly modifies the metabolism of bone leading to site-specific alterations in remodeli... more MG significantly modifies the metabolism of bone leading to site-specific alterations in remodeling of the bone tissue. A decrement in bone formation and an increase in bone resorption determine a significant loss of bone mass causing bone fragility and therefore a greater risk of fractures. The proposed project, that has been selected to fly on the space mission of Cristofoletti in 2015, is focused on the development of the countermeasures to be taken in order to reduce the process of bone demineralization, while promoting a greater deposition of bone matrix. In particular, the innovative aspect of the proposed study concerns the production and the physical-chemical characterization of nanoparticles of hydroxyapatite (nHAP) enriched with Strontium (Sr) and the evaluation of their biological effectiveness on osteoblasts and osteoclasts maturation in the condition of simulated MG and during space flight. The application of nanotechnology and the analysis of gene expression by RNAseq on both cell types incubated in MG would be revealing in this research field. In a future scenario where the astronauts can take appropriate doses of nHAP enriched with Sr, on Earth we may envision: i) reduction of problems related to bone demineralization during the flight and as a result of long stay on the space station; ii) reduction of social costs and improvement of the quality of life of those working in the space; iii) technological transfer to industries for the production and quality assessment of nanoparticles, promoting market competitiveness; and iv) patents applications
Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 2010
The use of stem cells in regenerative medicine is an appealing area of research that has received... more The use of stem cells in regenerative medicine is an appealing area of research that has received a great deal of interest in recent years. The population called human adipose tissue-derived stem cells (hASCs) share many of the characteristic of its counterpart of marrow including extensive proliferative potential and the ability to undergo multilineage differentiation along classical mesenchymal lineages: adipogenesis, chondrogenesis, osteogenesis, and myogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate with biochemical and morphological methods the adhesion and differentiation of hASCs grown on trabecular titanium scaffolds. The hASCs isolated from subcutaneous adipose tissue after digestion with collagenase were seeded on monolayer and on trabecular titanium scaffolds and incubated at 37 C in 5% CO 2 with osteogenic medium or control medium.-The results showed that hASCs were able to adhere to titanium scaffolds, to proliferate, to acquire an osteoblastic-like phenotype, and to produce a calcified extracellular matrix with protein, such as, decorin, fibronectin, osteocalcin, osteonectin, osteopontin, and type I collagen. These data suggest that this kind of scaffold/cells construct is effective to regenerate damaged tissue and to restore the function of bone tissue. V
Nanoscale, 2017
The mineralization process is crucial to the load-bearing characteristics of the bone extracellul... more The mineralization process is crucial to the load-bearing characteristics of the bone extracellular matrix.
Frontiers in Public Health
ACS Omega
Typically, pure niobium oxide coatings are deposited on metallic substrates, such as commercially... more Typically, pure niobium oxide coatings are deposited on metallic substrates, such as commercially pure Ti, Ti6Al4 V alloys, stainless steels, niobium, TiNb alloy, and Mg alloys using techniques such as sputter deposition, sol−gel deposition, anodizing, and wet plasma electrolytic oxidation. The relative advantages and limitations of these coating techniques are considered, with particular emphasis on biomedical applications. The properties of a wide range of pure and modified niobium oxide coatings are illustrated, including their thickness, morphology, microstructure, elemental composition, phase composition, surface roughness and hardness. The corrosion resistance, tribological characteristics and cell viability/proliferation of the coatings are illustrated using data from electrochemical, wear resistance and biological cell culture measurements. Critical R&D needs for the development of improved future niobium oxide coatings, in the laboratory and in practice, are highlighted.
Nanoscale Advances
Haralick's texture analysis of the biomaterials was used to assess and predict the cell behav... more Haralick's texture analysis of the biomaterials was used to assess and predict the cell behaviour on a nanomaterial surface.
ABSTRACT: Three commercial medical-grade polyurethanes (PUs), a poly-ether-urethane (Pellethane),... more ABSTRACT: Three commercial medical-grade polyurethanes (PUs), a poly-ether-urethane (Pellethane), and two poly-carbonate-urethanes, the one aromatic (Bionate) and the other aliphatic (Chronoflex), were tested for macrophages and bacterial cells adhesion, in the presence or absence of adhesive plasma proteins. All the experiments were carried out on PUs films obtained by solvent casting. The wettability of these films was analysed by measuring static contact angles against water. The ability of the selected PUs to adsorb human fibronectin (Fn) and fibrinogen (Fbg) was checked by ELISA with biotin-labelled proteins. All PUs were able to adsorb Fn and Fbg (Fn>Fbg). Fn adsorption was in the order: Pellethane>Chronoflex>Bionate, the highest Fbg adsorption being detected onto Bionate (Bionate>Chronoflex>Pellethane). The human macrophagic line J111, and the two main bacterial strains responsible for infection in humans (Staphylococcus aureus Newman and Staphylococcus epiderm...
1 Materials Engineering Center, UdR INSTM, University of Perugia, 05100 Terni, Italy 2 Research U... more 1 Materials Engineering Center, UdR INSTM, University of Perugia, 05100 Terni, Italy 2 Research Unit on Implant Infections, Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute, Via di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy 3 Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Via San Giacomo 14, 40126 Bologna, Italy 4Department of Bioscience, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/a, 43124 Parma, Italy 5 Department of Occupational Medicine, Ergonomy and Disability, Nanotechnology Laboratory, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, IRCCS, Via S. Boezio 28, 27100 Pavia, Italy 6Department of Molecular Medicine, Center for Tissue Engineering (CIT), INSTM UdR of Pavia, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 3/b, 27100 Pavia, Italy 7 Institute of Polymer Science and Technology, CSIC Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain 8Department of Public Health, Experimental Medicine and Forensics, University of Pavia, Via Forlanini 2, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Materials
Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) has drawn attention as a potential tool to improve the abilit... more Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) has drawn attention as a potential tool to improve the ability of bone biomaterials to integrate into the surrounding tissue. We investigated the effects of PEMF (frequency, 75 Hz; magnetic induction amplitude, 2 mT; pulse duration, 1.3 ms) on human osteoblast-like cells (SAOS-2) seeded onto wool keratin scaffolds in terms of proliferation, differentiation, and production of the calcified bone extracellular matrix. The wool keratin scaffold offered a 3D porous architecture for cell guesting and nutrient diffusion, suggesting its possible use as a filler to repair bone defects. Here, the combined approach of applying a daily PEMF exposure with additional osteogenic factors stimulated the cells to increase both the deposition of bone-related proteins and calcified matrix onto the wool keratin scaffolds. Also, the presence of SAOS-2 cells, or PEMF, or osteogenic factors did not influence the compression behavior or the resilience of keratin scaffolds...
Materials
Cellularized scaffold is emerging as the preferred solution for tissue regeneration and restorati... more Cellularized scaffold is emerging as the preferred solution for tissue regeneration and restoration of damaged functionalities. However, the high cost of preclinical studies creates a gap between investigation and the device market for the biomedical industry. In this work, bone-tailored scaffolds based on the Ti6Al4V alloy manufactured by electron beam melting (EBM) technology with reused powder were investigated, aiming to overcome issues connected to the high cost of preclinical studies. Two different elementary unit cell scaffold geometries, namely diamond (DO) and rhombic dodecahedron (RD), were adopted, while surface functionalization was performed by coating scaffolds with single layers of polycaprolactone (PCL) or with mixture of polycaprolactone and 20 wt.% hydroxyapatite (PCL/HA). The mechanical and biological performances of the produced scaffolds were investigated, and the results were compared to software simulation and experimental evidence available in literature. Goo...
Nanomaterials
In 2017 the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a list of the 12 multidrug-resistant (MDR) ... more In 2017 the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a list of the 12 multidrug-resistant (MDR) families of bacteria that pose the greatest threat to human health, and recommended that new measures should be taken to promote the development of new therapies against these superbugs. Few antibiotics have been developed in the last two decades. Part of this slow progression can be attributed to the surge in the resistance acquired by bacteria, which is holding back pharma companies from taking the risk to invest in new antibiotic entities. With limited antibiotic options and an escalating bacterial resistance there is an urgent need to explore alternative ways of meeting this global challenge. The field of medical nanotechnology has emerged as an innovative and a powerful tool for treating some of the most complicated health conditions. Different inorganic nanomaterials including gold, silver, and others have showed potential antibacterial efficacies. Interestingly, gold nanoparticles...
Molecules
Silver nanoparticles were produced with AgF as the starting Ag(I) salt, with pectin as the reduct... more Silver nanoparticles were produced with AgF as the starting Ag(I) salt, with pectin as the reductant and protecting agent. While the obtained nanoparticles (pAgNP-F) have the same dimensional and physicochemical properties as those already described by us and obtained from AgNO3 and pectin (pAgNP-N), the silver nanoparticles from AgF display an increased antibacterial activity against E. coli PHL628 and Staphylococcus epidermidis RP62A (S. epidermidis RP62A), both as planktonic strains and as their biofilms with respect to pAgNP-N. In particular, a comparison of the antimicrobial and antibiofilm action of pAgNP-F has been carried out with pAgNP-N, pAgNP-N and added NaF, pure AgNO3, pure AgF, AgNO3 and added NaF and pure NaNO3 and NaF salts. By also measuring the concentration of the Ag+ cation released by pAgNP-F and pAgNP-N, we were able to unravel the separate contributions of each potential antibacterial agent, observing an evident synergy between p-AgNP and the F− anion: the F− ...
Nanomaterials
Nanotechnology is in the spotlight of therapeutic innovation, with numerous advantages for tumor ... more Nanotechnology is in the spotlight of therapeutic innovation, with numerous advantages for tumor visualization and eradication. The end goal of the therapeutic use of nanoparticles, however, remains distant due to the limitations of nanoparticles to target cancer tissue. The functionalization of nanosystem surfaces with biological ligands is a major strategy for directing the actions of nanomaterials specifically to tumor cells. Cancer formation and metastasis are accompanied by profound alterations in protein glycosylation. Hence, the detection and targeting of aberrant glycans are of great value in cancer diagnosis and therapy. In this review, we provide a brief update on recent progress targeting aberrant glycosylation by functionalizing nanoparticles with glycan-binding molecules (with a special focus on lectins and anti-glycan antibodies) to improve the efficacy of nanoparticles in cancer targeting, diagnosis, and therapy and outline the challenges and limitations in implementi...
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
Multi-Microbial Communities in 3D Niches represent the starting point to face their complexity. T... more Multi-Microbial Communities in 3D Niches represent the starting point to face their complexity. The increase of knowledge respect to the above aspects could positively affect the actual healthcare scenario. Indeed, infections are becoming a serious threat, due to the increasing bacterial resistance and the slow release of novel antibiotics on the market.
Materials
In coatings technology, the possibility of introducing specific characteristics at the surface le... more In coatings technology, the possibility of introducing specific characteristics at the surface level allows for the manufacture of medical devices with efficient and prolonged antibacterial properties. This efficiency is often achieved by the use of a small amount of antibacterial molecules, which can fulfil their duty while limiting eventual releasing problems. The object of this work was the preparation and characterization of silver, titanium dioxide and chitosan polyurethane-based coatings. Coatings with the three antibacterials were prepared using different deposition techniques, using a brush or a bar coater automatic film applicator, and compared to solvent casted films prepared with the same components. For silver containing materials, an innovative strategy contemplating the use and preparation of silver nanoparticles in a single step-method was employed. This preparation was obtained starting from a silver precursor and using a single compound as the reducing agent and sta...
Biomedical Science and Engineering, 2020
An airway mucus model is proposed thus serving as an in vitro screening tool with the aim to redu... more An airway mucus model is proposed thus serving as an in vitro screening tool with the aim to reduce the number of noneffective drugs reaching the preclinical trials. The engineered mucus model is an easy-to-use and easy-to-produce tool that can be easily coupled to state-of-art diffusion models and it is compatible with high throughput analysis. This platform will serve as the basis to implement the complexity of the model in terms of components, also including the effect of bacteria
Scientific Reports, 2019
Recent advances in nanotechnology applied to medicine and regenerative medicine have an enormous ... more Recent advances in nanotechnology applied to medicine and regenerative medicine have an enormous and unexploited potential for future space and terrestrial medical applications. The Nanoparticles and Osteoporosis (NATO) project aimed to develop innovative countermeasures for secondary osteoporosis affecting astronauts after prolonged periods in space microgravity. Calcium- and Strontium-containing hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (nCa-HAP and nSr-HAP, respectively) were previously developed and chemically characterized. This study constitutes the first investigation of the effect of the exogenous addition of nCa-HAP and nSr-HAP on bone remodeling in gravity (1 g), Random Positioning Machine (RPM) and onboard International Space Station (ISS) using human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMMSCs). In 1 g conditions, nSr-HAP accelerated and improved the commitment of cells to differentiate towards osteoblasts, as shown by the augmented alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and the up-regu...
Microgravity induced bone loss is a major concern for space travellers. Ground-based microgravity... more Microgravity induced bone loss is a major concern for space travellers. Ground-based microgravity simulators are crucial to study the effect of microgravity exposure on biological systems and to address the limitations posed by restricted access to real space. In this work, for the first time we adopt a multidisciplinary approach to characterize the morphological, biochemical, and molecular changes underlying the response of human bone marrow stromal cells to long-term simulated microgravity exposure during osteogenic differentiation. Our results show that osteogenic differentiation is reduced while energy metabolism is promoted. We found novel proteins were dysregulated under simulated microgravity, including CSC1-like protein, involved in the mechanotransduction of pressure signals, and PTPN11, SLC44A1 and MME which are involved in osteoblast differentiation pathways and which may become the focus of future translational projects. The investigation of cell proteome highlighted how...
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
The fine-tuning of the physicochemical properties of gold nanoparticles has facilitated the rapid... more The fine-tuning of the physicochemical properties of gold nanoparticles has facilitated the rapid development of multifunctional gold-based nanomaterials with diagnostic, therapeutic, and therapeutic applications. Work on gold nanoparticles is increasingly focusing on their cancer application. This review provides a summary of the main biological effects exerted by gold nanoparticles on cancer cells and highlights some critical factors involved in the interaction process (protein corona, tumor microenvironment, surface functionalization). The review also contains a brief discussion of the application of gold nanoparticles in target discovery.
Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing
Nickel–titanium (NiTi) is a shape-memory alloy, a type of material whose name is derived from its... more Nickel–titanium (NiTi) is a shape-memory alloy, a type of material whose name is derived from its ability to recover its original shape upon heating to a certain temperature. NiTi falls under the umbrella of metallic materials, offering high superelasticity, acceptable corrosion resistance, a relatively low elastic modulus, and desirable biocompatibility. There are several challenges regarding the processing and machinability of NiTi, originating from its high ductility and reactivity. Additive manufacturing (AM), commonly known as 3D printing, is a promising candidate for solving problems in the fabrication of near-net-shape NiTi biomaterials with controlled porosity. Powder-bed fusion and directed energy deposition are AM approaches employed to produce synthetic NiTi implants. A short summary of the principles and the pros and cons of these approaches is provided. The influence of the operating parameters, which can change the microstructural features, including the porosity conte...
MG significantly modifies the metabolism of bone leading to site-specific alterations in remodeli... more MG significantly modifies the metabolism of bone leading to site-specific alterations in remodeling of the bone tissue. A decrement in bone formation and an increase in bone resorption determine a significant loss of bone mass causing bone fragility and therefore a greater risk of fractures. The proposed project, that has been selected to fly on the space mission of Cristofoletti in 2015, is focused on the development of the countermeasures to be taken in order to reduce the process of bone demineralization, while promoting a greater deposition of bone matrix. In particular, the innovative aspect of the proposed study concerns the production and the physical-chemical characterization of nanoparticles of hydroxyapatite (nHAP) enriched with Strontium (Sr) and the evaluation of their biological effectiveness on osteoblasts and osteoclasts maturation in the condition of simulated MG and during space flight. The application of nanotechnology and the analysis of gene expression by RNAseq on both cell types incubated in MG would be revealing in this research field. In a future scenario where the astronauts can take appropriate doses of nHAP enriched with Sr, on Earth we may envision: i) reduction of problems related to bone demineralization during the flight and as a result of long stay on the space station; ii) reduction of social costs and improvement of the quality of life of those working in the space; iii) technological transfer to industries for the production and quality assessment of nanoparticles, promoting market competitiveness; and iv) patents applications
Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 2010
The use of stem cells in regenerative medicine is an appealing area of research that has received... more The use of stem cells in regenerative medicine is an appealing area of research that has received a great deal of interest in recent years. The population called human adipose tissue-derived stem cells (hASCs) share many of the characteristic of its counterpart of marrow including extensive proliferative potential and the ability to undergo multilineage differentiation along classical mesenchymal lineages: adipogenesis, chondrogenesis, osteogenesis, and myogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate with biochemical and morphological methods the adhesion and differentiation of hASCs grown on trabecular titanium scaffolds. The hASCs isolated from subcutaneous adipose tissue after digestion with collagenase were seeded on monolayer and on trabecular titanium scaffolds and incubated at 37 C in 5% CO 2 with osteogenic medium or control medium.-The results showed that hASCs were able to adhere to titanium scaffolds, to proliferate, to acquire an osteoblastic-like phenotype, and to produce a calcified extracellular matrix with protein, such as, decorin, fibronectin, osteocalcin, osteonectin, osteopontin, and type I collagen. These data suggest that this kind of scaffold/cells construct is effective to regenerate damaged tissue and to restore the function of bone tissue. V
Nanoscale, 2017
The mineralization process is crucial to the load-bearing characteristics of the bone extracellul... more The mineralization process is crucial to the load-bearing characteristics of the bone extracellular matrix.
Frontiers in Public Health
ACS Omega
Typically, pure niobium oxide coatings are deposited on metallic substrates, such as commercially... more Typically, pure niobium oxide coatings are deposited on metallic substrates, such as commercially pure Ti, Ti6Al4 V alloys, stainless steels, niobium, TiNb alloy, and Mg alloys using techniques such as sputter deposition, sol−gel deposition, anodizing, and wet plasma electrolytic oxidation. The relative advantages and limitations of these coating techniques are considered, with particular emphasis on biomedical applications. The properties of a wide range of pure and modified niobium oxide coatings are illustrated, including their thickness, morphology, microstructure, elemental composition, phase composition, surface roughness and hardness. The corrosion resistance, tribological characteristics and cell viability/proliferation of the coatings are illustrated using data from electrochemical, wear resistance and biological cell culture measurements. Critical R&D needs for the development of improved future niobium oxide coatings, in the laboratory and in practice, are highlighted.
Nanoscale Advances
Haralick's texture analysis of the biomaterials was used to assess and predict the cell behav... more Haralick's texture analysis of the biomaterials was used to assess and predict the cell behaviour on a nanomaterial surface.
ABSTRACT: Three commercial medical-grade polyurethanes (PUs), a poly-ether-urethane (Pellethane),... more ABSTRACT: Three commercial medical-grade polyurethanes (PUs), a poly-ether-urethane (Pellethane), and two poly-carbonate-urethanes, the one aromatic (Bionate) and the other aliphatic (Chronoflex), were tested for macrophages and bacterial cells adhesion, in the presence or absence of adhesive plasma proteins. All the experiments were carried out on PUs films obtained by solvent casting. The wettability of these films was analysed by measuring static contact angles against water. The ability of the selected PUs to adsorb human fibronectin (Fn) and fibrinogen (Fbg) was checked by ELISA with biotin-labelled proteins. All PUs were able to adsorb Fn and Fbg (Fn>Fbg). Fn adsorption was in the order: Pellethane>Chronoflex>Bionate, the highest Fbg adsorption being detected onto Bionate (Bionate>Chronoflex>Pellethane). The human macrophagic line J111, and the two main bacterial strains responsible for infection in humans (Staphylococcus aureus Newman and Staphylococcus epiderm...
1 Materials Engineering Center, UdR INSTM, University of Perugia, 05100 Terni, Italy 2 Research U... more 1 Materials Engineering Center, UdR INSTM, University of Perugia, 05100 Terni, Italy 2 Research Unit on Implant Infections, Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute, Via di Barbiano 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy 3 Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Via San Giacomo 14, 40126 Bologna, Italy 4Department of Bioscience, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/a, 43124 Parma, Italy 5 Department of Occupational Medicine, Ergonomy and Disability, Nanotechnology Laboratory, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, IRCCS, Via S. Boezio 28, 27100 Pavia, Italy 6Department of Molecular Medicine, Center for Tissue Engineering (CIT), INSTM UdR of Pavia, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 3/b, 27100 Pavia, Italy 7 Institute of Polymer Science and Technology, CSIC Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain 8Department of Public Health, Experimental Medicine and Forensics, University of Pavia, Via Forlanini 2, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Materials
Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) has drawn attention as a potential tool to improve the abilit... more Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) has drawn attention as a potential tool to improve the ability of bone biomaterials to integrate into the surrounding tissue. We investigated the effects of PEMF (frequency, 75 Hz; magnetic induction amplitude, 2 mT; pulse duration, 1.3 ms) on human osteoblast-like cells (SAOS-2) seeded onto wool keratin scaffolds in terms of proliferation, differentiation, and production of the calcified bone extracellular matrix. The wool keratin scaffold offered a 3D porous architecture for cell guesting and nutrient diffusion, suggesting its possible use as a filler to repair bone defects. Here, the combined approach of applying a daily PEMF exposure with additional osteogenic factors stimulated the cells to increase both the deposition of bone-related proteins and calcified matrix onto the wool keratin scaffolds. Also, the presence of SAOS-2 cells, or PEMF, or osteogenic factors did not influence the compression behavior or the resilience of keratin scaffolds...
Materials
Cellularized scaffold is emerging as the preferred solution for tissue regeneration and restorati... more Cellularized scaffold is emerging as the preferred solution for tissue regeneration and restoration of damaged functionalities. However, the high cost of preclinical studies creates a gap between investigation and the device market for the biomedical industry. In this work, bone-tailored scaffolds based on the Ti6Al4V alloy manufactured by electron beam melting (EBM) technology with reused powder were investigated, aiming to overcome issues connected to the high cost of preclinical studies. Two different elementary unit cell scaffold geometries, namely diamond (DO) and rhombic dodecahedron (RD), were adopted, while surface functionalization was performed by coating scaffolds with single layers of polycaprolactone (PCL) or with mixture of polycaprolactone and 20 wt.% hydroxyapatite (PCL/HA). The mechanical and biological performances of the produced scaffolds were investigated, and the results were compared to software simulation and experimental evidence available in literature. Goo...
Nanomaterials
In 2017 the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a list of the 12 multidrug-resistant (MDR) ... more In 2017 the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a list of the 12 multidrug-resistant (MDR) families of bacteria that pose the greatest threat to human health, and recommended that new measures should be taken to promote the development of new therapies against these superbugs. Few antibiotics have been developed in the last two decades. Part of this slow progression can be attributed to the surge in the resistance acquired by bacteria, which is holding back pharma companies from taking the risk to invest in new antibiotic entities. With limited antibiotic options and an escalating bacterial resistance there is an urgent need to explore alternative ways of meeting this global challenge. The field of medical nanotechnology has emerged as an innovative and a powerful tool for treating some of the most complicated health conditions. Different inorganic nanomaterials including gold, silver, and others have showed potential antibacterial efficacies. Interestingly, gold nanoparticles...
Molecules
Silver nanoparticles were produced with AgF as the starting Ag(I) salt, with pectin as the reduct... more Silver nanoparticles were produced with AgF as the starting Ag(I) salt, with pectin as the reductant and protecting agent. While the obtained nanoparticles (pAgNP-F) have the same dimensional and physicochemical properties as those already described by us and obtained from AgNO3 and pectin (pAgNP-N), the silver nanoparticles from AgF display an increased antibacterial activity against E. coli PHL628 and Staphylococcus epidermidis RP62A (S. epidermidis RP62A), both as planktonic strains and as their biofilms with respect to pAgNP-N. In particular, a comparison of the antimicrobial and antibiofilm action of pAgNP-F has been carried out with pAgNP-N, pAgNP-N and added NaF, pure AgNO3, pure AgF, AgNO3 and added NaF and pure NaNO3 and NaF salts. By also measuring the concentration of the Ag+ cation released by pAgNP-F and pAgNP-N, we were able to unravel the separate contributions of each potential antibacterial agent, observing an evident synergy between p-AgNP and the F− anion: the F− ...
Nanomaterials
Nanotechnology is in the spotlight of therapeutic innovation, with numerous advantages for tumor ... more Nanotechnology is in the spotlight of therapeutic innovation, with numerous advantages for tumor visualization and eradication. The end goal of the therapeutic use of nanoparticles, however, remains distant due to the limitations of nanoparticles to target cancer tissue. The functionalization of nanosystem surfaces with biological ligands is a major strategy for directing the actions of nanomaterials specifically to tumor cells. Cancer formation and metastasis are accompanied by profound alterations in protein glycosylation. Hence, the detection and targeting of aberrant glycans are of great value in cancer diagnosis and therapy. In this review, we provide a brief update on recent progress targeting aberrant glycosylation by functionalizing nanoparticles with glycan-binding molecules (with a special focus on lectins and anti-glycan antibodies) to improve the efficacy of nanoparticles in cancer targeting, diagnosis, and therapy and outline the challenges and limitations in implementi...
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
Multi-Microbial Communities in 3D Niches represent the starting point to face their complexity. T... more Multi-Microbial Communities in 3D Niches represent the starting point to face their complexity. The increase of knowledge respect to the above aspects could positively affect the actual healthcare scenario. Indeed, infections are becoming a serious threat, due to the increasing bacterial resistance and the slow release of novel antibiotics on the market.
Materials
In coatings technology, the possibility of introducing specific characteristics at the surface le... more In coatings technology, the possibility of introducing specific characteristics at the surface level allows for the manufacture of medical devices with efficient and prolonged antibacterial properties. This efficiency is often achieved by the use of a small amount of antibacterial molecules, which can fulfil their duty while limiting eventual releasing problems. The object of this work was the preparation and characterization of silver, titanium dioxide and chitosan polyurethane-based coatings. Coatings with the three antibacterials were prepared using different deposition techniques, using a brush or a bar coater automatic film applicator, and compared to solvent casted films prepared with the same components. For silver containing materials, an innovative strategy contemplating the use and preparation of silver nanoparticles in a single step-method was employed. This preparation was obtained starting from a silver precursor and using a single compound as the reducing agent and sta...