Cell culture is an important and necessary process in drug discovery, cancer research, as well as stem cell study. Most cells are currently cultured using two-dimensional (2D) methods but new and improved methods that implement three-dimensional (3D) cell culturing techniques suggest compelling evidence that much more advanced experiments can be performed yielding valuable insights. When performing 3D cell culture experiments, the cell environment can be manipulated to mimic that of a cell in vivo and provide more accurate data about cell-to-cell interactions, tumor characteristics, drug discovery, metabolic profiling, stem cell research, and other types of diseases. Scaffold based techniques such as hydrogel-based support, polymeric hard material-based support, hydrophilic glass fiber, and organoids are employed, and each provide their own advantages and applications. Likewise, there are also scaffold free techniques used such as hanging drop microplates, magnetic levitation, and spheroid microplates with ultra-low attachment coating. 3D cell culture has the potential to provide alternative ways to study organ behavior via the use of organoids and is expected to eventually bridge the gap between 2D cell culture and animal models. The present review compares 2D cell culture to 3D cell culture, provides the details surrounding the different 3D culture techniques, as well as focuses on the present and future applications of 3D cell culture.

/pdf/is-it-time-to-start-transitioning-from-2d-to-3d-cell-culture-39vwbsi3yl.pdf

Is It Time to Start Transitioning From 2D to 3D Cell Culture

Skin wound healing shows an extraordinary cellular function mechanism, unique in nature and involving the interaction of several cells, growth factors and cytokines. Physiological wound healing restores tissue integrity, but in many cases the process is limited to wound repair. Ongoing studies aim to obtain more effective wound therapies with the intention of reducing inpatient costs, providing long-term relief and effective scar healing. The main goal of this comprehensive review is to focus on the progress in wound medication and how it has evolved over the years. The main complications related to the healing process and the clinical management of chronic wounds are described in the review. Moreover, advanced treatment strategies for skin regeneration and experimental techniques for cellular engineering and skin tissue engineering are addressed. Emerging skin regeneration techniques involving scaffolds activated with growth factors, bioactive molecules and genetically modified cells are exploited to overcome wound healing technology limitations and to implement personalized therapy design.

Skin Wound Healing Process and New Emerging Technologies for Skin Wound Care and Regeneration.

The field of regenerative medicine has tremendous potential for improved treatment outcomes and has been stimulated by advances made in bioengineering over the last few decades. The strategies of engineering tissues and assembling functional constructs that are capable of restoring, retaining, and revitalizing lost tissues and organs have impacted the whole spectrum of medicine and health care. Techniques to combine biomimetic materials, cells, and bioactive molecules play a decisive role in promoting the regeneration of damaged tissues or as therapeutic systems. Hydrogels have been used as one of the most common tissue engineering scaffolds over the past two decades due to their ability to maintain a distinct 3D structure, to provide mechanical support for the cells in the engineered tissues, and to simulate the native extracellular matrix. The high water content of hydrogels can provide an ideal environment for cell survival, and structure which mimics the native tissues. Hydrogel systems have been serving as a supportive matrix for cell immobilization and growth factor delivery. This review outlines a brief description of the properties, structure, synthesis and fabrication methods, applications, and future perspectives of smart hydrogels in tissue engineering.

Smart Hydrogels in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine.

Porous scaffolds for bone regeneration

The application of nanomedicines is increasing rapidly with the promise of targeted and efficient drug delivery. Nanomedicines address the shortcomings of conventional therapy, as evidenced by several preclinical and clinical investigations indicating site-specific drug delivery, reduced side effects, and better treatment outcome. The development of suitable and biocompatible drug delivery vehicles is a prerequisite that has been successfully achieved by using simple and functionalized liposomes, nanoparticles, hydrogels, micelles, dendrimers, and mesoporous particles. A variety of drug delivery vehicles have been established for the targeted and controlled delivery of therapeutic agents in a wide range of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, atherosclerosis, myocardial ischemia, asthma, pulmonary tuberculosis, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. After successful outcomes in preclinical and clinical trials, many of these drugs have been marketed for human use, such as Abraxane®, Caelyx®, Mepact®, Myocet®, Emend®, and Rapamune®. Apart from drugs/compounds, novel therapeutic agents, such as peptides, nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), and genes have also shown potential to be used as nanomedicines for the treatment of several chronic ailments. However, a large number of extensive clinical trials are still needed to ensure the short-term and long-term effects of nanomedicines in humans. This review discusses the advantages of various drug delivery vehicles for better understanding of their utility in terms of current medical needs. Furthermore, the application of a wide range of nanomedicines is also described in the context of major chronic diseases.

/pdf/targeted-therapy-in-chronic-diseases-using-nanomaterial-3i2ehoxuay.pdf

Targeted therapy in chronic diseases using nanomaterial-based drug delivery vehicles

In this review paper, the definition of the tissue engineering (TE) was comprehensively explored towards scaffold fabrication techniques and applications. Scaffold properties and features in TE, biological aspects, scaffold material composition, scaffold structural requirements, and old and current manufacturing technologies were reported and discussed. In almost all the reviewed reports, the TE definition denotes renewal, development, and repairs of damaged tissues caused by various factors such as disease, injury, or congenital disabilities. TE is multidisciplinary that combines biology, biochemistry, clinical medicine, and materials science whose application in cellular systems such as organ transplantation serves as a delivery vehicle for cells and drug. According to the previous literature and this review, the scaffold fabrication techniques can be classified into two main categories: conventional and modern techniques. These TE fabrication techniques are applied in the scaffold building which later on are used in tissue and organ structure. The benefits and drawbacks of each of the fabrication techniques have been described in conjunction with current areas of research devoted to deal with some of the challenges. To figure out, the highlighted aspects aimed to define the advancements and challenges that should be addressed in the scaffold design for tissue engineering. Additionally, this study provides an excellent review of original numerical approaches focused on mechanical characteristics that can be helpful in the scaffold design assessment in the analysis of scaffold parameters in tissue engineering.

/pdf/scaffold-techniques-and-designs-in-tissue-engineering-d8jlzddywv.pdf

Abdalla Eltom

Papers

Scaffold Techniques and Designs in Tissue Engineering Functions and Purposes: A Review