Recent development in stem cell isolation methods and expansion under laboratory conditions create an opportunity to use those aforementioned cells in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Particular attention is drawn towards mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) being multipotent progenitors exhibiting several unique characteristics, including high proliferation potential, self-renewal abilities and multilineage differentiation into cells of mesodermal and non-mesodermal origin. High abundance of MSCs found in adipose tissue makes it a very attractive source of adult stem cells for further use in regenerative medicine applications. Despite immunomodulating properties of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) and a secretion of a wide variety of paracrine factors that facilitate tissue regeneration, effectiveness of stem cell therapy was not supported by the results of clinical trials. Lack of a single, universal stem cell marker, patient-to-patient variability, heterogeneity of ASC population combined with multiple widely different protocols of cell isolation and expansion hinder the ability to precisely identify and analyze biological properties of stem cells. The above issues contribute to conflicting data reported in literature. We will review the comprehensive information concerning characteristic features of ASCs. We will also review the regenerative potential and clinical application based on various clinical trials.

The objective of this study was to evaluate complex biological properties of human stem cells isolated from adipose tissue (ASCs) harvested utilizing different methods: surgical resection (R), power-assisted liposuction (PAL), and laser-assisted liposuction (LAL). ASCs were isolated from healthy donors, due to surgical resection, power-, and laser-assisted liposuction. Isolated cells were characterized by their clonogenicity, proliferation rate, doubling time, multilineage differentiation, and senescence potential. The average number of ASCs from 1g/1 ml of solid adipose tissue/lipoaspirate was 2.9 × 10 ± 2.4 × 10 , 1.1 × 10 ± 0.8 × 10 , and 1.2 × 10 ± 0.7 × 10 , respectively, for ASCsR, ASCsPAL, and ASCsLAL. However, number of colonies formed by ASCsR and ASCsPAL was significantly higher compared to the average number of colonies formed by ASCsLAL. Also, in comparison to other analyzed cell groups, ASCsPAL obtained the highest proliferative activity. All analyzed cells were characterized by stable expression of CD90 and CD44 markers during prolonged culture. Expression of CD34 and CD45 markers was decreasing in subsequent passages. Presented study shows that different ASCs collection method affects some basic characteristics of these cells, such as number of isolated cells, clonogeneity, or doubling time. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 1097-1107, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The aim of the study was to extend the potential use of human stem cells isolated from amniotic fluid in medical applications by confirming their high homogeneity and quality. Amniotic fluid samples were collected during amniocentesis from 165 women during pregnancy. The proliferation rate, clonogenicity, karyotype, aging process, pluripotent cell markers, expression of surface markers, and the potential to differentiate into adipose, bone and cartilage cells of hAFSCs were analyzed. Obtained results revealed that mesenchymal stem cells could be derived successfully from amniotic fluid, which exhibit properties comparable with MSCs of other origins. It is the first study, in which such a large group of patients was involved. Comprehensive statistical and biological analysis were conducted some of which clearly being innovative in relation to human amniotic fluid-derived stem cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 116-126, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The growing interest of oncologists in natural compounds such as polyphenols and flavonoids is encouraging the development of innovative and efficient carriers for the delivery of those drugs. This study examines carboxymethyl chitosan-based microcapsules created by spray drying as a method for delivering biologically active compounds isolated from the Cistus herb. Effects of sterilization and encapsulation on the polyphenol and flavonoid content of Cistus extract were investigated to optimize the production process. Furthermore, in vitro studies were carried out to examine the anticancer properties of sterilized polyphenols and flavonoids on glioblastoma cells isolated from oncological patients. Acquired results show high anticancer potential towards glioblastoma as well as low cytotoxicity towards non-cancer cell lines by the substances in question. Steam sterilization is shown to affect the content of biologically active compounds the least. We demonstrate that the investigated form of drug encapsulation is both efficient and potentially possible to scale up from the viewpoint of the pharmaceutical industry. According to apress statement launched by the International Agency for Research on Cancer from the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2018the global cancer burdenaffected 18.1 million new cases and 9.6 million of people passed away. Ten in 50 men and one in 60 women worldwide suffer from cancer during their life, and ten in 80 men and eleven in 110 women posse awaydue to thisillness. Moreover, cancer is a most frequent causeof children death. Worldwide, every year, approximately 300.000 of children are diagnosed by oncologists with a cancer disease 1,2. Furthermore, according to the published statistic data, the total number of people who are alive within 5 years of a cancer diagnosis, called the 5-year prevalence, is arround 43.8 million 3. As stated in the WHO report,the frequent types of cancer in men are cancer of lung, prostate, colorectal, stomach and liver, while in case on women, the most common type of cancer are: breast, colorectal, lung, cervix and thyroid cancer. The uncontrollable growth of tumor cells is the most fundamental aspect of cancer 4. Even if available therapies such as surgery, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, hormone therapy and radiation therapy play a significant role in cancer treatment, drug resistance and toxicity remain main problems and challenges to cure cancer patients 5. Oncologists have called for basic investigationsand new upstream technologieswhich insustainably, efficiently and safely way will meet the current and future patients' needs 6,7. Additionally, during the last years the "integrative" oncology society has demanded advancesfrom scientists on the development of natural medicals 8,9. Indeed, the anticancer effects of biologically active compounds, such as natural polyphenols synthesized by fruits, vegetables, teas, apples, cocoa and other plants, have become a hot topic in many laboratories 10-12 .

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Because consumers are nowadays focused on their health and appearance, natural ingredients and their novel delivery systems are one of the most developing fields of pharmacy, medicine, and cosmetics. The main goal of this study was to design, prepare, and characterize composite materials obtained by incorporation of microspheres into the porous polymer materials consisting of collagen, gelatin, and hydroxyethyl cellulose. Microspheres, based on gellan gum and xanthan gum with encapsulated Calendula officinalis flower extract, were produced by two methods: extrusion and emulsification. The release profile of the extract from both types of microspheres was compared. Then, obtained microparticles were incorporated into polymeric materials with a porous structure. This modification had an influence on porosity, density, swelling properties, mechanical properties, and stability of materials. Besides, in vitro tests were performed using mouse fibroblasts. Cell viability was assessed with the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. The obtained materials, especially with microspheres prepared by emulsion method, can be potentially helpful when designing cosmetic forms because they were made from safely for skin ingredients used in this industry and the herbal extract was successfully encapsulated into microparticles.

Development of biotechnology, esthetic medicine and cosmetology can enable us to slow down or delay the skin aging process. Currently, much attention is aimed at treatments using substances of plant origin. They have been proven to exhibit antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal properties, accelerate wound healing, moisturize the skin, enhance skin renewal processes and protect skin against UV radiation. Biologically active plant-derived compounds, however, are often produced by plants in very small amounts. A solution to this problem is an in vitro culture of callus tissue, representing plant stem cells. Both, in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated beneficial effects of plants stem cell extracts on human skin in the battle against ageing. The aim of this paper was to provide a review of studies based on the use of plant stem cells in limiting skin ageing.

Personalized medicine is an extension of traditional medicine is based on a highly individual approach to each patient. One of the most important tools that allow this approach is targeted therapy. It focuses mainly on blocking cancer cell's proliferation and angiogenesis capabilities by interfacing with specific molecules that are involved in the growth and progression of the tumour. Small-molecule inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies are the main drugs that are currently in use in order to affect the specific biochemical pathways in cancer cells. However, likewise any other cancer therapies, targeted therapy has its own limitations. For instance, identifying a molecular target needed to begin treatment is one of those hardships. A specific molecule is crucial in this way of treatment. The other limitation is the toxicity that appears during the treatment, the same as in the case of traditional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Furthermore, the cost of this therapy is significantly higher compared to classical treatments. However, the main obstacles are mechanisms of cancer drug resistance which are often developing in response to given drugs. In many cases, it makes further treatment impossible. This article is focusing on the limitations of molecularly targeted therapy.