Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs•2026•DOI: 10.7501/j.issn.0253-2670.2026.15.20261506
A confined mass transfer mathematical model was constructed to quantify the existing states of matrine in complex traditional Chinese medicine solutions and to resolve the influence of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (SMRR) to Sophorae Flavescentis Radix (SFR) compatibility ratios on acid-base complexation. Ultrafiltration-nanofiltration coupling exploited mass transfer differences between ionic and molecular states, using component transmission rate and membrane flux to fit matrine mass transfer coefficients. Molecular and ionic monomer references established a power-function quantitative model with correlation coefficients exceeding 0.97. In SFR extract alone, matrine distributed as 36.90% ionic, 61.98% associated, and 1.12–1.91% molecular states. Upon SMRR compatibility, the ionic fraction declined from 66.73% at low SMRR ratios to 45.83% at high SMRR ratios, while the complex state increased from 31.87% to 52.90%. Dynamic light scattering and scanning electron microscopy confirmed microstructural transitions. The model addresses the limitation of empirical pharmaceutical parameter control that neglects state-dependent mass transfer differences, providing a technical foundation for ordered production regulation linking manufacturing parameters, component states, and material transfer to improve batch-to-batch uniformity and stability of Chinese medicine preparations.
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research•2026•DOI: 10.12307/2026.21329
BACKGROUND: Acanthopanax and its extracts exhibit osteogenic effects, but the osteogenic potential and mechanisms of acanthopanax exosome-like nanovesicles remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the molecular mechanism by which acanthopanax exosome-like nanovesicles promote osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and their preventive role in osteoporosis. METHODS: (1) Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were extracted by gradient density centrifugation. Exosome-like nanovesicles derived from acanthopanax were isolated by differential centrifugation and sucrose gradient density centrifugation. (2) Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were treated with 0, 2.5, and 5 μg/mL acanthopanax exosome-like nanovesicles. Osteogenic differentiation was assessed by alkaline phosphatase staining, Alizarin red staining, qRT-PCR, and western blot assay. (3) Key pathways were identified by transcriptome sequencing and verified using a transforming growth factor β1 receptor inhibitor. (4) An ovariectomized rat model of osteoporosis was established, and acanthopanax exosome-like nanovesicles were administered intraperitoneally for 12 weeks. Bone microarchitecture was analyzed by Micro-CT, and osteogenic protein expression was detected by histological staining. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Acanthopanax exosome-like nanovesicles exhibited a typical cup-shaped or disc-shaped morphology. (2) In vitro experiments confirmed that acanthopanax exosome-like nanovesicles dose-dependently promoted osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, as evidenced by increased alkaline phosphatase activity, enhanced mineralization nodule formation, and upregulated osteogenic gene expression. (3) Transcriptome analysis revealed that acanthopanax exosome-like nanovesicles activated the transforming growth factor β1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway, upregulating transforming growth factor β1 and phosphorylated Smad2/3 protein expression, and the transforming growth factor β1 receptor inhibitor partially suppressed their osteogenic effect. (4) Animal experiments showed that after intervention with 5 mg/kg acanthopanax exosome-like nanovesicles, bone mineral density, bone volume fraction, and trabecular thickness were significantly increased in ovariectomized rats (P < 0.05), collagen fiber formation was evident, and the expression of Runt-related transcription factor 2, osteocalcin, and transforming growth factor β1 proteins in bone tissue was upregulated. No obvious toxicity was observed in major organs by histological examination. These results indicate that acanthopanax exosome-like nanovesicles promote osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells by activating the transforming growth factor β1/Smad2/3 pathway and effectively improve osteoporosis.