Biomaterials and tissue engineering in traumatic brain injury:novel perspectives on promoting neural regeneration

Traumatic brain injury is a serious medical condition that can be attributed to falls, motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries and acts of violence, causing a series of neural injuries and neuropsychiatric symptoms. However, limited accessibility to the injury sites, complicated histological and anatomical structure, intricate cellular and extracellular milieu, lack of regenerative capacity in the native cells, vast variety of damage routes, and the insufficient time available for treatment have restricted the widespread application of several therapeutic methods in cases of central nervous system injury. Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine have emerged as innovative approaches in the field of nerve regeneration. By combining biomaterials, stem cells, and growth factors, these approaches have provided a platform for developing effective treatments for neural injuries, which can offer the potential to restore neural function, improve patient outcomes, and reduce the need for drugs and invasive surgical procedures. Biomaterials have shown advantages in promoting neural development, inhibiting glial scar formation, and providing a suitable biomimetic neural microenvironment, which makes their application promising in the field of neural regeneration. For instance, bioactive scaffolds loaded with stem cells can provide a biocompatible and biodegradable milieu. Furthermore, stem cells-derived exosomes combine the advantages of stem cells, avoid the risk of immune rejection, cooperate with biomaterials to enhance their biological functions, and exert stable functions, thereby inducing angiogenesis and neural regeneration in patients with traumatic brain injury and promoting the recovery of brain function. Unfortunately, biomaterials have shown positive effects in the laboratory, but when similar materials are used in clinical studies of human central nervous system regeneration, their efficacy is unsatisfactory. Here, we review the characteristics and properties of various bioactive materials, followed by the introduction of applications based on biochemistry and cell molecules, and discuss the emerging role of biomaterials in promoting neural regeneration. Further, we summarize the adaptive biomaterials infused with exosomes produced from stem cells and stem cells themselves for the treatment of traumatic brain injury. Finally, we present the main limitations of biomaterials for the treatment of traumatic brain injury and offer insights into their future potential.

Recent advances in the application of MXenes for neural tissue engineering and regeneration

Transition metal carbides and nitrides(MXenes)are crystal nanomaterials with a number of surface functional groups such as fluorine,hydroxyl,and oxygen,which can be used as carriers for proteins and drugs.MXenes have excellent biocompatibility,electrical conductivity,surface hydrophilicity,mechanical properties and easy surface modification.However,at present,the stability of most MXenes needs to be improved,and more synthesis methods need to be explored.MXenes are good substrates for nerve cell regeneration and nerve reconstruction,which have broad application prospects in the repair of nervous system injury.Regarding the application of MXenes in neuroscience,mainly at the cellular level,the long-term in vivo biosafety and effects also need to be further explored.This review focuses on the progress of using MXenes in nerve regeneration over the last few years;discussing preparation of MXenes and their biocompatibility with different cells as well as the regulation by MXenes of nerve cell regeneration in two-dimensional and three-dimensional environments in vitro.MXenes have great potential in regulating the proliferation,differentiation,and maturation of nerve cells and in promoting regeneration and recovery after nerve injury.In addition,this review also presents the main challenges during optimization processes,such as the preparation of stable MXenes and long-term in vivo biosafety,and further discusses future directions in neural tissue engineering.

Mechanism by which Rab5 promotes regeneration and functional recovery of zebrafish Mauthner axons

Rab5 is a GTPase protein that is involved in intracellular membrane trafficking. It functions by binding to various effector proteins and regulating cellular responses, including the formation of transport vesicles and their fusion with the cellular membrane. Rab5 has been reported to play an important role in the development of the zebrafish embryo;however, its role in axonal regeneration in the central nervous system remains unclear. In this study, we established a zebrafish Mauthner cell model of axonal injury using single-cell electroporation and two-photon axotomy techniques. We found that overexpression of Rab5 in single Mauthner cells promoted marked axonal regeneration and increased the number of intra-axonal transport vesicles. In contrast, treatment of zebrafish larvae with the Rab kinase inhibitor CID-1067700markedly inhibited axonal regeneration in Mauthner cells. We also found that Rab5 activated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K) during axonal repair of Mauthner cells and promoted the recovery of zebrafish locomotor function. Additionally, rapamycin, an inhibitor of the mechanistic target of rapamycin downstream of PI3K, markedly hindered axonal regeneration. These findings suggest that Rab5 promotes the axonal regeneration of injured zebrafish Mauthner cells by activating the PI3K signaling pathway.

Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived therapies for regeneration after central nervous system injury

In recent years,the progression of stem cell therapies has shown great promise in advancing the nascent field of regenerative medicine.Considering the non-regenerative nature of the mature central nervous system,the concept that“blank”cells could be reprogrammed and functionally integrated into host neural networks remained intriguing.Previous work has also demonstrated the ability of such cells to stimulate intrinsic growth programs in post-mitotic cells,such as neurons.While embryonic stem cells demonstrated great potential in treating central nervous system pathologies,ethical and technical concerns remained.These barriers,along with the clear necessity for this type of treatment,ultimately prompted the advent of induced pluripotent stem cells.The advantage of pluripotent cells in central nervous system regeneration is multifaceted,permitting differentiation into neural stem cells,neural progenitor cells,glia,and various neuronal subpopulations.The precise spatiotemporal application of extrinsic growth factors in vitro,in addition to microenvironmental signaling in vivo,influences the efficiency of this directed differentiation.While the pluri-or multipotency of these cells is appealing,it also poses the risk of unregulated differentiation and teratoma formation.Cells of the neuroectodermal lineage,such as neuronal subpopulations and glia,have been explored with varying degrees of success.Although the risk of cancer or teratoma formation is greatly reduced,each subpopulation varies in effectiveness and is influenced by a myriad of factors,such as the timing of the transplant,pathology type,and the ratio of accompanying progenitor cells.Furthermore,successful transplantation requires innovative approaches to develop delivery vectors that can mitigate cell death and support integration.Lastly,host immune responses to allogeneic grafts must be thoroughly characterized and further developed to reduce the need for immunosuppression.Translation to a clinical setting will involve careful consideration when assessing both physiologic and functional outcomes.This review will highlight both successes and challenges faced when using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cell transplantation therapies to promote endogenous regeneration.

Advances in the Development of Gradient Scaffolds Made of Nano‑Micromaterials for Musculoskeletal Tissue Regeneration

The intricate hierarchical structure of musculoskeletal tissues,including bone and interface tissues,necessitates the use of complex scaffold designs and material structures to serve as tissue-engineered substitutes.This has led to growing interest in the development of gradient bone scaffolds with hierarchical structures mimicking the extracellular matrix of native tissues to achieve improved therapeutic outcomes.Building on the anatomical characteristics of bone and interfacial tissues,this review provides a summary of current strategies used to design and fabricate biomimetic gradient scaffolds for repairing musculoskeletal tissues,specifically focusing on methods used to construct compositional and structural gradients within the scaffolds.The latest applications of gradient scaffolds for the regeneration of bone,osteochondral,and tendon-to-bone interfaces are presented.Furthermore,the current progress of testing gradient scaffolds in physiologically relevant animal models of skeletal repair is discussed,as well as the challenges and prospects of moving these scaffolds into clinical application for treating musculoskeletal injuries.

Optimizing electronic structure through point defect engineering for enhanced electrocatalytic energy conversion

Point defect engineering endows catalysts with novel physical and chemical properties,elevating their electrocatalytic efficiency.The introduction of defects emerges as a promising strategy,effectively modifying the electronic structure of active sites.This optimization influences the adsorption energy of intermediates,thereby mitigating reaction energy barriers,altering paths,enhancing selectivity,and ultimately improving the catalytic efficiency of electrocatalysts.To elucidate the impact of defects on the electrocatalytic process,we comprehensively outline the roles of various point defects,their synthetic methodologies,and characterization techniques.Importantly,we consolidate insights into the relationship between point defects and catalytic activity for hydrogen/oxygen evolution and CO_(2)/O_(2)/N_(2) reduction reactions by integrating mechanisms from diverse reactions.This underscores the pivotal role of point defects in enhancing catalytic performance.At last,the principal challenges and prospects associated with point defects in current electrocatalysts are proposed,emphasizing their role in advancing the efficiency of electrochemical energy storage and conversion materials.

Recent Strategies and Advances in Hydrogel‑Based Delivery Platforms for Bone Regeneration

Bioactive molecules have shown great promise for effectively regulating various bone formation processes,rendering them attractive therapeutics for bone regeneration.However,the widespread application of bioactive molecules is limited by their low accumulation and short half-lives in vivo.Hydrogels have emerged as ideal carriers to address these challenges,offering the potential to prolong retention times at lesion sites,extend half-lives in vivo and mitigate side effects,avoid burst release,and promote adsorption under physiological conditions.This review systematically summarizes the recent advances in the development of bioactive molecule-loaded hydrogels for bone regeneration,encompassing applications in cranial defect repair,femoral defect repair,periodontal bone regeneration,and bone regeneration with underlying diseases.Additionally,this review discusses the current strategies aimed at improving the release profiles of bioactive molecules through stimuli-responsive delivery,carrier-assisted delivery,and sequential delivery.Finally,this review elucidates the existing challenges and future directions of hydrogel encapsulated bioactive molecules in the field of bone regeneration.

A functional tacrolimus-releasing nerve wrap for enhancing nerve regeneration following surgical nerve repair

Axonal regeneration following surgical nerve repair is slow and often incomplete,resulting in poor functional recovery which sometimes contributes to lifelong disability.Currently,there are no FDA-approved therapies available to promote nerve regeneration.Tacrolimus accelerates axonal regeneration,but systemic side effects presently outweigh its potential benefits for peripheral nerve surgery.The authors describe herein a biodegradable polyurethane-based drug delivery system for the sustained local release of tacrolimus at the nerve repair site,with suitable properties for scalable production and clinical application,aiming to promote nerve regeneration and functional recovery with minimal systemic drug exposure.Tacrolimus is encapsulated into co-axially electrospun polycarbonate-urethane nanofibers to generate an implantable nerve wrap that releases therapeutic doses of bioactive tacrolimus over 31 days.Size and drug loading are adjustable for applications in small and large caliber nerves,and the wrap degrades within 120 days into biocompatible byproducts.Tacrolimus released from the nerve wrap promotes axon elongation in vitro and accelerates nerve regeneration and functional recovery in preclinical nerve repair models while off-target systemic drug exposure is reduced by 80%compared with systemic delivery.Given its surgical suitability and preclinical efficacy and safety,this system may provide a readily translatable approach to support axonal regeneration and recovery in patients undergoing nerve surgery.

3D Printing of Tough Hydrogel Scaffolds with Functional Surface Structures for Tissue Regeneration

Hydrogel scaffolds have numerous potential applications in the tissue engineering field.However,tough hydrogel scaffolds implanted in vivo are seldom reported because it is difficult to balance biocompatibility and high mechanical properties.Inspired by Chinese ramen,we propose a universal fabricating method(printing-P,training-T,cross-linking-C,PTC&PCT)for tough hydrogel scaffolds to fill this gap.First,3D printing fabricates a hydrogel scaffold with desired structures(P).Then,the scaffold could have extraordinarily high mechanical properties and functional surface structure by cycle mechanical training with salting-out assistance(T).Finally,the training results are fixed by photo-cross-linking processing(C).The tough gelatin hydrogel scaffolds exhibit excellent tensile strength of 6.66 MPa(622-fold untreated)and have excellent biocompatibility.Furthermore,this scaffold possesses functional surface structures from nanometer to micron to millimeter,which can efficiently induce directional cell growth.Interestingly,this strategy can produce bionic human tissue with mechanical properties of 10 kPa-10 MPa by changing the type of salt,and many hydrogels,such as gelatin and silk,could be improved with PTC or PCT strategies.Animal experiments show that this scaffold can effectively promote the new generation of muscle fibers,blood vessels,and nerves within 4 weeks,prompting the rapid regeneration of large-volume muscle loss injuries.

Morphology engineering of ZnO micro/nanostructures under mild conditions for optoelectronic application

Zinc oxide(ZnO)serves as a crucial functional semiconductor with a wide direct bandgap of approximately 3.37 eV.Solvothermal reaction is commonly used in the synthesis of ZnO micro/nanostructures,given its low cost,simplicity,and easy implementation.Moreover,ZnO morphology engineering has become desirable through the alteration of minor conditions in the reaction process,particularly at room temperature.In this work,ZnO micro/nanostructures were synthesized in a solution by varying the amounts of the ammonia added at low temperatures(including room temperature).The formation of Zn^(2+)complexes by ammonia in the precursor regulated the reaction rate of the morphology engineering of ZnO,which resulted in various structures,such as nanoparticles,nanosheets,microflowers,and single crystals.Finally,the obtained ZnO was used in the optoelectronic application of ultraviolet detectors.

Defect Engineering with Rational Dopants Modulation for High‑Temperature Energy Harvesting in Lead‑Free Piezoceramics

High temperature piezoelectric energy harvester(HTPEH)is an important solution to replace chemical battery to achieve independent power supply of HT wireless sensors.However,simultaneously excellent performances,including high figure of merit(FOM),insulation resistivity(ρ)and depolarization temperature(Td)are indispensable but hard to achieve in lead-free piezoceramics,especially operating at 250°C has not been reported before.Herein,well-balanced performances are achieved in BiFeO3–BaTiO3 ceramics via innovative defect engineering with respect to delicate manganese doping.Due to the synergistic effect of enhancing electrostrictive coefficient by polarization configuration optimization,regulating iron ion oxidation state by high valence manganese ion and stabilizing domain orientation by defect dipole,comprehensive excellent electrical performances(Td=340°C,ρ250°C>10^(7)Ωcm and FOM_(250°C)=4905×10^(–15)m^(2)N^(−1))are realized at the solid solubility limit of manganese ions.The HT-PEHs assembled using the rationally designed piezoceramic can allow for fast charging of commercial electrolytic capacitor at 250°C with high energy conversion efficiency(η=11.43%).These characteristics demonstrate that defect engineering tailored BF-BT can satisfy high-end HT-PEHs requirements,paving a new way in developing selfpowered wireless sensors working in HT environments.

FK506 contributes to peripheral nerve regeneration by inhibiting neuroinflammatory responses and promoting neuron survival

FK506(Tacrolimus)is a systemic immunosuppressant approved by the U.S.Food and Drug Administration.FK506 has been shown to promote peripheral nerve regeneration,however,its precise mechanism of action and its pathways remain unclear.In this study,we established a rat model of sciatic nerve injury and found that FK506 improved the morphology of the injured sciatic nerve,increased the numbers of motor and sensory neurons,reduced inflammatory responses,markedly improved the conduction function of the injured nerve,and promoted motor function recovery.These findings suggest that FK506 promotes peripheral nerve structure recovery and functional regeneration by reducing the intensity of inflammation after neuronal injury and increasing the number of surviving neurons.

A novel flexible nerve guidance conduit promotes nerve regeneration while providing excellent mechanical properties

Autografting is the gold standard for surgical repair of nerve defects>5 mm in length;however,autografting is associated with potential complications at the nerve donor site.As an alternative,nerve guidance conduits may be used.The ideal conduit should be flexible,resistant to kinks and lumen collapse,and provide physical cues to guide nerve regeneration.We designed a novel flexible conduit using electrospinning technology to create fibers on the innermost surface of the nerve guidance conduit and employed melt spinning to align them.Subsequently,we prepared disordered electrospun fibers outside the aligned fibers and helical melt-spun fibers on the outer wall of the electrospun fiber lumen.The presence of aligned fibers on the inner surface can promote the extension of nerve cells along the fibers.The helical melt-spun fibers on the outer surface can enhance resistance to kinking and compression and provide stability.Our novel conduit promoted nerve regeneration and functional recovery in a rat sciatic nerve defect model,suggesting that it has potential for clinical use in human nerve injuries.

Defect Engineering:Can it Mitigate Strong Coulomb Effect of Mg^(2+)in Cathode Materials for Rechargeable Magnesium Batteries?

Rechargeable magnesium batteries(RMBs)have been considered a promising“post lithium-ion battery”system to meet the rapidly increasing demand of the emerging electric vehicle and grid energy storage market.However,the sluggish diffusion kinetics of bivalent Mg^(2+)in the host material,related to the strong Coulomb effect between Mg^(2+)and host anion lattices,hinders their further development toward practical applications.Defect engineering,regarded as an effective strategy to break through the slow migration puzzle,has been validated in various cathode materials for RMBs.In this review,we first thoroughly understand the intrinsic mechanism of Mg^(2+)diffusion in cathode materials,from which the key factors affecting ion diffusion are further presented.Then,the positive effects of purposely introduced defects,including vacancy and doping,and the corresponding strategies for introducing various defects are discussed.The applications of defect engineering in cathode materials for RMBs with advanced electrochemical properties are also summarized.Finally,the existing challenges and future perspectives of defect engineering in cathode materials for the overall high-performance RMBs are described.

High mobility group box 1 in the central nervous system:regeneration hidden beneath inflammation

High-mobility group box 1 was first discovered in the calf thymus as a DNA-binding nuclear protein and has been widely studied in diverse fields,including neurology and neuroscience.High-mobility group box 1 in the extracellular space functions as a pro-inflammatory damage-associated molecular pattern,which has been proven to play an important role in a wide variety of central nervous system disorders such as ischemic stroke,Alzheimer’s disease,frontotemporal dementia,Parkinson’s disease,multiple sclerosis,epilepsy,and traumatic brain injury.Several drugs that inhibit high-mobility group box 1 as a damage-associated molecular pattern,such as glycyrrhizin,ethyl pyruvate,and neutralizing anti-high-mobility group box 1 antibodies,are commonly used to target high-mobility group box 1 activity in central nervous system disorders.Although it is commonly known for its detrimental inflammatory effect,high-mobility group box 1 has also been shown to have beneficial pro-regenerative roles in central nervous system disorders.In this narrative review,we provide a brief summary of the history of high-mobility group box 1 research and its characterization as a damage-associated molecular pattern,its downstream receptors,and intracellular signaling pathways,how high-mobility group box 1 exerts the repair-favoring roles in general and in the central nervous system,and clues on how to differentiate the pro-regenerative from the pro-inflammatory role.Research targeting high-mobility group box 1 in the central nervous system may benefit from differentiating between the two functions rather than overall suppression of high-mobility group box 1.

Geographical Engineering and Its Role in Promoting Integrated Geography Research

Throughout the contemporary Chinese history of geography,geographical engineering has consistently played a pivotal role as a fundamental scientific activity.It possesses its distinct ontological basis and value orientation,rendering it inseparable from being merely a derivative of geographical science or technology.This paper defines geographical engineering and introduces its development history through the lens of Chinese geographical engineering praxises.Furthermore,it is highlighted the logical and functional consistency between the theory of human-earth system and the praxis of geographical engineering.Six modern cases of geographical engineering projects are presented in detail to demonstrate the points and characteristics of different types of modern geographical engineering.Geographical engineering serves as an engine for promoting integrated geography research,and in response to the challenge posed by fragmented geographies,this paper advocates for an urgent revitalization of geographical engineering.The feasibility of revitalizing geographical engineering is guaranteed because it aligns with China’s national strategies.

Teaching Reform of Environmental Engineering Microbiology Based on OBE Concept in the Context of New Engineering Disciplines

In response to meeting the needs of cultivating applied talents in the construction of new engineering disciplines,based on the concept of Outcome-Based Education(OBE),this study analyzes the problems existing in the teaching of the course Environmental Engineering Microbiology,and put forward some corresponding curriculum reform schemes.According to the target points of professional graduation requirements,the scheme proposes revising the syllabus of Environmental Engineering Microbiology,clarifying the curriculum objectives,updating the teaching content,and reforming the teaching methods.Through these measures,it is intended to achieve the unity of teachers way of"teaching"and students way of"learning",construct a new teaching mode,fully stimulate students subjective initiative,and enhance students innovative consciousness and practical ability.Besides,in this study,a"whole process-diversification"evaluation system is established to comprehensively evaluate students performance in theoretical knowledge learning and practical application,comprehensively evaluate students learning situation,and analyze the teaching effect in real time,so as to achieve continuous improvement,and ultimately achieve the goal of improving classroom quality.

Characterization and correlation of engineering properties with microstructure in peanuts:A microscopic to macroscopic analysis

Peanut varieties are diverse globally,with their characters and nutrition determining the product quality.However,the comparative analysis and statistical analysis of key quality indicators for peanut kernels across the world remains relatively limited,impeding the comprehensive evaluation of peanut quality and hindering the industry development on a global scale.This study aimed to compare and analyze the apparent morphology,microstructure,single-cell structure,engineering and mechanical properties,as well as major nutrient contents of peanut kernels from 10 different cultivars representing major peanut-producing countries.The surface and cross-section microstructure of the peanut kernels exhibited a dense“blocky”appearance with a distinct cellular structure.The lipid droplets were predominantly spherical with a regular distribution within the cells.The single-cell structure of the kernels from these 10 peanut cultivars demonstrated varying morphologies and dimensions,which exhibited correlations with their mechanical and engineering properties.Furthermore,the mass loss versus temperature profiles of the peanut kernels revealed five distinct stages,corresponding to moisture loss,volatile loss,protein denaturation,and the degradation of various biomacromolecules.Variations were also observed in the lipid,protein,and sucrose contents,texture,bulk density,true density,porosity,geometric mean diameter,and sphericity among the diferent peanut varieties.This study establishes relationships and correlations among microstructure,engineering properties,and nutritional composition of commonly grown peanut varieties in major peanut-processing countries.The findings provide valuable insights into peanut quality evaluation,empowering the peanut industry to enhance their processing and product development efforts.

Kinked Rebar and Engineering Structures Applying Kinked Materials:State-ofthe-Art Review

Kinked rebar is a special type of steel material,which is installed in beam column nodes and frame beams.It effectively enhances the blast resilience,seismic collapse resistance,and progressive collapse resistance of reinforced concrete(RC)structures without imposing substantial cost burdens,thereby emerging as a focal point of recent research endeavors.On the basis of explaining the working principle of kinked rebars,this paper reviews the research status of kinked rebars at home and abroad from three core domains:the tensile mechanical properties of kinked rebars,beam column nodes with kinked rebars,and concrete frame structures with kinked rebars.The analysis underscores that the straightening process of kinked rebars does not compromise their ultimate strength but significantly bolsters structural ductility and enhances energy dissipation capabilities.In beam-column joints,the incorporation of kinked rebars facilitates the seamless transfer of plastic hinges,adhering to the design principle of“strong columns and weak beams.”In addition,kinked rebars can greatly improve the resistance of the beam;The seismic resistance,internal explosion resistance,and progressive collapse resistance of reinforced concrete frame structures with kinked rebar have significantly improved.Beyond its primary application,the principle of kinked rebar was extended to other applications of kinked materials such as corrugated steel plates and origami structures,and the stress characteristics of related components and structures were studied.Intriguingly,this paper also proposes the application of kinked rebars in bridge engineering,aiming to address the challenges of localized damage concentration and excessive residual displacement in RC bridge piers.The introduction of kinked rebars in piers is envisioned to mitigate these issues,with the paper outlining its advantages and feasibility,thereby offering valuable insights for future research on kinked reinforcement and seismic design strategies for bridges.

Quantile-based optimization under uncertainties for complex engineering structures using an active learning basis-adaptive PC-Kriging model

The Reliability-Based Design Optimization(RBDO)of complex engineering structures considering uncertainties has problems of being high-dimensional,highly nonlinear,and timeconsuming,which requires a significant amount of sampling simulation computation.In this paper,a basis-adaptive Polynomial Chaos(PC)-Kriging surrogate model is proposed,in order to relieve the computational burden and enhance the predictive accuracy of a metamodel.The active learning basis-adaptive PC-Kriging model is combined with a quantile-based RBDO framework.Finally,five engineering cases have been implemented,including a benchmark RBDO problem,three high-dimensional explicit problems,and a high-dimensional implicit problem.Compared with Support Vector Regression(SVR),Kriging,and polynomial chaos expansion models,results show that the proposed basis-adaptive PC-Kriging model is more accurate and efficient for RBDO problems of complex engineering structures.