Cytocompatible polysaccharide-based functional scaffolds are potential extracellular matrix candidates for soft and hard tissue engineering. This paper describes a facile approach to design cytocompatible, non-toxic, and multifunctional chitosan-cellulose based hydrogel beads utilising polysaccharide dissolution in sodium hydroxide-urea-water solvent system and coagulation under three different acidic conditions, namely 2 M acetic acid, 2 M hydrochloric acid, and 2 M sulfuric acid. The effect of coagulating medium on the final chemical composition of the hydrogel beads is investigated by spectroscopic techniques (ATR–FTIR, Raman, NMR), and elemental analysis. The beads coagulated in 2 M acetic acid displayed an unchanged chitosan composition with free amino groups, while the beads coagulated in 2 M hydrochloric and sulfuric acid showed protonation of amino groups and ionic interaction with the counterions. The ultrastructural morphological study of lyophilized beads showed that increased chitosan content enhanced the porosity of the hydrogel beads. Furthermore, cytocompatibility evaluation of the hydrogel beads with human breast adenocarcinoma cells (soft tissue) showed that the beads coagulated in 2 M acetic acid are the most suitable for this type of cells in comparison to other coagulating systems. The acetic acid fabricated hydrogel beads also support osteoblast growth and adhesion over 192 h. Thus, in future, these hydrogel beads can be tested in the in vitro studies related to breast cancer and for bone regeneration.

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: Breast cancer (BC) is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world. BC develops due to dysregulation of transcriptional profiles, substantial interpatient variations, genetic mutations, and dysregulation of signaling pathways in breast cells. These events are regulated by many genes such as BRCA1/2, PTEN, TP53, mTOR, TERT, AKT, PI3K and others genes. Treatment options for BC remain a hurdle, which warrants a comprehensive understanding that establishes an interlinking connection between these genes in BC tumorigenesis. Consequently, there is an increasing demand for alternative treatment approaches and the design of more effective treatments. In this regard, it is crucial to build the corresponding transcriptional regulatory networks governing BC by using advanced genetic tools and techniques. In the past, several molecular editing technologies have been used to edit genes with several limitations. Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR Associated Protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) recently received a profound attention due to its potential in biomedical and therapeutic applications. Here, we review the role of various molecular signalling pathways dysregulated in BC development such as PTEN/PI3K/AKT/mTOR as well as BRCA1/BRCA2/TP53/TERT and their interplay between the related gene networks in BC initiation, progression and development of resistance against available targeted therapeutic agents. Use of CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology to generate BC gene-specific transgenic cell lines and animal models to decipher their role and interactions with other gene products has been employed successfully. Moreover, the significance of using CRISPR/Cas9 technology to develop early BC diagnostic tools and treatments is discussed here.

Background:Hepatitis B is the world's most common blood-borne viral infection, accounting for 2 billion infections, 350 million carriers, and 6 lakh deaths annually. Country like India still harbors approximately 30–60 million hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers. A modest estimate would put the number of deaths occurring due to HBV infection per year in India to around 100,000. To prevent transmission and progression of the disease, proper community awareness including prevention is necessary. Therefore, this study aims to study the knowledge awareness among the healthy population about hepatitis B including knowledge regarding vaccine.Methodology:A community-based cross-sectional study was undertaken in two districts of Gujarat. Cluster sampling (30 clusters) was used, and pretested questionnaire was administered to 600 (with a prevalence rate of 5% in Gujarat having design effect of 2 within 95% confidence interval and 10% nonrespondent) healthy individuals, who heard about hepatitis B. Data handled and analyzed in EpiData Analysis V2.2.2.183.Results:Majority of the participants knew about symptoms whereas only 41% knew about prevention methods and few 34% knew about the mode of transmission. Although 40% sample has knowledge about the availability of vaccination, only 20% were self-vaccinated. The common reason for nonvaccination was lack of awareness.Conclusions:Only one-third of the populations in study districts are aware about hepatitis B and its vaccine. Less than one-fifth of the populations are vaccinated for hepatitis B. Important knowledge deficits about the routes of hepatitis B transmission/prevention were identified. Continued efforts should be made to develop and implement hepatitis B educational campaigns/health promotion for these communities.

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