Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is among the most aggressive and mortal cancers of the central nervous system. Maximal safe surgical resection, followed by radiotherapy accompanied with chemotherapy is the standard of care for GBM patients. Despite this intensive treatment with conventional approaches, the management of GBM remains poor. The infiltrative nature of cancer cells makes the complete tumour removal by surgery virtually impossible. In addition, the blood-brain barrier’s (BBB) lack of permeability limits the number of effective chemotherapy drugs for GBM. Temozolomide (TMZ) is the most widely used chemotherapeutic agent for GBM because of its ability to pass the BBB. However, high systemic doses required to achieve brain therapeutic level, resulting in numerous side effects. The recurrence of GBM is almost inevitable due to the aforementioned shortcomings of conventional methods of treatment. Therefore, a great deal of effort has been focused on the development of new treatment methods capable of providing a high concentration of chemotherapy drug at the tumour site. Microspheres made from biodegradable polymers hold great potential to keep the chemotherapeutic agent intact within the carrier and locally deliver the drug over an extended period. However, the encapsulation of amphiphilic drug molecules such as TMZ within poly (d, l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres with conventional emulsion methods, oil-in-water (o/w), water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w), is a major challenge. The extremely low encapsulation efficiencies obtained for TMZ-loaded PLGA microspheres using the aforementioned techniques (<7%) hampers the ability to scale up this process. Additionally, the injected microspheres to the tumour site tend to dislocate due to the cerebral flow which reduces the effectiveness of this localized drug delivery strategy. This study has focused on the development of a 3D bioprinted hydrogel-based mesh containing TMZ-loaded PLGA microspheres with high encapsulation efficiency (GlioMesh). To accomplish this, oil-in-oil (o/o) emulsion solvent evaporation technique was used to prepare PLGA microspheres loaded with TMZ. The poor solubility of TMZ in the external oil phase, liquid paraffin, resulted in obtaining encapsulation efficiencies as high as 61%. We then used the 3D bioprinting technology to embed TMZ-loaded PLGA microspheres into an alginate mesh. This provides the advantage of immobilizing the microspheres at the tumour site. Additionally, the flexibility and porosity of 3D bioprinted mesh allow for easy implantation and nutrients transportation to the brain tissue. The incorporation of polymeric microspheres within alginate fibres led to achieving an extended release of TMZ over 50 days. The functionality of GlioMesh in inducing cell cytotoxicity was evaluated by performing in vitro cell viability tests on U87 human glioblastoma cells. Higher cytotoxic effects were observed in the case of treatment with GlioMesh compared to the free drug because of the sustained release properties of our mesh. These data suggest that GlioMesh holds great promise to be used as an implant in the treatment of GBM. / Graduate / 2019-04-19

"Cellulose nanocrystals, one of the most abundant materials in nature, have attracted great attention in the biomedical community due to qualities such as supreme mechanical properties, biodegradability, biocompatibility and low density. In this research, we are interested in developing a bio-inspired material-by-design approach for cellulose-based composites with tailored interfaces and programmed microstructures that could provide an outstanding strength-to-weight ratio. After a preliminary study on some of the existing biomaterials, we have focused our research on studying the nanostructure and nanomechanics of the bamboo fiber, a cellulose-based biocomposite, designed by nature with remarkable strength-to-weight ratio (higher than steel and concrete). We have utilized atomistic simulations to investigate the mechanical properties and mechanisms of interactions between cellulose nanofibrils and the bamboo fiber matrix which is an intertwined hemicellulose and lignin called lignin-carbohydrate complex (LCC). Our results suggest that the molecular origin of the rigidity of bamboo fibers comes from the carbon-carbon or carbon-oxygen covalent bonds in the main chain of cellulose. In the matrix of bamboo fiber, hemicellulose exhibits larger elastic modulus and glass transition temperature than lignin whereas lignin shows greater tendency to adhere to cellulose nanofibrils. Consequently, the role of hemicellulose is found to enhance the thermodynamic properties and transverse rigidity of the matrix by forming dense hydrogen bond networks, and lignin is found to provide the strength of bamboo fibers by creating strong van der Waals forces between nanofibrils and the matrix. Our results show that the amorphous region of cellulose nanofibrils is the weakest interface in bamboo microfibrils. We also found out that water molecules enhance the mechanical properties of lignin (up to 10%) by filling voids in the system and creating hydrogen bond bridges between polymer chains. For hemicellulose, however, the effect is always regressive due to the destructive effect of water molecules on the hydrogen bond in hemicellulose dense structure. Therefore, the porous structure of lignin supports the matrix to have higher rigidity in the presence of water molecules. "

Healthcare providers often are faced with the challenge of determining an appropriate length of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for patients who have had percutaneous coronary intervention and stent placement. This is an especially challenging clinical decision for patients with drug-eluting stents, as several studies show different results when assessing risk and benefit.

No description available.

Os vasos de fino calibre apresentam maior risco para reestenose e revascularização da lesão alvo. Limitações relacionadas com a navegabilidade dos sistemas de dilatação por balão e menor capacidade de acomodação da neoíntima podem contribuir para isto. O stent autoexpansível de nitinol Sparrow® dedicado a vaso de calibre < 2,75 mm, resultou num conjunto com perfil de um fio-guia 0,014\". Testado na forma de stent de metal puro no estudo CARE I, revelou-se seguro e eficaz em vasos de fino calibre. Este estudo avaliou, de forma pioneira, o despenho de um stent autoexpansível farmacológico neste cenário. O objetivo primário foi comparar a perda luminal tardia no vaso-alvo pela angiografia coronária quantitativa ao final de oito meses, entre os stents Sparrow® farmacológico e não farmacológico, em coronárias com diâmetro de referência < 2,75 mm. Casuística e métodos: Os pacientes foram randomizados de forma prospectiva em dois grupos para procedimento de angioplastia: um grupo com o emprego o stent Sparrow® farmacológico (sirolimus), e ou outro grupo com o stent Sparrow® na versão não farmacológica. Análise pela angiografia coronária quantitativa foi realizada imediatamente antes e após o procedimento e aos oito meses, com seguimento clínico de 24 meses. Foi utilizado o programa IBM SPSS Statistics® para análise estatística e foi considerado nível de significância de 5% e poder de 80% para o cálculo do tamanho da amostra. Resultados: 24 pacientes foram randomizados, 12 no grupo com stent farmacológico Sparrow® e 12 no grupo com a versão não farmacológica. Na avaliação angiográfica aos oito meses verificou-se significativa redução de perda luminal tardia no grupo com o stent farmacológico Sparrow® em comparação com grupo com a versão não farmacológica (0,25 + 0,16 mm versus 0,97 + 0,76 mm, p = 0,008, IC 95% de -1,19 ; -0,22). No seguimento clínico de 12 meses, não foram observados eventos cardíacos adversos maiores (morte, infarto ou necessidade de revascularização do vaso alvo) no grupo com stent farmacológico. Não ocorreu trombose intrastent. Conclusão: Em pacientes submetidos à angioplastia transluminal percutânea em artérias coronárias com diâmetro de referência < 2,75 mm, o emprego do stent farmacológico autoexpansível Sparrow®, em comparação com a versão não farmacológica do mesmo stent, resultou em significativa redução de perda luminal tardia, sem ocorrência de eventos clínicos que deponham contra a segurança do dispositivo pesquisado. / Small vessels represent a group with high risk for restenosis and target lesion revascularization. Limitations associated with navigability of balloon dilation systems and less accommodating of the neointima may contribute to this. The self-expanding Sparrow® stent system dedicated to the vessel size <2.75 mm resulted in a profile similar to a 0.014\" guide wire angioplasty. Tested as bare metal stent in the CARE trial I, the Sparrow® stent system has proved to be safe and effective in small vessels. This study evaluated, for the first time, the performance of a self-expanding drug eluting stent in this scenario. The primary objective was to compare the in-stent late lumen loss by quantitative coronary angiography at the end of eight months between the Sparrow® drug-elutig stent and Sparrow® bare metal stent in coronary arteries with reference diameter <=2.75 mm. Materials and methods: Patients were prospectively randomized (1:1) Analysis by quantitative coronary angiography was performed immediately before and after the procedure and at eight months with clinical follow-up to 12 months. We used the IBM® SPSS for statistical analysis and was considered a significance level of 5% and 80% power for the calculation of sample size. Results: 24 patients were randomized, 12 in each group. At Eight months follow-up there was significant reduction in late lumen loss in the Sparrow® drug-eluting stent group compared to the Sparrow® bare metal stent group (0.25 ± 0.16 mm vs. 0.97 + 0.76 mm, p = 0.008, 95% CI -1.19 to -0.22). Up to 12 months of clinical follow-up there no cases of death, myocardial infarction and target vessel revascularization Of note, there was no stent thrombosis. Conclusion: In patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in coronary arteries with reference diameter <= 2.75 mm, the use of Sparrow® drug-eluting stent, compared to the Sparrow® bare metal stent, resulted in significant less late loss without occurrence of clinical events that weigh against the security of device.

A disfunção endotelial é uma das possíveis causas relacionadas à taxa mais elevada de trombose após o implante da primeira geração de stents farmacológicos. Se a presença do polímero durável ou elevada dose de fármacos antiproliferativos, ou ambos, são responsáveis por este fenômeno não está definido. O Estudo VESTASYNC II comparou um novo stent farmacológico, com superfície revestida por uma camada porosa de hidroxiapatita e impregnado com baixa dose de sirolimus. (55?g - stent VestaSync®) com seu equivalente não farmacológico (Stent VestaCor® ). O Vestasync II é um estudo prospectivo, randomizado (2:1) e duplo-cego, que incluiu pacientes com lesões de novo em artérias nativas com extensão menor que 14mm, com diâmetro entre 3,0 e 3,5mm. Um subgrupo composto por 20 pacientes (10 em cada grupo) submeteu-se à avaliação da função endotelial, no seguimento angiográfico de oito meses. O objetivo primário foi a comparação da vasomotricidade após o implante de stents com a mesma plataforma, com e sem eluição de sirolimus, a fim de determinar o real impacto de baixa dose do sirolimus na função endotelial. O desfecho de eficácia foi a perda luminal tardia e o porcentual de obstrução intra-stent. A avaliação da função endothelial foi realizada através da estimulação atrial com marcapasso (20ppm acima da frequência cardiaca basal até alcançar 150ppm) e o diâmetro luminal foi mensurado nas extremidades proximal e distal do stent e em um segmento controle, em estágios diferentes (repouso, sucessivas fases do estímulo e após a infusão intracoronária de nitroglicerina). A eficácia deste novo dispositivo foi confirmada por angiografia coronária quantitativa (perda luminal tardia VestaSync = 0,39 mm vs. 0,78 mm, p=0,005) e ultrassom intravascular (% obstrução VestaSync 9,3% vs. 17,6%, p= 0,005). Houve variação negativa no diâmetro luminal, entre o repouso e o estímulo máximo, nas bordas proximal (10%) e distal (8%). Entre os segmentos controles esta variação não alcançou 3%. A eluição de dose baixa do sirolimus não parece interferir na função endotelial, oito meses após o implante do stent sem polímero revestido com hidroxiapatita. / Endothelium dysfunction is among the possible causes related to higher thrombosis rates after first generation drug-eluting stents implant. Whether the presence of durable polymer or high anti-proliferative drug dose, or both, can be responsible for this phenomenon is not clear. The VESTASYNC II trial compared a novel polymer-free drug-eluting stent with a nanothinmicroporous hydroxyapatite surface coating impregnated with a low-dose of sirolimus (55?g-VestaSyncTM stent) to a bare-metal equivalent also coated with a nanothin-microporous hydroxyapatite surface (VestaCorTM stent). This is a randomized (2:1), double-blinded trial which enrolled patients with single de novo lesions in native coronary arteries from 3.0 to 3.5mm diameter and less than 14mm in length. A subset of 20 patients (10 from each group) underwent to endothelial function assessment at eight-month angiographic follow-up. The primary objective was to compare the vasomotricity after implantation of stents with the same platform, with and without drug elution, to determine the real impact of low-dose sirolimus release in endothelial function. Efficacy endpoint was in-stent late loss and % of stent obstruction. Endothelial function was assessed with atrial pacemaker stimulation (20 ppm over basal cardiac frequency until reach 150 ppm) and the lumen diameter was measured at 5 mm of proximal and distal stent edges and in a control segment, in different stages (at rest, at successive phases of stimulli and after nitroglycerin intracoronary infusion). The efficacy of this new device was confirmed by means of quantitative coronary angiography (late loss VestaSync = 0.39 mm vs. 0.78 mm, p=0.005) and intravascular ultrasound (% obstruction VestaSync 9.3% vs. 17.6%, p= 0.005). There was a negative variation in luminal diameter between basal and maximum stimulli in proximal (10%) and distal (8%) edges of both groups. Among control segments this variation did not reach 3%. The elution of low-dose of sirolimus does not seem to interfere in endothelial function 8 months after polymer-free hydroxyapatite coating stent implantation.

La chimioembolisation est une thérapie loco-régionale qui consiste à injecter, au moyend’un microcathéter, un principe actif et un agent d’occlusion vasculaire de manière la plussélective possible dans les artères nourricières du processus pathologique. Les microsphèresde chimioembolisation sont des microsphères calibrées et chargeables en principe actif,développées ces dernières années afin d’optimiser la chimioembolisation et permettre unelibération ciblée et contrôlée du principe actif au sein du territoire pathologique. L’utilisationde ces microsphères n’a encore jamais été appliquée à la chimioembolisation du poumon. Ellepourrait être intéressante dans le traitement des tumeurs pulmonaires malignes en permettantune imprégnation de la tumeur par un anticancéreux, tout en évitant une toxicité systémiquede ce dernier et dans le traitement des hémoptysies massives en évitant les récidives, dues àune recanalisation des vaisseaux après embolisation, par l’utilisation d’un inhibiteur duremodelage vasculaire.Notre travail a consisté à évaluer les performances de libération de l’irinotécan et dusirolimus à partir des microsphères de chimioembolisation au niveau systémique et au niveautissulaire, sur des modèles de chimioembolisation pulmonaire chez la brebis. Nos résultats ontmontré que les microsphères de chimioembolisation ne permettaient pas une délivrancetissulaire prolongée de l’irinotécan pour espérer obtenir une imprégnation efficace d’un lobepulmonaire. Les microsphères chargées en sirolimus semblent permettre une libérationcontrôlée du principe actif et paraissent intéressantes pour prévenir la recanalisation.Les microsphères de chimioembolisation doivent être améliorées pour permettre unelibération prolongée du principe actif. Des études complémentaires notamment en termesd’efficacité (modèle tumoral) doivent être réalisées pour montrer l’intérêt d’utiliser lachimioembolisation pulmonaire par microsphères en pratique clinique. / Chemoembolization is a loco-regional therapy, which consists of delivering selectively and directly to the pathologic area, by means of catheters through the vasculature, a drug and an embolic agent. The purpose is to achieve nutrient and oxygen starvation of the tumor, to minimize chemotherapy wash-out with prolonged contact with tumor tissue and therefore to increase the local drug concentration and reduce systemic toxicity. Drug eluting beads are a new generation of calibrated embolization beads, which behave as a drug delivery system. They have been developed in order to optimize chemoembolization and to control precisely the release and the dose of drug into the treatment site. Drug eluting beads have never been used for lung chemoembolization. It may be interesting to evaluate them in the treatment of lung tumors in order to impregnate the tumor with an anticancer drug while avoiding systemic toxicity of this drug and in the treatment of massive hemoptysis to avoid recurrences, induced by a recanalization of vessels after embolization, by using an inhibitor on vascular remodeling. Our purpose was to evaluate the release performances of irinotecan and sirolimus from drug eluting beads, in systemic circulation and in lung tissue, in sheep lung chemoembolization models. Our results showed that drug eluting beads did not allow a sufficient sustained delivery of irinotecan to expect to obtain an effective impregnation of a pulmonary lobe. Sirolimus eluting beads seem to allow a drug controlled release and appear interesting to prevent recanalization. Drug eluting beads have to be improved in order to allow sustained and controlled release of the drug. Complementary studies especially efficacy studies have to be investigated for showing the interest to use lung chemoembolization with drug eluting beads in clinical practice.

A doença arterial coronariana vem sendo a maior causa de mortalidade no mundo, a angioplastia com implante de stent é uma estratégia importante nestes casos. Estudos apontam a biodegradabilidade, imobilização de antiproliferativos e moléculas bioativas nos stents, como características das futuras gerações destes dispositivos. Dentre estas, o ácido hialurônico contribui para a diminuição da agregação e proliferação de células entre as camadas da artéria e o dispositivo implantado. Foram desenvolvidos modelos de stents coronários biorreabsorvíveis de poli(-L-ácido láctico) (PLLA) com enxertia de ácido hialurônico (HA) em poli(-ácido lático co-ácido glicólico) (PLGA) e poli(L-D-ácido lático) (PLDLA). Os modelos foram caracterizados quanto suas propriedades térmicas, mecânicas e de superfície. O PLDLA e PLGA com enxertia de HA modificado com dihidrazida adípica (ADH) apresentaram características de superfície mais hidrofílicas, ideais para material de revestimento dos dispositivos. Desta forma, este trabalho possibilitou o desenvolvimento dos modelos físicos biorreabsorvíveis, com dimensões semelhantes aos stents coronários, feitos de PLLA, revestidos com PLGA e PLDLA com enxertia de HA e HAADH, e estáveis aos processos de esterilização por radiação ultravioleta e plasma de peróxido de hidrogênio. / Coronary artery disease has been world´s leading cause of death and angioplasty stent implantation is an important strategy in these cases. Studies indicate that the biodegradability, immobilization of antiproliferatives and bioactive molecules in stents are characteristics of future generations of these medical devices. Amongst them, hyaluronic acid (HA) contributes to the decrease of the aggregation and proliferation of cells between artery layers and implanted device. For this purpose, poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA) bioresorbable coronary stents with HA grafting in poly (lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and poly (LD- (PLDLA) were developed. The models were characterized as their thermal, mechanical and surface properties. PLDLA and PLGA with adipic dihydrazide (ADH) modified HA grafting presented more hydrophilic surface characteristics, ideal as coating material of this devices. This project allowed the development of bioresorbable physical models with similar dimensions to coronary stents, made of PLLA, coated with PLGA and PLDLA with hyaluronic acid grafting, stable to ultraviolet radiation and plasma sterilization with hydrogen peroxide processes.

Konsekutive Untersuchung bei therapiebedürftiger ungeschützer linker Hauptstammstenose. Vergleich Bypass-Operation versus interventioneller Versorgung (PCI) des linken Hauptstamms mit beschichteten Stents unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Lebensalters und der Lebensqualität. Einschluss von 300 Patienten (95 PCI, 205 OP) im Zeitraum April 2004 - Dezember 2007. Vergleich von Patienten älter und jünger als 75 Jahre. Einschlusskriterien: ungeschütze Hauptstammstenose > 50%, Angina pectoris CCS II-III, Lebenserwartung > 1 Jahr, Notwendigkeit der Versorgung. Ausschlusskriterien: intakter Bypass auf linke Kranzarterie, Notwendigkeit der kombinierten Bypass- und Klappenoperation, ST-Hebungsinfarkt, klinische Instabilität. PCI mit beschichteten Stents (Sirolimus, Tacrolimus). Bypassoperation mit Herzlungenmaschine und am schlagenden Herzen. Primäre Endpunkte: Tod kardial und nicht kardial, Apoplex, Myokardinfarkt, Revaskularisation der Zielläsion (TLR). Sekundärer Endpunkt: Lebensqualität nach 6 Monaten. Höherer Euroscore und Parosnnet-Score in Gruppe > 75 Jahre. 100 % Erfolgrate bei der Indexprozedur (OP oder PCI). 12-Monats-Ergebisse: Keine Unterschiede Tod oder Myokardinfarkt. Nicht signifikante Erhöhung von Apoplexen in OP-Gruppe (6% versus 1 %). Signifikant höhere TLR-Rate in PCI-Gruppe (10,5% versus 1,5%). Ältere Patienten hatten in beiden Armen eine reduzierte körperliche Lebensqualität, sonst keine Unterschiede in beiden Altersgruppen und Therapiearmen. Die PCI des linken Hauptstamms ist eine Alternative bei sorgfältig selektierten Patienten, insbesondere älteren Patienten mit Komorbititäten. / Consecutive analysis of patients with unprotected left main stenosis in need of treatment either with coronary bypass graft or coronary intervention with drug eluting stents taking into consideration the age of the patients and their quality of life. We included 300 patients (95 PCI, 205 OP) from April 2004 - December 2007. Comparison of patients under 75 and over 75 years. Inclusion criteria: unprotected left main stenosis > 50%, angina pectoris CCS II-III, life expectation > 1 year, need of treatment. Exclusion criteria: intact bypass graft on left coronary artery, neccessity of combined bypass and valve operation, ST-elevation infarction, clinical instability.PCI with drug eluting stents (Sirolimus, Tacrolimus). Bypass operation with heart-lung machine and off-pump operation. Primary end points: non-cardiac and cardiac death, stroke, myocardial infarction, target lesion revascularisation. Secondary end point: quality of life at 6 months. Higher Euroscore and Parsonett Score in patient group > 75 years. 100 % success with index procedure (CABG or PCI). 12 month results: no difference at death rates or myocardial infarction. No significant increase of stroke in bypass-graft group (6% versus 1%). Significant higher TLR-rate in PCI-group (10.5% versus 1.5%). Older patients suffered from reduced physical heatlth in both therapy groups. No other difference in the two age groups and therapy groups. PCI of unprotected left main is a therapy option in selected patients, especially those with comorbitities.

With each heartbeat, major arteries experience circumferential expansion due to internal pressure changes. This pulsatile force is called cyclic strain and has been implicated in playing a pivotal role in the genetic regulation of vascular physiology and pathology. This dissertation investigates the hypothesis that in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), pathological levels of cyclic strain activate the c-Myc promoter, leading to c-Myc transcription and downstream gene induction. To determine expression and time-dependency of c-Myc in HUVEC, mRNA and protein expression of c-Myc under physiological (6-10% cyclic strain) and pathological conditions (20% cyclic strain) were studied. Both c-Myc mRNA and protein expression increased more than three-fold in HUVEC (P4-P5) cyclically-strained at 20%. This expression occurred in a time-dependent manner, peaking in the 1.5-2 hour range and falling to basal levels by 3 hours. Subsequently, the mechanism of c-Myc transcription was investigated by using specific inhibitors to modulate c-Myc transcriptional activation. These compounds, obtained from the University of Arizona Cancer Center, attenuated cyclic-strain-induced c-Myc transcription by about 50%. Having established this reduction in expression, it was investigated how these effects modulate downstream genes that are regulated by c-Myc. The results indicate that direct targeting of the c-Myc promoter may decrease stretch-induced gene expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and heat shock protein 60 (HSP60). These findings may help in the development of a novel therapeutic opportunity in vascular diseases.