The volatile nature of the entrepreneurship environment requires specific characteristics from individuals entering the field. These traits can be developed through entrepreneurial learning, utilising a method- and design-based approach known as design thinking (DT). Design Thinking prioritises the entrepreneurial process, particularly the mindset and skills of student entrepreneurs. It also encourages student-centred learning by ensuring that the acquired skills are applicable to real-life situations. The study evaluated the inclusion of DT as an entrepreneurship and business development tool at the Durban University of Technology. Entrepreneurial learning through a design-based and method approach was conceptualised. A quantitative research approach was used, focussed on students who have either enrolled in entrepreneurship modules that follow the DT approach or in courses that do not follow the DT approach, for comparative purposes. The collection of data was done using a semi-structured questionnaire. Thereafter, SPSS version 24 was used to analyse the collected data. The study results showed a lack of awareness concerning DT, and that most participants have not enrolled in DT boot camps or workshops. This lack is evident in the limited number of ventures undertaken by participants. In conclusion, an intervention is recommended which will allow the incorporation of DT into the Higher Education Institution curriculum to foster innovation and the execution of novel ideas.

The increasing incidence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a serious threat to public health, which necessitates the development of alternative countermeasures to combat it. Green nanotechnology, in particular the use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), shows promise in combating AMR. Although the synthesis of AgNPs using medicinal plant extracts has been explored, combining extracts from two medicinal plants to synthesize AgNPs with enhanced properties has received less attention. Therefore, this study addresses this gap by presenting the green synthesis of AgNPs using a cocktail of Capparis sepiaria – Tabernaemontana elegans (CsTe) aqueous extract as reducing, stabilizing, and capping agents. The focus is on assessing the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the synthesized CsTe‐AgNPs. Various parameters, such as pH, temperature, extract and silver concentrations, reaction ratio, and synthesis time, were optimized to enhance the efficiency of CsTe‐AgNPs synthesis. The CsTe‐AgNPs were monodispersed and spherical, with an average core size of 14 ± 2.953 and 7 ± 3.849 nm, and hydrodynamic size of 23 ± 12.260 and 138 ± 2.086 nm for pH = 6 and pH = 11, respectively. The FTIR analysis revealed a shift in peaks of biomolecules present in the CsTe extracts that could be responsible for the reduction of Ag salt to form CsTe‐AgNPs. Notably, CsTe‐AgNPs_pH11 had potent antimicrobial activity, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 12.5 ± 0 µg/mL against K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa , and a slightly higher MIC for C. albicans of 25 ± 5.449 µg/mL. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of using a mixture of two extracts to synthesize AgNPs with enhanced antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, and therefore, could serve as a promising reagent to combat AMR.

In developing countries, there is an increased emphasis on encouraging the commercialisation of research at universities. This triggers universities to adopt a culture of innovation and technological learning at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The focus of this review article is to highlight the benefits and challenges faced by researchers in the field of synthetic biology products, biotechnology, agribusiness, Biofuels and phytomedicine in commercialisation. The methodological approach was informed by a selection of electronic databases with a high chance of the selected field in relation to the commercialisation of the research outputs. Google Scholar, PubMed, and Higher Education and Science Technology South Africa Reports for entrepreneurial universities were searched, focusing on 2007 to 2023. The years proved to have played a role in furthering discussions and policy in research on commercialisation in South Africa, the benefits of research commercialisation, challenges of research commercialisation, its determinants, and its impact on academics, universities, and other stakeholders. The review findings suggest that the commercialisation of research is a challenging and complex task to execute, as there are very few cases in South Africa to have a successful academic intellectual property creation, licensing, academic entrepreneurship, and start-up of research. This is placed into context by the fact that the market for high-end products and processes is highly uncertain.

The study investigated the influence of friedelin, resinone, tingenone and betulin plant-based secondary metabolite compounds on cellular proliferation, extracellular matrix (ECM) components synthesis, expression of chondrogenic markers and maturation of differentiated chondrocytes (cell proliferation and hypertrophy) in porcine adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (pADMSCs) undergoing chondrogenic differentiation. The MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and Cyquant assays were used to determine cell proliferation, viability, and total cellular DNA, DMMB (Dimethyl methylene blue) was used for glycosaminoglycan (GAG) synthesis, RT-qPCR for gene expression and histology combined with immunohistochemistry for cartilage ECM proteoglycan deposition. The MTT results showed that friedelin at 37 μM, resinone at 36 μM and betulin at 18 μM with cell viability of above 100% compared to control. Tingenone at 37 μM showed cell viability of about 76%. These concentrations were considered the most effective with no toxicity effect on the cells and were further analysed with TGF-β3 (10 ng/mL) as a positive control. The results showed a high synthesis of DNA with friedelin on day 14. There was up-regulation of SOX 9, Col II and Col X with friedelin and resinone at day 14 with the significance of p < 0.01. Pellet from friedelin, resinone and tingenone showed more staining of the matrix for Safranin-O and Toluidine blue at day 14. Immunohistostaining of collagen type X (COL-10) showed more stain intensity at friedelin and resinone on day 21. These results provided new knowledge on the potential use of natural isolated secondary metabolites compounds as inducers for chondrogenic and bone differentiation.

Any trauma to a joint such as sports injury can lead to osteoarthritis especially injuries that include torn cartilage, dislocated joints and ligaments. In sports injury specifically, most of the ointments in the market are only applied after physical activity. Repair of the bone and cartilage continues to be a challenge. Autologous and allografts are the gold standard for the treatment of the bone and cartilage. They have an invasive, open surgical procedure that requires the tissue to be harvested from an alternative site within the patient. South Africa is rich in native flora that is currently tapped as medicine by traditional healers. However, little is known about the natural products of our native flora and their potential to serve as a remedy for sports injuries, fracture healing and osteoarthritis. The grand purpose of the project is to explore medicinal plants of South Africa as a potential source for bone and tissue engineering of articular cartilage.

It is well known that articular cartilage (AC) lacks the ability to repair itself once damage, thereby making it therapeutic treatment challenging. A number of efforts are been made to induce adult stem cells with growth factors or bioactive molecules for their characterisation and mechanisms involved in their chondrogenic differentiation. This study investigated the effect of Pleurostylia capensis (P. capensis) bark and root extracts on chondrogenic differentiation of porcine adiposederived mesenchymal stem cells (pADMSCs). The effect of P. capensis bark and root extracts at 5, 15, 30 and 50 μg/mL and TGF-β3 (10 ng/mL) as positive control on cellular growth viability and behaviour of pADMSCs was investigated using MTT and xCELLigence assays. The biosynthesis of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and the expression of chondrogenic markers SOX 9, aggrecan (AGG), proteoglycan (Proteo), collagen type II (Col II) and X (Col X) of pADMSCs in pellet culture was investigated in vitro. The results showed that P. capensis bark extracts at 5 and 50 μg/mL stimulated the proliferation of pADMSCs from 24 to 48 h of incubation with cell viability of about 100%, and the root extracts showed cell viability of about 90% with all treatments at 48 h. The amount of GAG synthesised was high with bark extracts at 5 and 15 μg/mL and with root extracts at 15 and 30 μg/mL over both control and TGF-β3 at 21 days. Bark extracts at 30 μg/mL induced the highest expression of SOX 9, Proteo, Col II and Col X significant at p˂0.01 at 14 days. Whereas, root extracts at 15 μg/mL induced the highest expression of SOX 9 and AGG at 14 days. All the cells treated with P. capensis bark and root extracts displayed a strong positive stain for Safranin-O and strongly observed Toluidine blue at day 14. Immunohistostaining revealed little positive staining at matrix for COL-10 from both groups of treatments. Nevertheless, P. canpensis bark at 30 μg/mL and root extracts at 15 μg/mL is likely to be a future treatment strategy for chondrogenic differentiation of stem cells, and supports the use of this plants extracts as used in indigenous knowledge.

Background: Pterocarpus angolensis (P. angolensis) is a large deciduous tree native to Sub-Saharan Africa. This tree has traditionally been used to treat malaria, gonorrhoea, inflammation and wounds. The use of P. angolensis for tissue engineering has not been explored. This study investigated the potential of the bark and root water extracts of P. angolensis to induce the expression of collagen type II protein in the articular chondrocytes. Materials and Methods: Surface and middle zone chondrocytes, as well as explants, were stimulated with crude root and bark plant extracts at different concentrations. After 96 hours of stimulation, microscopic observation, XCELLigence assay and collagen type II ELISA, histology and immunohistochemistry assays were done. Results and Conclusion: Results showed no significant difference in the cell index between the controls and chondrocytes that had been treated with the plant extracts at concentrations of 15 and 30 μg/ml. A significant increase in the expression of collagen type II protein by the chondrocytes was observed and found to be optimal at a concentration of 30 μg/ml. There was an increase in the production of proteoglycans. However, the plant extracts at a concentration of 50 μg/ml induced apoptosis in the middle zone chondrocytes. These results show the potential of P. angolensis extracts in chondrocyte tissue regeneration. This potential could be exploited in the treatment of osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND:Despite previous confirmation of osteoinductive potential of demineralized bone matrix (DBM) by other researchers, there is not yet any evidence of studies showing the osteoinductive activity of DBM products from South Africa tissue banks using both in vitro and animal models. This work evaluated the osteoinductivity of DBM both in vitro and in vivo.METHOD:DBM particles from six donors from the Centre for Tissue Engineering and C2C12 were cultured (5x104) in 24-well plates using DMEM/F-12 medium supplemented with 10% FBS. After 24 h medium was replaced with medium containing 1% FBS and 5 mg/ml of DBM particles. Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2,500 pg/ml) was used as a positive control. After 48 h of incubation, cells were assayed for osteoinductive potentials. In an in vivo study, 27 Wistar rats aged six to eight weeks were divided into three groups and experimentally observed for 7, 14 and 28 days. Implants were explanted according to the duration of the experiment.RESULTS:Increase in cell growth was observed in C2C12 treated with DBM samples. BMP-2 and DBM samples were found to stimulate alkaline phosphatase activity and ELISA assay. Animal weight increase was observed during the 7, 14 and 28 days. Cartilage regeneration were also observed in the histology results.CONCLUSION:BMP-2 played a role in the differentiation of myoblast cells into osteoblasts. DBM products showed different osteoinductive capacity both in vitro and in vivo. Findings were variable and time-dependent. From our results, this study supports the effectiveness of DBM fromdonors aged between 45 to 55 years.

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Resveratrol (RSV) was first isolated in 1940 from the roots of white hellebore (Veratrum grandiflorum (Maxim. ex Miq) O. Loes) and in 1963 from the roots of Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum Siebold & Zucc.). These species have been used traditionally to treat arthritis, gout or inflammation. RSV (3,5,4-trihydroxystilbene) is a polyphenolic phytoalexin compound found in various plants, such as grape vines, berries, peanuts, seeds and roots; the highest concentration is in the skin of red grapes. This component of red wine has potent anti-inflammatory properties and may reduce the side effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that are currently used for pain amelioration in osteoarthritis (OA). In early degeneration of articular cartilage, which may lead to OA there is a loss of the tensile properties, indicative of damage to the fibrillar network. Damage to this fibrillar meshwork, made up of primarily collagen type II (90-95%), may be a critical event in the pathology of many arthritides, due in part to the very slow rate of collagen turnover within the cartilage. Collagen type II is the pre-dominant protein of the cartilage middle zone matrix mainly responsible for tensile strength of articular cartilage. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of RSV on the expression of collagen type II from the superficial and middle zone chondrocytes of porcine articular cartilage.Materials and methods: Porcine articular chondrocytes were isolated from the superficial and middle zone of articular cartilage, cultured as monolayers in serum-free chemically defined medium for four days. Effects of RSV on porcine articular chondrocytes were studied by assessing expression of collagen type II mRNA by RT-PCR and protein levels of collagen type II by ELISA; as well as localisation of collagen type II on cartilage tissue sections using immunohistochemistry.Results: RSV significantly stimulated the expression of collagen type II at the mRNA and protein levels in the superficial and middle zone. Immunohistochemistry revealed that collagen type II was present along the whole cartilage tissue sections. The staining was strong in the superficial zone, mild in the middle zone and less around hypertrophic chondrocytes in the deep zone. Histological analysis confirmed that cartilage slices were obtained from specific articular cartilage zones.Conclusion: This study revealed the importance of RSV in the regulation of collagen type II protein in different zones of articular cartilage. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

BACKGROUND:Pleurostylia capensis is a large tree that can reach the maximum height of 20 m long, and it have been traditionally used as cosmetic, for steam bath, ritual body wash, and as a purgative to treat symptoms of witchcraft. Using ethanol, chloroform, dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EA), and water extracts, leaves, bark and roots of Pleurostylia capensis were investigated scientifically for their effectiveness in antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities using standard methods.MATERIALS AND METHODS:The extracts were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Mycobacterium smegmatis), Gram negative (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Klebsiella oxytoca, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhimurium), and Candida albicans. The antioxidant activity was investigated using 2, 2-diphenlyl-1-picrylhadrazyl (DPPH), free radical scavenging assay. The anti-inflammatory activity of P. capensis extracts was evaluated against both cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX 1 and 2).RESULTS:The ethyl acetate extracts of P. capensis showed a strong antimicrobial activity against B. cereus, K. pneumonia, S. pyogenes, and M. smegmatis with MIC value of 0.39 and 0.78 mg/ml. While the ethanol bark extract was most active against M. smegmatis with MIC value of 0.78 mg/ml; the least potent activity was observed with dichloromethane, chloroform and water extracts, with an MIC value ranging from 1.56 mg/ml to 50.0 mg/ml. The plant extracts proved to be good antioxidant agent, whereas extracts of ethanol were the most active, with IC50 ranging from 1.00 to 1.74 µg/ml, which is lower, and in close range to Vitamin C (1.40 µg/ml).CONCLUSIONS:Its moderation to potent inhibitory activity was observed in all extracts. Ethanol and dichloromethane extracts were among the most potent when compared to water and petroleum ether extracts. The water extracts showed to be nontoxic on the Hek cell line with an IC50 value of 204.0, and 207.3 µg/ml (roots and bark) respectively. The dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, chloroform and ethanol extracts showed to be toxic on the Hek cell, with IC50 range from 5.94 to 42.91µg/ml. The results obtained indicate the effectiveness of these plants.