A series of poly(L-lactide)-poly(ethylene glycol) multiblock copolymers (Multi-PLE) with high molecular weight were synthesized and successfully used to fabricate three-dimensional scaffolds. Using mouse NIH 3T3 fibroblasts as model cells, the cell affinity of various Multi-PLE copolymers was evaluated and compared with that of poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) by means of cell attachment efficiency measu...

Tissue engineering-based urethral replacement holds potential for repairing large segmental urethral defects, which remains a great challenge at present. This study aims to explore the potential of combining biodegradable poly(l-lactide) (PLLA)/poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) scaffolds and human amniotic mesenchymal cells (hAMSCs) for repairing urethral defects. PLLA/PEG fibrous scaffolds with vari...

How to accurately control the microstructure of bioactive inorganic/organic nanocomposites still remains a significant challenge, which is of great importance in influencing their mechanical strength and biological properties. In this study, using a combined method of electrospinning and hot press processing, calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) nanowire/poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) nanocomposites with con...

Biomaterial surface characteristics are critical cues that regulate cell function. We produced a novel series of poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) and polystyrene demixed nanotopographic films to provide nonbiological cell-stimulating cues. The increase in PLLA weight fraction (phi) in blend solutions resulted in topography changes in spin-cast films from pit-dominant to island-dominant morphologies h...

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most difficult cancers to treat. Since the current chemotherapy is inadequate and various biological approaches have failed, the need for agents that have a potential to treat PC is pressing. Phospho-valproic acid (P-V), a novel anticancer agent, is efficacious in xenograft models of human PC and is apparently safe. In the present study, we evaluated whether...

After traditional osteosarcoma resection, recurrence of tumor is still a major clinical challenge. The combination chemotherapy and photothermal therapy (PTT) has great potential in improving therapeutic effect. However, the studies using polydopamine (PDA) as transducing agent to improve anti-cancer activity curcumin (CM)-loaded poly (l-lactic acid) (PLLA) microparticles (PLLA/CM) have seldom ...

Identifying the most sensitive indicators to changes in fishing pressure is important for accurately detecting impacts. Biomass is thought to be more sensitive than abundance and length, while the wariness of fishes is emerging as a new metric. Periodically harvested closures (PHCs) that involve the opening and closing of an area to fishing are the most common form of fisheries management in th...

OBJECTIVES The rapid increase in drug expenditure has become a major source of public criticism in China. In 2009, the National Essential Medicine System (NEMS) was launched in China to control drug prices and improve access to medicines. This study investigated whether and to what extent the prices of essential medicines were reduced after the introduction of NEMS. METHODS Data were obtained...

Burkina Faso implemented a national subsidy for emergency obstetric and neonatal care (EmONC) covering 80% of the cost of normal childbirth in public health facilities. The objective was to increase coverage of facility-based deliveries. After implementation of the EmONC policy, coverage increased across the country, but disparities were observed between districts and between primary healthcare...