INTRODUCTION: Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is an 84 amino acid polypeptide that acts as the most important regulator of calcium homeostasis in the human body through its direct action on bone and kidney. Previously we reported that PTH(1-34) inhibits terminal differentiation of articular chondrocytes and in turn suppresses the progression of osteoarthritis (OA). However, the treatment needs the in...

Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) integrity and function are essential for neural retina homeostasis and play a major role in ocular diseases associated with senescence (as in age related macular degeneration) and in diseases associated with dystrophies of the photoreceptors. RPE cells therefore may serve as a potential targets for drug delivery and gene transfer aiming at arresting or reversing...

PURPOSE To evaluate the potential delay of the retinal degeneration in rd1/rd1 mice using recombinant human glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (rhGDNF) encapsulated in poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres. METHODS rhGDNF-loaded PLGA microspheres were prepared using a water in oil in water (w/o/w) emulsion solvent extraction-evaporation process. In vitro, the rhGDNF rele...

We report a facile and robust microfluidic method to fabricate polymeric core-shell microspheres as delivery vehicles for biomedical applications. The characteristics of core-shell microspheres can be precisely and easily tuned by manipulating the microfluidic double emulsion templates. The addition of a shell can significantly improve the versatility as well as functionality of these microsphe...

Interferon-α2b (IFN-α2b) produced in Cuba by the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology was encapsulated into poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres using the double emulsion-solvent evaporation method. Resulting microspheres showed smooth surfaces containing randomly distributed pores, a mean diameter of 28.1 ± 0.4 μm (using 14,000 rpm for the second emulsification step)...

Despite the widespread role of transforming growth factor-beta3 (TGFbeta3) in wound healing and tissue regeneration, its long-term controlled release has not been demonstrated. Here, we report microencapsulation of TGFbeta3 in poly-d-l-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) microspheres and determine its bioactivity. The release profiles of PLGA-encapsulated TGFbeta3 with 50:50 and 75:25 PLA:PGA ratios...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) cultured with gelatin hydrogel microspheres of cell scaffold which can release transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1). Gelatin was dehydrothermally cross-linked in different conditions in a water-in-oil emulsion state to obtain gelatin hyd...

Yersinia pestis F1 antigen-loaded poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide)/polyethylene glycol (PEG) (PLGA/PEG) microspheres were produced using a water-in-oil-in-water emulsion/solvent extraction technique and assayed for their percent yield, entrapment efficiency, surface morphology, particle size, zeta potential, in vitro release properties, and in vivo animal protect efficacy. The Y. pestis F1 antigen...

Current clinical delivery of recombinant human bone morphogenetic proteins (rhBMPs) utilises freeze-dried collagen. Despite effective new bone generation, rhBMP via collagen can be limited by significant complications due to inflammation and uncontrolled bone formation. This study aimed to produce an alternative rhBMP local delivery system to permit more controllable and superior rhBMP-induced ...

We describe a general method for incorporating target ligands into the surface of biocompatible polyester poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) 50/50 materials using fatty acids. Avidin-fatty acid conjugates were prepared and efficiently incorporated into PLGA. Avidin was chosen as an adaptor protein to facilitate the attachment of a variety of biotinylated ligands. We show that fatty acid prefe...