Background/Objectives: Bone regeneration using nanomaterial-based approaches shows promise for treating critical bone defects. However, developing sustainable and cost-effective therapeutic materials remains challenging. This study investigates the osteogenic potential of clove-derived carbon dots (C-CDs) for bone regeneration applications. Methods: C-CDs were synthesized using a green hydrothermal method. The osteogenic potential was evaluated in human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs) and validated using ectopic bone formation and calvarial defect models. Results: C-CDs demonstrated uniform morphology (~10 nm) with efficient cellular uptake. In vitro studies showed successful osteogenic differentiation through the upregulation of RUNX2, ALP, COL1A1, and BMP-2 mediated by Wnt/β-catenin/GSK3β and BMP signaling pathways. In vivo models have also demonstrated that C-CDs are effective in promoting bone regeneration. Conclusions: These findings establish C-CDs as promising candidates for bone regeneration therapy, offering a sustainable alternative to current treatments. While optimization is needed, their demonstrated osteogenic properties warrant further development for regenerative medicine applications.

Objectives: Until now, many researchers have conducted evaluations on hippocampi for analyses of cognitive dysfunction models using scopolamine. However, depending on the purposes of these analyses, there are differences in the experimental results for the hippocampi and cortexes. Therefore, this study intends to compare various analyses of cognitive dysfunction after scopolamine administration with each other in hippocampi and cortexes. Methods: Scopolamine was administered at three dosages in mice: 0.5, 1, and 3 mg/kg. And this study evaluates the differences in cognitive function and the expression of malondialdehyde (MDA), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in mice’s hippocampi and cortexes based on scopolamine dosages. Results: The Morris water maze test was conducted between 1 and 3 h after scopolamine injection to assess its duration. A significant decrease in behavioral ability was evaluated at 1 h, and we observed a similar recovery to the normal group at 3 h. And the Morris water maze escape latency showed differences depending on scopolamine concentration. While the escape waiting time in the control group and scop 0.5 administration group remained similar to that seen before administration, the administration of scop 1 and 3 increased it. In the experimental group administered scop 1 and 3, cerebral MDA levels in the cerebral cortex significantly increased. In the hippocampus, the MDA level in the scopolamine-administered groups slightly increased compared to the cortex. A Western blotting assay shows that Bax and Bcl-xl showed a tendency to increase or decrease depending on the concentration, but BDNF increased in scop 0.5, and scop 1 and 3 did not show a significant decrease compared to the control at the cerebral cortex. In the hippocampus, BDNF showed a concentration-dependent decrease in expression. Conclusions: This study’s findings indicate that chemical analyses for MDA and AChE can be performed in the cerebral cortex, while the hippocampus is better suited for protein analysis of apoptosis and BDNF.

This study sought to evaluate the inhibitory effect of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy on bone resorption in a mouse model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced osteoporosis. A total of 40 mice were divided into four groups: control, LPS, LPS + alendronate, and LPS + PEMF. Blood and spleen samples were analyzed using RT-PCR and ELISA, while calvaria and femurs were assessed by micro-computed tomography (CT) and histological analysis. Serum analysis revealed that, compared with the control group, calcium levels in the PEMF group showed no significant difference, but alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were significantly increased, whereas tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) levels were significantly decreased. Moreover, blood cytokine analysis showed reduced expression of TNF-α and IL-1β and increased expression of BMP-2 in the PEMF group. Spleen tissue analysis further demonstrated significant upregulation of IFN-γ and IL-10 expression in the PEMF group. Micro-CT confirmed that PEMF inhibited femoral bone loss and promoted bone regeneration in calvarial defects. Histological evaluation with hematoxylin and eosin and Masson–Goldner trichrome staining confirmed enhanced bone formation in both the femur and calvaria. In conclusion, PEMF effectively alleviates bone loss and promotes bone regeneration in LPS-induced osteoporosis. Furthermore, PEMF exhibits anti-osteoclastogenic activity by reducing inflammatory cytokines and enhancing IFN-γ and IL-10 expression in the spleen.

Background: Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline and memory loss. Gamma (γ) oscillations are closely linked to learning and memory, and recent interest has grown around Gamma ENtrainment Using Sensory stimulation (GENUS) as a non-invasive neuromodulation strategy. However, the therapeutic impact of vibrotactile gamma stimulation under varying physical parameters such as acceleration remains underexplored. Methods: Differentiated SH-SY5Y cells were treated with amyloid-β (Aβ) and exposed to vibrotactile stimulation at 2.2 or 4.0 m/s². In vivo, male C57BL/6N mice (7 weeks old, 35 g) were administered scopolamine to induce neurotoxicity and randomly assigned to sham, scopolamine, donepezil, or vibrotactile stimulation groups (n = 10 each). Behavioral tests, biochemical assays, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry were performed to evaluate cognitive function, oxidative stress, cholinergic activity, synaptic plasticity, and neuroinflammation. Results: In vitro, SH-SY5Y cells exposed to amyloid-beta (Aβ) were treated with vibrotactile stimulation, resulting in enhanced neuronal marker expression at 2.2 m/s². In vivo, mice receiving stimulation at 2.2 m/s² showed improved cognitive performance, reduced oxidative stress, restored cholinergic function, suppressed neuroinflammation, and enhanced synaptic plasticity. Mechanistically, these effects were associated with activation of the AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin pathway. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that vibrotactile gamma stimulation at 2.2 m/s² exerts greater therapeutic efficacy than higher acceleration, highlighting the importance of optimizing stimulation parameters. This work supports the potential of acceleration-tuned, non-invasive GENUS-based therapies as effective strategies for cognitive recovery in neurodegenerative conditions.

Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are versatile molecules with promising diagnostic and therapeutic applications, including gene expression regulation and miRNA targeting. However, their moderate biological efficacy limits their therapeutic application. This can be addressed by leveraging a key advantage of PNAs over other nucleic acids—the ease of modification, which enhances their functional properties. Notably, γ-modified PNAs have improved binding affinity and cellular uptake properties, underscoring the potential of backbone engineering. In this study, we introduced a novel γ-amino carboxylic acid modification into PNAs targeting miR-221-3p, a key miRNA implicated in various pathological processes. The binding affinity of the modified PNAs to their targets and their ability to inhibit miR-221-3p expression were considerably higher than those of unmodified PNAs in Lung cancer cell lines, leading to effective regulation of downstream gene and protein expression. These findings underscore the potential of γ-modified PNAs as a platform for developing miRNA-targeted therapeutics.