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Su R, Ai Y, Wang J, Wu L, Sun H, Ding M, Xie R, Liang Q. Engineered Microfibers for Tissue Engineering. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2024. [PMID: 39145987 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.4c00615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
Hydrogel microfibers are hydrogel materials engineered into fiber structures. Techniques such as wet spinning, microfluidic spinning, and 3D bioprinting are often used to prepare microfibers due to their ability to precisely control the size, morphology, and structure of the microfibers. Microfibers with different structural morphologies have different functions; they provide a flow-through culture environment for cells to improve viability, and can also be used to induce the differentiation of cells such as skeletal muscle and cardiac muscle cells to eventually form functional organs in vitro through special morphologies. This Review introduces recent advances in microfluidics, 3D bioprinting, and wet spinning in the preparation of microfibers, focusing on the materials and fabrication methods. The applications of microfibers in tissue engineering are highlighted by summarizing their contributions in engineering biomimetic blood vessels, vascularized tissues, bone, heart, pancreas, kidney, liver, and fat. Furthermore, applications of engineered fibers in tissue repair and drug screening are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riguga Su
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Flexible Electronics Technology, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Centre for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P.R. China
| | - Yongjian Ai
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Flexible Electronics Technology, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Centre for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P.R. China
| | - Jingyu Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Flexible Electronics Technology, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Centre for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P.R. China
| | - Lei Wu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Flexible Electronics Technology, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Centre for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P.R. China
| | - Hua Sun
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Flexible Electronics Technology, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Centre for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P.R. China
| | - Mingyu Ding
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Flexible Electronics Technology, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Centre for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P.R. China
| | - Ruoxiao Xie
- Department of Materials, Design and Manufacturing Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, U.K
| | - Qionglin Liang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Flexible Electronics Technology, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University-Peking University Joint Centre for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P.R. China
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Tian L, Shi J, Li W, Zhang Y, Gao X. Hollow Microfiber Assembly-Based Endocrine Pancreas-on-a-Chip for Sugar Substitute Evaluation. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2302104. [PMID: 37751946 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202302104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
With the increasing demand for low-sugar, low-calorie healthy diets, artificial sweeteners are widely used as substitutes for sugar in the food industry. Therefore, developing models that can better predict the effects of sugar substitutes on the human body is necessary. Here, a new type of endocrine pancreas-on-a-chip is developed based on a microfiber assembly and its stimulation of pancreatic secretion by glucose or sugar substitutes is evaluated. This new endocrine pancreas-on-a-chip is assembled using two components: (1) a cell-loaded hollow methacrylate gelatin (GelMA)/calcium alginate (CaA) composite microfiber prepared by microfluidic spinning to achieve vascular simulation and material transport, and (2) a 3D pancreatic islet culture layer, which also serves as a fiber assembly microchip. Using this established organ chip, the effects of five sweeteners (glucose, erythritol, xylitol, sodium cyclamate, and sucralose) were investigated on pancreatic islet cell viability and insulin and glucagon secretion. The constructed endocrine pancreas-on-a-chip has potential for the safety evaluation of sugar-substituted food additives, which can expand the application of organ chips in the field of food safety and provide a new platform for evaluating various food additives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Tian
- Materials Genome Institute, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Jingyan Shi
- Materials Genome Institute, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Wei Li
- Materials Genome Institute, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Materials Genome Institute, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Xinghua Gao
- Materials Genome Institute, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
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Ouedraogo LJ, Trznadel MJ, Kling M, Nasirian V, Borst AG, Shirsavar MA, Makowski A, McNamara MC, Montazami R, Hashemi NN. Hydrodynamic Assembly of Astrocyte Cells in Conductive Hollow Microfibers. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2024; 8:e2300455. [PMID: 37953458 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202300455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
The manufacturing of 3D cell scaffoldings provides advantages for modeling diseases and injuries as it enables the creation of physiologically relevant platforms. A triple-flow microfluidic device is developed to rapidly fabricate alginate/graphene hollow microfibers based on the gelation of alginate induced with CaCl2 . This five-channel microdevice actualizes continuous mild fabrication of hollow fibers under an optimized flow rate ratio of 300:200:100 µL min-1 . The polymer solution is 2.5% alginate in 0.1% graphene and a 30% polyethylene glycol solution is used as the sheath and core solutions. The biocompatibility of these conductive microfibers by encapsulating mouse astrocyte cells (C8D1A) within the scaffolds is investigated. The cells can successfully survive both the manufacturing process and prolonged encapsulation for up to 8 days, where there is between 18-53% of live cells on both the alginate microfibers and alginate/graphene microfibers. These unique 3D hollow scaffolds can significantly enhance the available surface area for nutrient transport to the cells. In addition, these conductive hollow scaffolds illustrate unique advantages such as 0.728 cm3 gr-1 porosity and two times more electrical conductivity in comparison to alginate scaffolds. The results confirm the potential of these scaffolds as a microenvironment that supports cell growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lionel J Ouedraogo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Mychal J Trznadel
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - McKayla Kling
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Vahid Nasirian
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Alexandra G Borst
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | | | - Andrew Makowski
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Marilyn C McNamara
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Reza Montazami
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Nicole N Hashemi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
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Nasirian V, Niaraki-Asli AE, Aykar SS, Taghavimehr M, Montazami R, Hashemi NN. Capacitance of Flexible Polymer/Graphene Microstructures with High Mechanical Strength. 3D PRINTING AND ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING 2024; 11:242-250. [PMID: 38389687 PMCID: PMC10880642 DOI: 10.1089/3dp.2022.0026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Carbon-modified fibrous structures with high biocompatibility have attracted much attention due to their low cost, sustainability, abundance, and excellent electrical properties. However, some carbon-based materials possess low specific capacitance and electrochemical performance, which pose significant challenges in developing electronic microdevices. In this study, we report a microfluidic-based technique of manufacturing alginate hollow microfibers incorporated by water dispersed modified graphene (bovine serum albumin-graphene). These architectures successfully exhibited enhanced conductivity ∼20 times higher than alginate hollow microfibers without any significant change in the inner dimension of the hollow region (220.0 ± 10.0 μm) compared with pure alginate hollow microfibers. In the presence of graphene, higher specific surface permeability, active ion adsorption sites, and shorter pathways were created. These continuous ion transport networks resulted in improved electrochemical performance. The desired electrochemical properties of the microfibers make alginate/graphene hollow fibers an excellent choice for further use in the development of flexible capacitors with the potential to be used in smart health electronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahid Nasirian
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | | | - Saurabh S. Aykar
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | | | - Reza Montazami
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Nicole N. Hashemi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
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Gimondi S, Ferreira H, Reis RL, Neves NM. Microfluidic Devices: A Tool for Nanoparticle Synthesis and Performance Evaluation. ACS NANO 2023; 17:14205-14228. [PMID: 37498731 PMCID: PMC10416572 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c01117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
The use of nanoparticles (NPs) in nanomedicine holds great promise for the treatment of diseases for which conventional therapies present serious limitations. Additionally, NPs can drastically improve early diagnosis and follow-up of many disorders. However, to harness their full capabilities, they must be precisely designed, produced, and tested in relevant models. Microfluidic systems can simulate dynamic fluid flows, gradients, specific microenvironments, and multiorgan complexes, providing an efficient and cost-effective approach for both NPs synthesis and screening. Microfluidic technologies allow for the synthesis of NPs under controlled conditions, enhancing batch-to-batch reproducibility. Moreover, due to the versatility of microfluidic devices, it is possible to generate and customize endless platforms for rapid and efficient in vitro and in vivo screening of NPs' performance. Indeed, microfluidic devices show great potential as advanced systems for small organism manipulation and immobilization. In this review, first we summarize the major microfluidic platforms that allow for controlled NPs synthesis. Next, we will discuss the most innovative microfluidic platforms that enable mimicking in vitro environments as well as give insights into organism-on-a-chip and their promising application for NPs screening. We conclude this review with a critical assessment of the current challenges and possible future directions of microfluidic systems in NPs synthesis and screening to impact the field of nanomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Gimondi
- 3B’s
Research Group, I3Bs − Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters
of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and
Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque
de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco, Guimarães, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s−PT
Government Associate Laboratory, 4805-017 Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Helena Ferreira
- 3B’s
Research Group, I3Bs − Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters
of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and
Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque
de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco, Guimarães, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s−PT
Government Associate Laboratory, 4805-017 Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Rui L. Reis
- 3B’s
Research Group, I3Bs − Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters
of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and
Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque
de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco, Guimarães, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s−PT
Government Associate Laboratory, 4805-017 Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Nuno M. Neves
- 3B’s
Research Group, I3Bs − Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters
of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and
Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque
de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco, Guimarães, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s−PT
Government Associate Laboratory, 4805-017 Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
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Abstract
Owing to superior softness, wetness, responsiveness, and biocompatibility, bulk hydrogels are being intensively investigated for versatile functions in devices and machines including sensors, actuators, optics, and coatings. The one-dimensional (1D) hydrogel fibers possess the metrics from both the hydrogel materials and structural topology, endowing them with extraordinary mechanical, sensing, breathable and weavable properties. As no comprehensive review has been reported for this nascent field, this article aims to provide an overview of hydrogel fibers for soft electronics and actuators. We first introduce the basic properties and measurement methods of hydrogel fibers, including mechanical, electrical, adhesive, and biocompatible properties. Then, typical manufacturing methods for 1D hydrogel fibers and fibrous films are discussed. Next, the recent progress of wearable sensors (e.g., strain, temperature, pH, and humidity) and actuators made from hydrogel fibers is discussed. We conclude with future perspectives on next-generation hydrogel fibers and the remaining challenges. The development of hydrogel fibers will not only provide an unparalleled one-dimensional characteristic, but also translate fundamental understanding of hydrogels into new application boundaries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxuan Du
- School of Electronic Science & Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, China
| | - Qing Ma
- School of Electronic Science & Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, China
| | - Binghao Wang
- School of Electronic Science & Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, China
- Corresponding author
| | - Litao Sun
- School of Electronic Science & Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, China
- Corresponding author
| | - Limei Liu
- College of Mechanical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225127, China
- Corresponding author
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Tian L, Ma J, Li W, Zhang X, Gao X. Microfiber Fabricated via Microfluidic Spinning toward Tissue Engineering Applications. Macromol Biosci 2023; 23:e2200429. [PMID: 36543751 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202200429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Microfibers, a type of long, thin, and flexible material, can be assembled into functional 3D structures by folding, binding, and weaving. As a novel spinning method, combining microfluidic technology and wet spinning, microfluidic spinning technology can precisely control the size, morphology, structure, and composition of the microfibers. Particularly, the process is mild and rapid, which is suitable for preparing microfibers using biocompatible materials and without affecting the viability of cells encapsulated. Furthermore, owing to the controllability of microfluidic spinning, microfibers with well-defined structures (such as hollow structures) will contribute to the exchange of nutrients or guide cell orientation. Thus, this method is often used to fabricate microfibers as cell scaffolds for cell encapsulation or adhesion and can be further applied to biomimetic fibrous tissues. In this review, the focus is on different fiber structures prepared by microfluidic spinning technology, including solid, hollow, and heterogeneous structures, generated from three essential elements: spinning platform, fiber composition, and solidification methods. Furthermore, the application of microfibers is described with different structures in tissue engineering, such as blood vessels, skeletal muscle, bone, nerves, and lung bronchi. Finally, the challenges and future development prospects of microfluidic spinning technology in tissue engineering applications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Tian
- Materials Genome Institute, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, P. R. China
| | - Jingyun Ma
- Ningbo Institute of Innovation for Combined Medicine and Engineering, Ningbo Medical Center Li Huili Hospital, 57 Xingning Road, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315100, P. R. China
| | - Wei Li
- Materials Genome Institute, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, P. R. China
| | - Xu Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of SSAC, Department of biotechnology, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, P. R. China
| | - Xinghua Gao
- Materials Genome Institute, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, P. R. China
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