Abstract Microneedles are emerging as a minimally invasive drug delivery alternative to hypodermic needles. Current material systems utilized in microneedles impose constraints hindering the further development of this technology. In particular, it is difficult preserve sensitive biochemical compounds (such pharmaceuticals) during processing single microneedle system and subsequently achieve their controlled release. A possible solution involves fabricating from biomaterial silk fibroin....

Epigenetic modifications, including changes in DNA methylation, lead to altered gene expression and thus may underlie epileptogenesis via induction of permanent neuronal excitability. Therapies that could inhibit or reverse these be highly effective halting disease progression. Here we identify an epigenetic function the brain's endogenous anticonvulsant adenosine, showing this compound induces hypomethylation biochemical interference with transmethylation pathway. We show inhibition...

Abstract Effective treatment of infections in avascular and necrotic tissues can be challenging due to limited penetration into the target tissue systemic toxicities. Controlled‐release polymer implants have potential achieve high local concentrations needed while also minimizing exposure. Silk biomaterials possess unique characteristics for antibiotic delivery, including biocompatibility, tunable biodegradation, stabilizing effects, water‐based processing, diverse material formats. The...

Sensitive biological compounds, such as vaccines and antibiotics, traditionally require a time-dependent “cold chain” to maximize therapeutic activity. This flawed process results in billions of dollars worth viable drug loss during shipping storage, severely limits distribution developing nations with limited infrastructure. To address these major limitations, we demonstrate self-standing silk protein biomaterial matrices capable stabilizing labile even at temperatures up 60 °C over more...

Standard care for early stage breast cancer includes tumor resection and local radiotherapy to achieve long-term remission. Systemic chemotherapy provides only low locoregional control of the disease; therefore, we describe self-assembling silk hydrogels that can retain then deliver doxorubicin locally. Self-assembling show no swelling, are readily loaded with under aqueous conditions release drug over 4 weeks in amounts be fine-tuned by varying content. Following successful vitro studies,...

Advances in personalized medicine are symbiotic with the development of novel technologies for biomedical devices. We present an approach that combines enhanced imaging malignancies, therapeutics, and feedback about therapeutics a single implantable, biocompatible, resorbable device. This confluence form function is accomplished by capitalizing on unique properties silk proteins as mechanically robust, optically clear biomaterial matrix can house, stabilize, retain therapeutic components. By...

Abstract Sericin removal from the core fibroin protein of silkworm silk is a critical first step in use for biomaterial‐related applications, but degumming can affect biomaterial properties, including molecular weight, viscosity, diffusivity and degradation behavior. Increasing time (10, 30, 60, 90 min) decreases average weight solution, solution film glass‐transition temperature, increases rate by protease. Model compounds spanning range physical‐chemical properties generally show an...

Abstract Medical treatment of subcutaneous bacterial abscesses usually involves systemic high‐dose antibiotics and incision‐drainage the wound. Such an approach suffers from two main deficiencies: resistance to pain associated with multiple incision‐drainage‐wound packing procedures. Furthermore, efficacy is limited because inability penetrate into abscess. To address these obstacles, a relying on laser‐induced heating gold nanoparticles embedded in injectable silk‐protein hydrogel...

ABSTRACT Microencapsulation is becoming increasingly important in the food, cosmetics, and medicinal industries due to its potential for stabilization delivery of volatile delicate compounds. Novel food‐safe techniques encapsulating oil silk biomaterials using emulsion‐based processes that exploit silk's unique properties (including amphiphilicity, biocompatibility, aqueous ambient processing, tunable physical crosslinking behavior) are described. The sonication‐induced self‐assembly...

Objective: Increasing the mass and/or activity of brown adipose tissue (BAT) is one promising avenue for treating obesity and related metabolic conditions, given that BAT has a high potential energy expenditure capable improving glucose lipid homeostasis. occurs either in discrete "classical" depots, or interspersed white (WAT), termed "inducible/recruitable" BAT, 'beige/brite' adipocytes. We others have demonstrated bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7) induces adipogenesis committed...

One of the principal challenges in field tissue engineering and regenerative medicine is formation functional microvascular networks capable sustaining constructs. Complex tissues vital organs require a means to support oxygen nutrient transport during development constructs both prior after host integration, current approaches have not demonstrated robust solutions this challenge. Here, we present technology platform encompassing design, construction, cell seeding evaluation equivalents for...

Teamwork skills are recognized internationally as important for engineering professionals. Literature shows that professional skills, especially teamwork have not been included into the curriculum design and assessment in Chinese programmes, little work has done to find effective way learn students academic settings China. This attempts implement successful cooperative learning practices from West a Personal Development Plan module with one of its main teaching objectives joint Sino-UK...

We present a free-standing micro-prism array device entirely constituted by silk protein showing enhanced optical reflectivity, which can be used to monitor drug delivery while slowly degrading surrounding tissues with no adverse biological effects.

Various silk based drug delivery systems were designed to exploit silk's novel material properties in order attain slow, sustained, controlled release. Using the small molecule model adenosine, release profiles from various characterized vitro. The therapeutic potential of implants was validated a dose response study rat kindling epileptogenesis. Adenosine releasing engineered varied target doses implanted brains and dose-dependent delays epileptogenesis observed over 14 days. We conclude...

Abstract Since the late nineteenth century, ideas about law, both Albanian and ‘other’, have played significant parts in development of a sense ‘Albanian-ness’ remain central to ongoing construction nation. In this paper, I examine how comparative thinking ‘Albanian law’ northern Albania predominantly Kosovo has contributed nation-building aims, with particular reference around Kanun Lekë Dukagjin, an early-twentieth-century legal code rooted northern-Albanian customary practices. look at...

Teamwork has been considered as one of the important learning outcomes for engineering graduates. Industry sees higher education being where graduates should be prepared with these professional skills. Every year, a lot students graduate in China and how best to train good team players is an urgent need. This paper describes planned, improved mechanism teamwork teaching on joint degree programme between top Chinese university key British university. A previous experiment about was conducted...