In this study, for the first time, a biodegradable poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone), PLC 67:33 copolymer was developed for use as temporary scaffolds in reconstructive nerve surgery. The effect of the surface topology and pore architecture were studied on the biocompatibility for supporting the growth of human umbilical cord Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hWJ-MSCs) and human neuroblastoma cells (hNBCs) as cell models. Porous PLC membranes were prepared by electrospinning and phase immersion precipitation with particulate leaching and nonporous PLC membranes were prepared by solvent casting. From the results, the porous PLC membranes can support hWJ-MSCs and hNBCs cells better than the nonporous PLC membrane, and the interconnected pore scaffold prepared by electrospinning exhibited a more significant supporting attachment of the cells than the open pore and nonporous membranes. We can consider that these electrospun PLC membranes with 3-D interconnecting fiber networks and a high porosity warrant a potential use as nerve guides in reconstructive nerve surgery.

Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells (WJMSCs) are important alternative source of pluripotent cells for several therapeutic purposes. Understanding of adhesion properties of such cells is necessary to regulate the attachment, growth and proliferation on targeted culture surfaces. BCP-K1, a line of WJMSCs, and polystyrene (PS) culture dishes were used as membrane samples. A 13.56 MHz inductively coupled discharge plasma reactor with a mixture of N-containing gas and noble gas was used. This was expected to introduce the more hydrophilic groups on PS surface and enhance the cell adhesion. The plasma-treated PS dishes with the mixed gas of N(2) + He at 50 W and NH(3) + He at 100 W were reactive towards BCP-K1. Cellular adhesion and proliferation was significantly twice as efficient on the treated surfaces than on PS dishes. BCP-K1 also secreted more focal adhesion kinase to adhere and proliferate when cultured on N(2)-treated PS dishes than on the NH(3)-treated PS dishes. Stable stemness markers were detected, including CD105, CD9 and SSEA-4, expressed on BCP-K1 growing on the modified PS dish surfaces, during 7 days of culturing. The presence of -NH(2) groups on the PS dish surface were revealed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. A large amount of oxygen- and nitrogen-containing functional groups, up to 9.0 %, were introduced by NH(3) plasma and N(2) plasma. The functional groups introduced on to the PS surfaces were clearly the key factors which enhanced WJMSCs attachment and stemness stability.

Stem cells based tissue engineering requires biocompatible materials, which allow the cells to adhere, expand, and differentiate in a large scale. An ideal biomaterial for clinical application should be free from mammalian products which cause immune reactivities and pathogen infections. We invented a novel biodegradable poly(L-lactic-co-ε-caprolactone)-sericin (PLCL-SC) copolymer membrane which was fabricated by electrospinning. Membranes with concentrations of 2.5 or 5% (w/v) SC exhibited qualified texture characteristics with a noncytotoxic release profile. The hydrophilic properties of the membranes were 35–40% higher than those of a standard PLCL and commercial polystyrene (PS). The improved characteristics of the membranes were due to an addition of new functional amide groups, C=O, N–H, and C–N, onto their surfaces. Degradation of the membranes was controllable, depending on the content proportion of SC. Results of thermogram indicated the superior stability and crystallinity of the membranes. These membranes enhanced human Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells (hWJMSC) proliferation by increasing cyclin A and also promoted cell adhesion by upregulating focal adhesion kinase (FAK). On the membranes, hWJMSC differentiated into a neuronal lineage with the occurrence of nestin. These data suggest that PLCL-SC electrospun membrane represents some properties which will be useful for tissue engineering and medical applications.

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Zingiber cassumunar (ZC) is used by tribal people in northern Thailand in traditional remedies for antiobesity and in food recipes. Extracts from this plant have been studied for several pharmacological effects including anti-obesity, but with no clear evidence on cellular mechanism of activity. This study aim to investigate the lipolytic and anti-adipogenic activity of crude extracts from ZC on in vitro cultures of the mouse adipocyte cell-model, 3T3-L1. Dry rhizome powder was extracted with absolute ethanol and boiled-water. On the exposed pre-adipocytes to the extracts, cytotoxicity was not detected by using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Lipid content and glycerol release were assessed using Oil Red-O and a commercial Adipolysis Assay kits respectively. The extracts exhibited no significant lipolytic activity on the exposed mature-adipocytes, in serial dilutions ranging from 1 to 800 mg/ml. However, anti-lipogenic activity was presented. All extracts significantly reduced the lipid content of exposed differentiating-adipocytes. This anti-lipogenic activity was confirmed by the expression of selected genes, determined by using real-time PCR techniques, in four groups namely: adipocyte differentiation genes, glucose uptake genes, lipid metabolism genes and fatty acid oxidation genes. 1 H NMR spectrum of the extracts exhibited the prominent olefinic protons of phenylbutanoids, the group of compounds previously proved with several bioactivities. This study provided evidences of mechanisms that apparently verify the traditional use of ZC to prevent obesity.

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