Background & objectives : T he main goal of tissue engineering is regeneration and restoration of damaged tissues and organs, besides being used in medicine . Scaffolds are the main segments for tissue engineering, and plasma surface modification is one of the modern methods used for surface modification on polymer scaffolds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nano-fibers with different densities on fibroblasts' behavior besides the plasma surface modification.

  Methods : Poly Ɛ-Caprolactone nano-fibers (PCL) were developed by an electro-spinning technique at different collecting times. These nano-fibers were then modified by oxygen plasma. Cellular attachment to the nano-fiber and their morphology were evaluated using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and cellular activities were also studied by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol- 2-yl]-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). Scaffold biocompatibility test was assessed using inverted microscope.

  Results : Scanning electron microscope images of nano-fibers showed that increase in time of spinning has significantly heighten fiber density, on the other hand plasma surface modification of nano-fibers had significant effects on their respective biocompatibilities. The result of cell culture showed that nano-fiber could support the cellular growth and replication by developing 3-dimensional topography.

  Conclusion : Our results showed that increase in time of spinning and using plasma surface modification of nano-fibers by oxygen plasma would result in providing surface with the highest similarity to the extracellular matrix.

Background and Objective: Since Abelmoschus esculentus plant has many medical benefits, the present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of Okra Powder (Abelmoschus esculentus) against high-fat diet fed-streptozotocin (HFD/STZ)-induced diabetic rats.

Methods: In this experimental study, 25 Wistar Albino female rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: I: control group; II: healthy rats receiving A. esculentus (200 mg/kg); III (HFD/STZ group): Rats fed with high-fat diet (HFD) (60% fat) for 4 weeks and then injected low-dose STZ (35 mg/kg); IV: diabetic rats receiving A. esculentus (200mg/kg) and V: diabetic rats receiving metformin (200 mg/kg). At the end of experiment, biochemical parameters, including Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG), insulin levels, Homa-IR index, ALT, AST and lipid profile were measured. Pancreas and Liver samples were removed, and 5-6 µ sections were prepared and stained by H&E and aldehyde fuchsin staining.

Results: All the biochemical parameters, except HDL-C and insulin, were increased in diabetic rats, while these parameters were decreased in Okra supplementation group compared to diabetic rats (p<0.05). Furthermore, Okra improved the histological impairments of pancreas and liver, including vacuolization, and decrease of β-cells as well as hypertrophy and vacuolization of hepatocytes in diabetic rats.

Conclusion: Okra powder improved biochemical parameters, liver structure and restoration of beta cells of pancreas in diabetic rats. Thus, it can be considered a complementary therapy to improve diabetic patients.