Body membranes are thin sheets/layers of cells or tissues which cover the surface of internal organs, the outside of the body and lines various body cavities. These membranes are separated into two main groups which are epithelial membranes and connective tissue membranes. Decellularized forms of inner body membranes in the groups of epithelial membranes (amniotic membrane, mesentery, omentum, pericardium, peritoneum, pleura) and connective tissue membranes (fascia, periosteum, synovial membrane) have been used in tissue engineering studies for preparation and regeneration of various tissues such as bone, tendon, cartilage, skin, cornea, ocular surface, uterine, periodontium, vascular and cardiovascular structures. Decellularized inner body membranes have high biocompatibility and support cell attachment, cell growth and angiogenesis which are desired properties for using as versatile tools in tissue engineering applications. Even though, decellularized forms of these membranes have been used in many studies, it is necessary to develop new decellularization methods for more effective cell removal and less destructive properties on tissue structures. Moreover, development of decellularization agents which target removal of antigens of donor tissues is also essential because these antigens are one of the main reasons for tissue-organ rejections in allogeneic and xenogeneic tissue-organ implantations. This review provides comprehensive information and analysis about the current state of the art in the literature on decellularized inner body membranes and applications of these membranes in tissue engineering.

In this paper, we describe an environmentally friendly procedure to produce silver (Ag) or gold (Au)-deposited magnetite nanoparticles by using plant extracts (Ligustrum vulgare) as reducing and stabilizing agents. Firstly, magnetite nanoparticles (similar to 6 nm) with superparamagnetic properties SPIONs-were synthesized by co-precipitation of Fe+2 and Fe+3 ions. Color changes indicated the differing amounts of Au and Ag ions reduced and deposited on to the SPIONs when the plant extracts were used. UV-vis and transmission electron microscope (TEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) apparatus confirmed the metallic deposition. Magnetic saturation decreased when the amount of the metallic deposition increased, which was measured by vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). Due to the molecules coming into contact with - and even remaining on - the surface of the nanoparticles after aggressive washing procedures, the Ag/Au-deposited SPIONs were stable, and almost no agglomeration was observed for months. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra depicted that functional groups such as carboxylic and ketone groups, which are most probably responsible for the reduction and stabilization of Ag/Au-carrying magnetite nanoparticles, originated from the plant extract. The proposed route was facile, viable, and reproducible, and it should be stressed that nanoparticles do contain only safe biomolecules as stabilizing agents on their surfaces.

This study aims to develop fluorescence labelled polymeric nanoparticle (NP) carrying vancomycin as the targeting agent for in vivo imaging of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacterial infections in animal models. Maleimide functionalized 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[maleimide (polyethylene glycol)-2000] as the main was carrier matrix to prepare the NPs. A fluorescence probe, namely, poly[9,9′-bis (6″-N,N,N-trimethylammonium) hexyl) fluorene-co-alt-4,7-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole) dibromide] was encapsulated within these NPs by ultrasonication successfully. UV-Vis spectro- photometry of the NPs showed the characteristic shifting on the peak of conjugated polymers indicating successful packaging of this compound with lipid bilayers in nanoscales. Zeta-sizer and TEM analysis showed that the prepared NPs have a diameter of 80-100 nm in a narrow size distribution. Thiolated vancomycin was synthesized and attached to the NPs as the targeting agent. FTIR and MALDI-TOF spectroscopy analysis confirmed the immobilization. The specific targeting properties of the vancomycin conjugated NPs to the target bacteria were first confirmed in in vitro bacterial cultures in which Escherichia coli was the non-target bacteria – using confocal microscopy and TEM. Imaging of bacterial infections in vivo was investigated in mice model using a non-invasive live animal fluorescence imaging technique. The results confirmed that bacterial infections can be detected using these novel polymeric NPs carrying fluorescence probes for imaging and vancomycin as the targeting agent – in vivo successfully.

Core–shell gold nanorod (AuNR)@silver (Ag) nanostructures with their unique properties have gained enormous interest and are widely utilized in various applications including sensor systems, catalytic reactions, diagnosis, and therapy. Despite the recent progress, simple, effective, low-cost, and easy-to-tune strategies are heavily required to fabricate these nanoparticles (NP) systems. For this, we propose the employment of the polymer of 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine (L-DOPA) as a ligand molecule. A conformal thin layer of polymer of L-DOPA (PLDOPA) with its various functional groups enabled the reduction of silver ions onto the AuNRs and stabilization of the resultant NPs without using any surfactant, reducing agent, and seed material. The shape and growth model of the AuNR@Ag nanostructures was manipulated by simply tuning the amount of silver ions. This procedure created different NP morphologies ranging from concentric to acentric/island shape core–shell nanostructures. Also, even at the highest Ag deposition, the PLDOPA layer is still conformally present onto the Au@Ag core–shell NRs. The unique properties of NP systems provided remarkable characteristics in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, catalytic activity, and cell viability tests.