An electrical stimulus is a new approach to neural differentiation of stem cells. In this work, the neural differentiation of conjunctiva mesenchymal stem cells (CJMSCs) on a new 3D conductive fibrous scaffold of silk fibroin (SF) and reduced graphene oxide (rGo) were examined. rGo (3.5% w/w) was dispersed in SF‐acid formic solution (10% w/v) and conductive nanofibrous scaffold was fabricated using the electrospinning method. SEM and TEM microscopies were used for fibrous scaffold characterization. CJMSCs were cultured on the scaffold and 2 electrical impulse models (Current 1:115 V/m, 100‐Hz frequency and current 2:115 v/m voltages, 0.1‐Hz frequency) were applied for 7 days. Also, the effect of the fibrous scaffold and electrical impulses on cell viability and neural gene expression were examined using MTT assay and qPCR analysis. Fibrous scaffold with the 220 ± 20 nm diameter and good dispersion of graphene nanosheets at the surface of nanofibers were fabricated. The MTT result showed the viability of cells on the scaffold, with current 2 lower than current 1. qPCR analysis confirmed that the expression of β‐tubulin (2.4‐fold P ≤ 0.026), MAP‐2 (1.48‐fold; P ≤ 0.03), and nestin (1.5‐fold; P ≤ 0.03) genes were higher in CJMSCs on conductive scaffold with 100‐Hz frequency compared to 0.1‐Hz frequency. Collectively, we proposed that SF‐rGo fibrous scaffolds, as a new conductive fibrous scaffold with electrical stimulation are good strategies for neural differentiation of stem cells and the type of electrical pulses has an influence on neural differentiation and proliferation of CJMSCs.

Pituitary MRI findings such as signal intensity reduction and decrease in volume can be useful markers in estimating pituitary dysfunction in beta-thalassemic patients. Compared to healthy controls, lower values of pituitary-to-fat SIRs in thalassemic patients experiencing normal puberty, without marked decrease in volume, indicate that signal reduction may precede volume loss and could be expected first on MRI.

The purpose of this study was to investigate miR‐7 overexpression effects on neural differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on both two‐dimensional (2D) and three‐dimensional (3D) culture systems. We upregulated miR‐7 through lentiviral vector in trabecular meshwork MSCs (TMMSCs) and polymers of poly l‐lactic acid/polycaprolactone fibrous scaffold were fabricated by electrospinning and characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). Neural markers expression was evaluated through quantitative‐polymerase chain reaction (q‐PCR) and immunostaining. The results showed that the high percentage of cell transduction (84.9%) and miR‐7 expression (folds: 677.93 and 556.4) was detected in TMMSCs‐miR‐7(+). SEM and FTIR established the fabrication of the hybrid scaffold. q‐PCR analysis showed that on days 14 and 21 of transduction, the expression level of Nestin and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) genes were significantly higher in the scaffold (3D) compared with tissue culture polystyrene (2D) culture. The expression of microtubule‐associated protein‐2 (MAP‐2) and GFAP genes in TMMSCs‐miR‐7(+) cells were significantly higher than those miR‐7(−) cells after 21 days of cell culture. Also, MAP‐2 and Nestin proteins were detected in TMMSCs‐miR‐7(+) cells. Our results demonstrate that miR‐7 is involved in neural differentiation of TMMSCs and scaffold can improve differentiate into glial and neural progenitor cells. These findings provided some information for future use of microRNAs and scaffold in tissue engineering and cell therapy for neurological diseases.

Tissue and stem cell encapsulation andtransplantation were considered as promising tools in the treatment of patients with diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of microfluidic encapsulation on the differentiation of trabecular meshwork mesenchymal stem cells (TM-MSC), into insulin-producing cells (IPCs) both in vitro and in vivo. The presence of differentiated cells in microfibers (three dimensional [3D]) and tissue culture plates (TCPS; two dimensional [2D]) culture was evaluated by detecting mRNA and protein expression of pancreatic islet-specific markers as well as measuring insulin release of cells in response to glucose challenges.Finally, semi-differentiated cells in microfibers (3D) and 2D cultures were used to control the glucose level in diabetic rats. The results of this study showed that MSCs differentiated in alginate microfibers (fabricated by microfluidic device) express more Pdx-1 mRNA (1.938-fold, p-value: 0.0425) and Insulin mRNA (2.841-fold, p-value: 0.0001) compared with those cultured on TCPS. Furthermore, cell encapsulation in microfluidic derived microfibers decreased the level of blood glucose in diabetic rats.The approach used in this study showed the possibility of alginate microfibers as a matrix for differentiation of TM-MSCs (as a new source) into IPCs. In addition, it could minimize different steps in stem cell differentiation, handling, and encapsulation, which lead to loss of an unlimited number of cells. K E Y W O R D S diabetes mellitus, encapsulation, insulin-producing cells (IPCs), microfluidics, trabecular meshwork mesenchymal stem cells (TM-MSCs)

: The last generation of Coronavirus named COVID-19 is responsible for the recent worldwide outbreak. Concerning the widespread and quick predominance, there is a critical requirement for designing appropriate vaccines to surmount this grave problem. Correspondingly, in this revision, COVID-19 vaccines (which are being developed until March 29th, 2021) are classified into specific and non-specific categories. Specific vaccines comprise genetic-based vaccines (mRNA, DNA), vector-based, protein/recombinant protein vaccines, inactivated viruses, live-attenuated vaccines, and novel strategies including microneedle arrays (MNAs), and nanoparticles vaccines. Moreover, specific vaccines such as BCG, MRR, and a few other vaccines are considered Non-specific. What is more, according to the significance of Bioinformatic sciences in the cutting-edge vaccine design and rapid outbreak of COVID-19, herein, Bioinformatic principles including reverse vaccinology, epitopes prediction/selection and, their further applications in the design of vaccines are discussed. Last but not least, safety, challenges, advantages, and future prospects of COVID-19 vaccines are highlighted.

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