During the last few decades, considerable research on diabetic wound healing strategies has been performed, but complete diabetic wound healing remains an unsolved problem, which constitutes an enormous biomedical burden. Herein, hyaluronic acid (HA)/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid, PLGA) core/shell fiber matrices loaded with epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) (HA/PLGA-E) are fabricated by coaxial electrospinning. HA/PLGA-E core/shell fiber matrices are composed of randomly-oriented sub-micrometer fibers and have a 3D porous network structure. EGCG is uniformly dispersed in the shell and sustainedly released from the matrices in a stepwise manner by controlled diffusion and PLGA degradation over four weeks. EGCG does not adversely affect the thermomechanical properties of HA/PLGA-E matrices. The number of human dermal fibroblasts attached on HA/PLGA-E matrices is appreciably higher than that on HA/PLGA counterparts, while their proliferation is steadily retained on HA/PLGA-E matrices. The wound healing activity of HA/PLGA-E matrices is evaluated in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. After two weeks of surgical treatment, the wound areas are significantly reduced by the coverage with HA/PLGA-E matrices resulting from enhanced re-epithelialization/neovascularization and increased collagen deposition, compared with no treatment or HA/PLGA. In conclusion, the HA/PLGA-E matrices can be potentially exploited to craft strategies for the acceleration of diabetic wound healing and skin regeneration.

Purpose -The purpose of this study was conducted to investigate the moderating effects wine destination attributes have upon the negative impacts of travel constraints on consumer's intent to revisit wine regions and also assist wine destinations with the development of marketing strategies designed to offset travel constraints which then could lead to increased intentions to revisit wine regions. Design/methodology/approach -A sampling frame was designed to collect data from consumers visiting 15 wineries using a list of wineries provided by an industry distributor. Self-administered on-site surveys were distributed to visitors during random days and times at each site. To effectively analyze this study's data set, hierarchical linear models were developed to test our main research question suggesting the significant cross-level effects wine destination attributes (at the regional level) have upon travel constraints in combination with revisit intention (at the individual level). Findings -The negative impact of the "structural" constraints' dimension on revisit intention is weaker when people are emotionally attracted to a specific wine destination and/or when wine-specific attractions appeal strongly to visitors. Additionally, the negative impact of the "intrapersonal" constraints on "revisit intention" is weaker when positive perceptions about "wine-specific attractions" and/or "tourism infrastructure" attributes are strong. Practical implications -Results provide strategic directions for wine destination marketing organizations to more accurately improve their destination's reputation by determining and establishing the most attractive wine-specific attributes as perceived by visitors. Findings also assist these destinations to develop and provide appropriate tourism infrastructure. Originality/value -This study investigated the effects of wine destination attributes and their attractiveness upon an individual's travel constraints and revisit intention using a multilevel approach incorporating a regional-based perspective.

BackgroundMechanical properties and cyto-compatibility of a composite scaffold which possessed negative (−) Poisson’s ratio (NPR) was investigated for effective load transfer from auxetic scaffold to cell.MethodsOrganic/inorganic composite scaffolds were prepared by mixing hydroxyapatite (HA) to poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA). To induce NPR in composite scaffold, 3-directional volumetric compression was applied during the scaffold fabrication at adequate temperature(60°C). The pore size of scaffold ranged between 355–400 μm.ResultsPoisson’s ratios of NPR scaffolds and control scaffolds were −0.07 and 0.16 at 10 % strain. For stable physical stimulating to loaded cells, ceramic/polymer composite scaffold was prepared by incorporating HA in PLGA to increase mechanical strength. Compressive strength of the HA/PLGA composite scaffold (15 wt. % HA to PLGA) was about 21.7 % higher than that of PLGA-only scaffold. The recovery rates of the NPR composite scaffold after applying compression in the dry and wet states were 90 % and 60 %, respectively. Also the composite scaffold was shown to have better hydrophilicity (61.9°) compared to the PLGA-only scaffolds (65.3°). Cell proliferation of osteoblast-like cell line (MG-63) in the composite scaffold was 20 % higher than in PLGA-only scaffold at static compressive stimulation. For dynamic compressive stimulation (15 min cyclic interval), cell proliferation in the composite scaffold was 2 times higher than that of in PLGA-only scaffold. In conclusion, NPR composite (HA/PLGA) scaffold was effective in isotropic compressive load delivery for osteogenic cell proliferation.ConclusionThis composite scaffold with stimulation can be used as tissue engineered scaffold and dynamic cell culture system for bone tissue regeneration.

Multifunctional mesoporous silica nanocomposites are attractive carriers for targeted drug delivery in nanomedicine. Although promising developments have been made in the fabrication of multifunctional mesoporous silica nanocomposites, the design and mass production of novel multifunctional carriers are still challenging. This paper reports the facile one-pot fabrication of a multifunctional inorganic composite composed of superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles and coated dye-functionalized mesoporous silica with a high specific surface area. The resulting composite particles had a tunable particle size, special open pore channels with high specific surface area, which is quite favorable for drug loading and release properties, as well as luminescent and superparamagnetic properties suitable for targeted drug delivery and tracking. This composite exhibited low toxicity, suggesting potential biomedical applications.

BackgroundAuxetic scaffolds (experimental) was fabricated by using poly(D, L-lactic-co-glycolic acid), 50:50, (PLGA) for effective bone cell proliferation with mechanical stimulation.MethodsNegative Poisson’s ratio in scaffold, 3-directional volumetric compression was applied during the scaffold fabrication at adequate temperature (60 °C). The pore size of scaffold ranged between 355 and 400 μm.ResultsThe porous morphology of the prepared auxetic scaffolds had shown partially concave and dent shapes in SEM image as expected. The lowest Poisson’s ratios of experimental group was −0.07 at 60 °C/10 min. Compressive strength of experimental group was shown about 3.12 times higher than control group (conventional scaffold) in dry state at 25 °C. The compressive strengths of both groups were tended to be decreased dramatically in wet state compared to in dry state. However, compressive strengths of experimental group were higher 3.08 times and 1.88 times in EtOH/PBS (25 °C) and EtOH/PBS/DMEM (37 °C) than control group in wet state, respectively. Degradation rate of the scaffolds showed about 16 % weight loss in 5 weeks. In cell attachment test, experimental group showed 1.46 times higher cell proliferation than control group at 1-day with compressive stimulation. In 3-day culture, the experimental group showed 1.32 times higher than control group. However, there was no significant difference in cell proliferation in 5-day cultivation.ConclusionOverall, negative Poisson’s ratio scaffolds with static mechanical stimulation could affect the cell proliferation at initial cultivation time.