Auricular cartilage regeneration using chondroitin sulfate-based hydrogel with mesenchymal stem cells in rabbits

BACKGROUND

Cartilage is an avascular and alymphatic tissue that lacks the intrinsic ability to undergo spontaneous repair and regeneration in the event of significant injury. The efficacy of conventional therapies for invasive cartilage injuries is limited, thereby prompting the emergence of cartilage tissue engineering as a possible alternative. In this study, we fabricated three-dimensional hydrogel films utilizing sodium alginate (SA), gelatin (Gel), and chondroitin sulfate (CS). These films were included with Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) and intended for cartilage tissue regeneration.

METHODS

The hydrogel film that were prepared underwent evaluation using various techniques including scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, assessment of the degree of swelling, degradation analysis, determination of water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), measurement of water contact angle (WCA), evaluation of mechanical strength, and assessment of biocompatibility. The rabbit ear cartilage regeneration by hydrogel films with and without of WJ-MSCs was studied by histopathological investigations during 15, 30, and 60 days.

RESULTS

The hydrogel films containing CS exhibited superior metrics compared to other nanocomposites such as better mechanical strength (12.87 MPa in SA/Gel compared to 15.56 in SA/Gel/CS), stability, hydrophilicity, WVTR (3103.33 g/m2/day in SA/Gel compared to 2646.67 in nanocomposites containing CS), and swelling ratio (6.97 to 12.11% in SA/Gel composite compared to 5.03 to 10.90% in SA/Gel/CS). Histopathological studies showed the presence of chondrocyte cells in the lacunae on the 30th day and the complete restoration of the cartilage tissue on the 60th day following the injury in the group of SA/Gel/CS hydrogel containing WJ-MSCs.

CONCLUSIONS

We successfully fabricated a scaffold composed of alginate, gelatin, and chondroitin sulfate. This scaffold was further enhanced by the incorporation of Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells. Our findings demonstrate that this composite scaffold has remarkable biocompatibility and mechanical characteristics. The present study successfully demonstrated the therapeutic potential of the SA-Gel-CS hydrogel containing WJ-MSCs for cartilage regeneration in rabbits.

Alginate Beads as a Promising Tool for Successful Production of Viable and Pluripotent Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in a 3D Culture System

Purpose

Two-dimensional (2D)-based cell culture systems, limited by their inherent heterogeneity and scalability, are a bottleneck in the production of high-quality cells for downstream biomedical applications. Finding the optimal conditions for large-scale stem cell culture while maintaining good cellular status is challenging. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of three-dimensional (3D) culture on the viability, proliferation, self-renewal, and differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSCs).

Patients and Methods

Various culture conditions were evaluated to determine the optimal conditions to maintain the viability and proliferation of human IPSCs in a 3D environment: static versus dynamic culture, type of adhesion protein added to alginate (Matrigel™ versus gelatin), and the addition of Y-27632t on long-term 3D culture. The proliferation ability of the cells was evaluated via the MTS proliferation assay; the expression levels of the pluripotency markers Nanog and Oct3/4, PAX6 as an ectoderm marker, and laminin-5 and fibronectin as markers of extracellular matrix synthesis were assessed; and HIF1α and HIF2α levels were measured using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

Results

Using a high-aspect-ratio vessel bioreactor with a gentle, low-sheer, and low-turbulence environment with sufficient oxygenation and effective mass transfer of nutrients and waste, we verified its ability to promote cell proliferation and self-renewal. The findings showed that human IPSCs have the ability to maintain pluripotency in a feeder-free system and by inhibiting ROCK signaling and using hypoxia to improve single-cell viability in 3D culture. Furthermore, these cells demonstrated increased self-renewal and proliferation when inoculated as single cells in 3D alginate beads by adding RI during the culture period.

Conclusion

Dynamic 3D culture is desirable for the large-scale expansion of undifferentiated human IPSCs.

Neural Regeneration in Regenerative Endodontic Treatment: An Overview and Current Trends

Pulpal and periapical diseases are the most common dental diseases. The traditional treatment is root canal therapy, which achieves satisfactory therapeutic outcomes-especially for mature permanent teeth. Apexification, pulpotomy, and pulp revascularization are common techniques used for immature permanent teeth to accelerate the development of the root. However, there are obstacles to achieving functional pulp regeneration. Recently, two methods have been proposed based on tissue engineering: stem cell transplantation, and cell homing. One of the goals of functional pulp regeneration is to achieve innervation. Nerves play a vital role in dentin formation, nutrition, sensation, and defense in the pulp. Successful neural regeneration faces tough challenges in both animal studies and clinical trials. Investigation of the regeneration and repair of the nerves in the pulp has become a serious undertaking. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the key stem cells, signaling molecules, and biomaterials that could promote neural regeneration as part of pulp regeneration. We also discuss the challenges in preclinical or clinical neural regeneration applications to guide deep research in the future.

Application of 3D Hepatic Plate-Like Liver Model for Statin-Induced Hepatotoxicity Evaluation

Background: Drug-induced liver injury is one of the main reasons of withdrawals of drugs in postmarketing stages. However, an experimental model(s) which can accurately recapitulates liver functions and reflects the level of drug hepatotoxicity is lack. In this study, we assessed drug hepatotoxicity using a novel three-dimensional hepatic plate-like hydrogel fiber (3D-P) co-culture system.

Methods: During the 28-days culture period, the liver-specific functions, hepatocyte polarity, sensitivity of drug-induced toxicity of 3D-P co-culture system were evaluated with 2D co-culture, collagen sandwich co-culture, 3D hybrid hydrogel fiber co-culture and human primary hepatocytes as controls. High-content imaging and analysis (HCA) methods were used to explore the hepatotoxicity mechanism of five statins.

Results: The 3D-P co-culture system showed enhancing liver-specific functions, cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs) metabolic activity and bile excretion, which were considered to result from improved hepatocyte polarity. Three of the statins may cause acute or chronic hepatotoxicity by via different mechanisms, such as cholestatic liver injury.

Conclusion: Our 3D-P co-culture system is characterized by its biomimetic hepatic plate-like structure, long-term stable liver specificity, and prominent bile secretion function, making it applicable for acute/chronic drug hepatotoxicity assessments.

The Usages and Potential Uses of Alginate for Healthcare Applications

Due to their unique properties, alginate-based biomaterials have been extensively used to treat different diseases, and in the regeneration of diverse organs. A lot of research has been done by the different scientific community to develop biofilms for fulfilling the need for sustainable human health. The aim of this review is to hit upon a hydrogel enhancing the scope of utilization in biomedical applications. The presence of active sites in alginate hydrogels can be manipulated for managing various non-communicable diseases by encapsulating, with the bioactive component as a potential site for chemicals in developing drugs, or for delivering macromolecule nutrients. Gels are accepted for cell implantation in tissue regeneration, as they can transfer cells to the intended site. Thus, this review will accelerate advanced research avenues in tissue engineering and the potential of alginate biofilms in the healthcare sector.

Advancements in Assessments of Bio-Tissue Engineering and Viable Cell Delivery Matrices Using Bile Acid-Based Pharmacological Biotechnologies

The utilisation of bioartificial organs is of significant interest to many due to their versatility in treating a wide range of disorders. Microencapsulation has a potentially significant role in such organs. In order to utilise microcapsules, accurate characterisation and analysis is required to assess their properties and suitability. Bioartificial organs or transplantable microdevices must also account for immunogenic considerations, which will be discussed in detail. One of the most characterized cases is the investigation into a bioartificial pancreas, including using microencapsulation of islets or other cells, and will be the focus subject of this review. Overall, this review will discuss the traditional and modern technologies which are necessary for the characterisation of properties for transplantable microdevices or organs, summarizing analysis of the microcapsule itself, cells and finally a working organ. Furthermore, immunogenic considerations of such organs are another important aspect which is addressed within this review. The various techniques, methodologies, advantages, and disadvantages will all be discussed. Hence, the purpose of this review is providing an updated examination of all processes for the analysis of a working, biocompatible artificial organ.

Multifunctional polymeric micellar nanomedicine in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer

Polymeric micelles are a prevalent topic of research for the past decade, especially concerning their fitting ability to deliver drug and diagnostic agents. This delivery system offers outstanding advantages, such as biocompatibility, high loading efficiency, water-solubility, and good stability in biological fluids, to name a few. The multifunctional polymeric micellar architect offers the added capability to adapt its surface to meet the looked-for clinical needs. This review cross-talks the recent reports, proof-of-concept studies, patents, and clinical trials that utilize polymeric micellar family architectures concerning cancer targeted delivery of anticancer drugs, gene therapeutics, and diagnostic agents. The manuscript also expounds on the underlying opportunities, allied challenges, and ways to resolve their bench-to-bedside translation for allied clinical applications.

Alginate-gelatin-Matrigel hydrogels enable the development and multigenerational passaging of patient-derived 3D bioprinted cancer spheroid models

Hydrogels consisting of controlled fractions of alginate, gelatin, and Matrigel enable the development of patient-derived bioprinted tissue models that support cancer spheroid growth and expansion. These engineered models can be dissociated to be then reintroduced to new hydrogel solutions and subsequently reprinted to generate multigenerational models. The process of harvesting cells from 3D bioprinted models is possible by chelating the ions that crosslink alginate, causing the gel to weaken. Inclusion of the gelatin and Matrigel fractions to the hydrogel increases the bioactivity by providing cell-matrix binding sites and promoting cross-talk between cancer cells and their microenvironment. Here we show that immortalized triple-negative breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) and patient-derived gastric adenocarcinoma cells can be reprinted for at least three 21 d culture cycles following bioprinting in the alginate/gelatin/Matrigel hydrogels. Our drug testing results suggest that our 3D bioprinted model can also be used to recapitulatein vivopatient drug response. Furthermore, our results show that iterative bioprinting techniques coupled with alginate biomaterials can be used to maintain and expand patient-derived cancer spheroid cultures for extended periods without compromising cell viability, altering division rates, or disrupting cancer spheroid formation.

A Low-Cost Open Source Device for Cell Microencapsulation

Microencapsulation is a widely studied cell therapy and tissue bioengineering technique, since it is capable of creating an immune-privileged site, protecting encapsulated cells from the host immune system. Several polymers have been tested, but sodium alginate is in widespread use for cell encapsulation applications, due to its low toxicity and easy manipulation. Different cell encapsulation methods have been described in the literature using pressure differences or electrostatic changes with high cost commercial devices (about 30,000 US dollars). Herein, a low-cost device (about 100 US dollars) that can be created by commercial syringes or 3D printer devices has been developed. The capsules, whose diameter is around 500 µm and can decrease or increase according to the pressure applied to the system, is able to maintain cells viable and functional. The hydrogel porosity of the capsule indicates that the immune system is not capable of destroying host cells, demonstrating that new studies can be developed for cell therapy at low cost with microencapsulation production. This device may aid pre-clinical and clinical projects in low- and middle-income countries and is lined up with open source equipment devices.

Recovery of Encapsulated Adult Neural Progenitor Cells from Microfluidic-Spun Hydrogel Fibers Enhances Proliferation and Neuronal Differentiation

Because of the limitations imposed by traditional two-dimensional (2D) cultures, biomaterials have become a major focus in neural and tissue engineering to study cell behavior in vitro. 2D systems fail to account for interactions between cells and the surrounding environment; these cell-matrix interactions are important to guide cell differentiation and influence cell behavior such as adhesion and migration. Biomaterials provide a unique approach to help mimic the native microenvironment in vivo. In this study, a novel microfluidic technique is used to encapsulate adult rat hippocampal stem/progenitor cells (AHPCs) within alginate-based fibrous hydrogels. To our knowledge, this is the first study to encapsulate AHPCs within a fibrous hydrogel. Alginate-based hydrogels were cultured for 4 days in vitro and recovered to investigate the effects of a 3D environment on the stem cell fate. Post recovery, cells were cultured for an additional 24 or 72 h in vitro before fixing cells to determine if proliferation and neuronal differentiation were impacted after encapsulation. The results indicate that the 3D environment created within a hydrogel is one factor promoting AHPC proliferation and neuronal differentiation (19.1 and 13.5%, respectively); however, this effect is acute. By 72 h post recovery, cells had similar levels of proliferation and neuronal differentiation (10.3 and 8.3%, respectively) compared to the control conditions. Fibrous hydrogels may better mimic the natural micro-environment present in vivo and be used to encapsulate AHPCs, enhancing cell proliferation and selective differentiation. Understanding cell behavior within 3D scaffolds may lead to the development of directed therapies for central nervous system repair and rescue.

Nanostructured carriers as innovative tools for cancer diagnosis and therapy

Cancer accounts for millions of deaths every year and, due to the increase and aging of the world population, the number of new diagnosed cases is continuously rising. Although many progresses in early diagnosis and innovative therapeutic protocols have been already set in clinical practice, still a lot of critical aspects need to be addressed in order to efficiently treat cancer and to reduce several drawbacks caused by conventional therapies. Nanomedicine has emerged as a very promising approach to support both early diagnosis and effective therapy of tumors, and a plethora of different inorganic and organic multifunctional nanomaterials have been ad hoc designed to meet the constant demand for new solutions in cancer treatment. Given their unique features and extreme versatility, nanocarriers represent an innovative and easily adaptable tool both for imaging and targeted therapy purposes, in order to improve the specific delivery of drugs administered to cancer patients. The current review reports an in-depth analysis of the most recent research studies aiming at developing both inorganic and organic materials for nanomedical applications in cancer diagnosis and therapy. A detailed overview of different approaches currently undergoing clinical trials or already approved in clinical practice is provided.

Mesenchymal stem cell 3D encapsulation technologies for biomimetic microenvironment in tissue regeneration

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) encapsulation technique has long been emerged in tissue engineering as it plays an important role in implantation of stem cells to regenerate a damaged tissue. MSC encapsulation provides a mimic of a three-dimensional (3D) in vivo environment to maintain cell viability and to induce the stem cell differentiation which regulates MSC fate into multi-lineages. Moreover, the 3D matrix surrounding MSCs protects them from the human innate immune system and allows the diffusion of biomolecules such as oxygen, cytokines, and growth factors. Therefore, many technologies are being developed to create MSC encapsulation platforms with diverse materials, shapes, and sizes. The conditions of the platform are determined by the targeted tissue and translation method. This review introduces several details of MSC encapsulation technologies such as micromolding, electrostatic droplet extrusion, microfluidics, and bioprinting and their application for tissue regeneration. Lastly, some of the challenges and future direction of MSC encapsulation technologies as a cell therapy-based tissue regeneration method will be discussed.

Present and future of tissue engineering scaffolds for dentin-pulp complex regeneration

More than two thirds of the global population suffers from tooth decay, which results in cavities with various levels of lesion severity. Clinical interventions to treat tooth decay range from simple coronal fillings to invasive root canal treatment. Pulp capping is the only available clinical option to maintain the pulp vitality in deep lesions, but irreversible pulp inflammation and reinfection are frequent outcomes for this treatment. When affected pulp involvement is beyond repair, the dentist has to perform endodontic therapy leaving the tooth non-vital and brittle. On-going research strategies have failed to overcome the limitations of existing pulp capping materials so that healthy and progressive regeneration of the injured tissues is attained. Preserving pulp vitality is crucial for tooth homeostasis and durability, and thus, there is a critical need for clinical interventions that enable regeneration of the dentin-pulp complex to rescue millions of teeth annually. The identification and development of appropriate biomaterials for dentin-pulp scaffolds are necessary to optimize clinical approaches to regenerate these hybrid dental tissues. Likewise, a deep understanding of the interactions between the micro-environment, growth factors, and progenitor cells will provide design basis for the most fitting scaffolds for this purpose. In this review, we first introduce the long-lasting clinical dental problem of rescuing diseased tooth vitality, the limitations of current clinical therapies and interventions to restore the damaged tissues, and the need for new strategies to fully revitalize the tooth. Then, we comprehensively report on the characteristics of the main materials of naturally-derived and synthetically-engineered polymers, ceramics, and composite scaffolds as well as their use in dentin-pulp complex regeneration strategies. Finally, we present a series of innovative smart polymeric biomaterials with potential to overcome dentin-pulp complex regeneration challenges.

Synthesis of a thin-layer gelatin nanofiber mat for cultivating retinal cell

Thin-layer gelatin nanofiber mats were fabricated as a biodegradable scaffold for proliferating human retinal pigment epithelium. Together with MTT assay, the glucose consumption rate, lactate formation, and lactate dehydrogenase activity of the human retinal pigment epithelium cells—on the gelatin nanofibers—were analyzed as indicators for cell growth and viability. The results showed that gelatin nanofiber did not make any toxic effect on the cells and the growth rate was comparable to the tissue culture plates. Using the fabricated thin-layer nanofibers let the by-product to leave which in turn cause less adverse effect on the cells. The biodegradability and stability of the gelatin nanofibers were optimized as a function of reaction time.

Glassy worm-like micelles in solvent and shear mediated shape transitions

The glassiness of polymer melts is generally considered to be suppressed by small dimensions, added solvent, and heat. Here, we suggest that glassiness persists at the nanoscale in worm-like micelles composed of amphiphilic diblock copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide)-polystyrene (PS). The glassiness of these worms is indicated by a lack of fluorescence recovery after photobleaching as well as micron-length rigid segments separated by hinges. The coarse-grained molecular dynamics studies probe the dynamics of the PS in these glassy worms. Addition of an organic solvent promotes a transition from hinged to fully flexible worms and to spheres or vesicles. Simulation demonstrates two populations of organic solvent in the core of the micelle-a solvent 'pool' in the micelle core and a second population that accumulates at the interface between the core and the corona. The stable heterogeneity of the residual solvent could explain the unusual hinged rigidity, but solvent removal during shear-extension could be more effective and yield - as observed - nearly straight worms without hinges.

Polymersomes at the solid-liquid interface: Dynamic morphological transformation and lubrication

Polymersomes are hollow spheres self-assembled from amphiphilic block copolymers of certain molecular architecture. Whilst they have been widely studied for biomedical applications, relatively few studies have reported their interfacial properties. In particular, lubrication by polymersomes has not been previously reported. Here, interfacial properties of polymersomes self-assembled from poly(butadiene)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PBD-PEO; molecular weight 10,400 g mol^-1) have been studied at both hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces. Their morphology at silica and mica surfaces was imaged with quantitative nanomechanical property mapping atomic force microscopy (QNM AFM), and friction and surface forces they mediate under confinement between two surfaces were studied using colloidal probe AFM (CP-AFM). We find that the polymersomes remained intact but adopted flattened conformation once adsorbed to mica, with a relatively low coverage. However, on silica these polymersomes were unstable, rupturing to form donut shaped residues or patchy bilayers. On a silica surface hydrophobized with a 19 nm polystyrene (PS) film, the polymer vesicles formed a more stable layer with a higher surface coverage as compared to the hydrophilic surface, and the interfacial structure also evolved over time. Moreover, friction was greatly reduced on hydrophobized silica surfaces in the presence of polymersomes, suggesting their potential as effective aqueous lubricants.

Scaffolds for 3D in vitro culture of neural lineage cells

Understanding how neurodegenerative disorders develop is not only a key challenge for researchers but also for the wider society, given the rapidly aging populations in developed countries. Advances in this field require new tools with which to recreate neural tissue in vitro and produce realistic disease models. This in turn requires robust and reliable systems for performing 3D in vitro culture of neural lineage cells. This review provides a state of the art update on three-dimensional culture systems for in vitro development of neural tissue, employing a wide range of scaffold types including hydrogels, solid porous polymers, fibrous materials and decellularised tissues as well as microfluidic devices and lab-on-a-chip systems. To provide some context with in vivo development of the central nervous system (CNS), we also provide a brief overview of the neural stem cell niche, neural development and neural differentiation in vitro. We conclude with a discussion of future directions for this exciting and important field of biomaterials research.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases and motor neuron diseases, are a major societal challenge for aging populations. Understanding these conditions and developing therapies against them will require the development of new physical models of healthy and diseased neural tissue. Cellular models resembling neural tissue can be cultured in the laboratory with the help of 3D scaffolds - materials that allow the organization of neural cells into tissue-like structures. This review presents recent work on the development of different types of scaffolds for the 3D culture of neural lineage cells and the generation of functioning neural-like tissue. These in vitro culture systems are enabling the development of new approaches for modelling and tackling diseases of the brain and CNS.

Alginate Bead Based Hexagonal Close Packed 3D Implant for Bone Tissue Engineering

Success of bone tissue engineering (BTE) relies on the osteogenic microarchitecture of the biopolymeric scaffold and appropriate spatiotemporal distribution of therapeutic molecules (growth factors and drugs) inside it. However, the existing technologies have failed to address both the issues together. Keeping this perspective in mind, we have developed a novel three-dimensional (3D) implant prototype by stacking hexagonal close packed (HCP) layers of calcium alginate beads. The HCP arrangement of the beads lead to a patterned array of interconnected tetrahedral and octahedral pores of average diameter of 142.9 and 262.9 μm, respectively, inside the implant. The swelling pattern of the implants changed from isotropic to anisotropic in the z-direction in the absence of bivalent calcium ions (Ca²⁺) in the swelling buffer. Incubation of the implant in simulated body fluid (SBF) resulted in a 2.7-fold increase in the compressive modulus. The variation in the relaxation times as derived from the Weichert viscoelasticity model predicted a gradual increase in the interactions among the alginate molecules in the matrix. We demonstrated the tunability of the spatiotemporal drug release from the implant in a tissue mimicking porous semisolid matrix as well as in conventional drug release set up by changing the spatial coordinates of the "drug loaded depot layer" inside the implant. The therapeutic potential of the implant was confirmed against Escherichia coli using metronidazole as the model drug. Detailed analysis of cell viability, cell cycle progression, and cytoskeletal reorganization using osteoblast cells (MG-63) proved the osteoconductive nature of the implant. Expression of differentiation markers such as alkaline phosphatase, runx2, and collagen type 1 in human mesenchymal stem cell in vitro confirmed the osteogenic nature of the implant. When tested in vivo, VEGF loaded implant was found capable of inducing angiogenesis in a mice model. In conclusion, the bead based implant may find its utility in non-load-bearing BTE.

Potential Biomedical Application of Enzymatically Treated Alginate/Chitosan Hydrosols in Sponges-Biocompatible Scaffolds Inducing Chondrogenic Differentiation of Human Adipose Derived Multipotent Stromal Cells

Current regenerative strategies used for cartilage repair rely on biomaterial functionality as a scaffold for cells that may have potential in chondrogenic differentiation. The purpose of the research was to investigate the biocompatibility of enzymatically treated alginate/chitosan hydrosol sponges and their suitability to support chondrogenic differentiation of human adipose derived multipotent stromal cells (hASCs). The alginate/chitosan and enzyme/alginate/chitosan sponges were formed from hydrosols with various proportions and were used as a biomaterial in this study. Sponges were tested for porosity and wettability. The porosity of each sponge was higher than 80%. An equal dose of alginate and chitosan in the composition of sponges improved their swelling ability. It was found that equal concentrations of alginate and chitosan in hydrosols sponges assure high biocompatibility properties that may be further improved by enzymatic treatment. Importantly, the high biocompatibility of these biomaterials turned out to be crucial in the context of hydrosols' pro-chondrogenic function. After exposure to the chondrogenic conditions, the hASCs in N/A/C and L/A/C sponges formed well developed nodules and revealed increased expression of collagen type II, aggrecan and decreased expression of collagen type I. Moreover, in these cultures, the reactive oxygen species level was lowered while superoxide dismutase activity increased. Based on the obtained results, we conclude that N/A/C and L/A/C sponges may have prospective application as hASCs carriers for cartilage repair.

Improving the Growth Rate of Human Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Alginate/Gelatin Versus Alginate Hydrogels

BACKGROUND

Expansion and differentiation of stem cells relies on the soluble materials as well as the physical conditions of their microenvironment. Several methods have been studied in attempt to enhance the growth and differentiation rates of different adult stem cells extracted from different sources.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose was to improve the three-dimensional (3D) culture condition of the semi-permeable polymeric beads for encapsulation of the human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADSCs) by modifying the ratio of the alginate-gelatin composition.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Following isolation and characterization of hADSCs by flow cytometry and their functional differentiation, encapsulation in the alginate and alginate/gelatin compositions were performed. Moreover, the stability, swelling, size frequency, growth kinetics, and cytotoxicity of the beads were measured to meet proper condition in the designed experimental and control culture conditions. Finally, the growth rates of the cells in different experimental groups and control were measured and analyzed statistically.

RESULTS

Viability decreased in 2 and 3 percent alginate once compared to 1% alginate in beads (p≤0.05). Moreover swelling of the beads in the alginate/gelatin compositions (50:50 and 70:30) were higher than the pure alginate beads (p≤0.05). Finally, the cell growth rate in alginate/gelatin (50:50) beads was significantly higher than alginate and alginate/gelatin (70:30) beads (p≤0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggested for the first time that the composite of alginate/gelatin beads with the ratio of 50:50 might provide a suitable culture condition for the encapsulation and in vitro expansion of the hADSCs.

Enzymatically triggered rupture of polymersomes

Polymersomes are robust vesicles made from amphiphilic block co-polymers. Large populations of uniform giant polymersomes with defined, entrapped species can be made by templating of double-emulsions using microfluidics. In the present study, a series of two enzymatic reactions, one inside and the other outside of the polymersome, were designed to induce rupture of polymersomes. We measured how the kinetics of rupture were affected by altering enzyme concentration. These results suggest that protocells with entrapped enzymes can be engineered to secrete contents on cue.

Differentiation of Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells into neurons in alginate scaffold

Alginate scaffold has been considered as an appropriate biomaterial for promoting the differentiation of embryonic stem cells toward neuronal cell lineage. We hypothesized that alginate scaffold is suitable for culturing Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells (WJMSCs) and can promote the differentiation of WJMSCs into neuron-like cells. In this study, we cultured WJMSCs in a three-dimensional scaffold fabricated by 0.25% alginate and 50 mM CaCl₂ in the presence of neurogenic medium containing 10 μM retinoic acid and 20 ng/mL basic fibroblast growth factor. These cells were also cultured in conventional two-dimensional culture condition in the presence of neurogenic medium as controls. After 10 days, immunofluorescence staining was performed for detecting β-tubulin (marker for WJMSCs-differentiated neuron) and CD271 (motor neuron marker). β-Tubulin and CD271 expression levels were significantly greater in the WJMSCs cultured in the three-dimensional alginate scaffold than in the conventional two-dimensional culture condition. These findings suggest that three-dimensional alginate scaffold cell culture system can induce neuronal differentiation of WJMSCs effectively.

Maturation of human iPS cell-derived dopamine neuron precursors in alginate-Ca(2+) hydrogel

BACKGROUND

Pluripotent stem cells (embryonic stem/induced pluripotent stem cells) have been widely studied as a potential cell source for cell transplantation therapy of Parkinson's disease. However, some difficulties remain to be overcome. These include the need to prepare a large number of dopamine (DA) neurons for clinical use and to culture the cells for a long period to allow their functional maturation and the removal of undifferentiated cells.

METHODS

In this study, aggregates of DA neuron precursors were enclosed in alginate-Ca(2+) microbeads, and the encapsulated aggregates were cultured for 25days to induce cell maturation.

RESULTS

More than 60% of cells in the aggregates differentiated into tyrosine hydroxylase-positive DA neurons. The aggregates could release DA at the same level as aggregates maintained on culture dishes without encapsulation. In addition, by exposure to a citrate solution, the alginate-Ca(2+) gel layer could be easily removed from aggregates without damaging the DA neurons. When the aggregates were transplanted into rat brain, viable cells were found in the graft at one week post-transplantation, with cells extending neurites into the host tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

Cell aggregates encapsulated in alginate-Ca(2+) beads successfully differentiated into mature DA neurons.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

The alginate-Ca(2+) microbead is suitable for maintaining DA precursor aggregates for a long period to allow their functional maturation.

Polymersomes from polypeptide containing triblock Co- and terpolymers for drug delivery against pancreatic cancer: asymmetry of the external hydrophilic blocks

Well-defined amphiphilic polymers of the ABA and ABC type are synthesized, where A is poly(L-lysine hydrochloride) (PLL), B is poly(γ-benzyl-(d7) L-glutamate) (PBLG(-d7)), and C is poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). The two polymers exhibit similar PBLG(-d7) composition, while in the ABC, the volume fraction of PEO block is higher than that of PLL. Both polymers form polymersomes in water. The polymersomes are loaded with doxorubicin or paclitaxel. It is found that in the ABC, due to asymmetry of the two hydrophilic blocks, PEO is always on the outer periphery and the dimensions of the vesicles are smaller. The release of the vesicles is temperature- and pH-dependent. In vivo toxicity tests of the empty vesicles show that they are not toxic. In vitro activity of the loaded vesicles against human pancreatic cancer cell lines reveals comparable activity to Myocet for the ABA loaded with doxorubicin, while lower activity is observed for the ABC.

Approaches to optimizing animal cell culture process: substrate metabolism regulation and protein expression improvement

Some high value proteins and vaccines for medical and veterinary applications by animal cell culture have an increasing market in China. In order to meet the demands of large-scale productions of proteins and vaccines, animal cell culture technology has been widely developed. In general, an animal cell culture process can be divided into two stages in a batch culture. In cell growth stage a high specific growth rate is expected to achieve a high cell density. In production stage a high specific production rate is stressed for the expression and secretion of qualified protein or replication of virus. It is always critical to maintain high cell viability in fed-batch and perfusion cultures. More concern has been focused on two points by the researchers in China. First, the cell metabolism of substrates is analyzed and the accumulation of toxic by-products is decreased through regulating cell metabolism in the culture process. Second, some important factors effecting protein expression are understood at the molecular level and the production ability of protein is improved. In pace with the rapid development of large-scale cell culture for the production of vaccines, antibodies and other recombinant proteins in China, the medium design and process optimization based on cell metabolism regulation and protein expression improvement will play an important role. The chapter outlines the main advances in metabolic regulation of cell and expression improvement of protein in animal cell culture in recent years.

In vitro culture and oxygen consumption of NSCs in size-controlled neurospheres of Ca-alginate/gelatin microbead

Neural stem cells (NSCs) forming neurospheres in a conventional culture tend to develop necrotic/apoptotic centers due to mass transport limitations. In this study, the internal pore structure of calcium-alginate/gelatin (CAG) microbeads was tuned and controlled to provide a suitable three-dimensional environment supporting NSC proliferation. Direct impact of three-dimensional space availability was quantified by oxygen consumption rates of NSCs and cells were cultured in three different methods: neurospheres, single cell suspension of NSCs, and encapsulated NSCs in microbeads. Our results showed that encapsulated NSCs in CAG microbeads maintained higher cell viability than in conventional culture. In addition, NSCs encapsulated in CAG microbeads preserved their original stemness and continued to express nestin, CNPase, GFAP and β-tubulin-III post-encapsulation. Oxygen consumption rates of encapsulated NSCs in CAG microbeads were the lowest as compared to the other two culture methods. The optimal cell density supporting high cell proliferation in CAG microbeads was found to be 1.5×10(5)cells/mL. The glucose consumption curve suggests that encapsulated NSCs in microbeads had a slower growth profile. This study presents an alternative method in hybrid microbead preparation to generate a highly favorable three-dimensional cell carrier for NSCs and was successfully applied for its effective in vitro expansion.

Neural differentiation of pluripotent cells in 3D alginate-based cultures

Biomaterial-supported culture methods, allowing for directed three-dimensional differentiation of stem cells are an alternative to canonical two-dimensional cell cultures. In this paper, we evaluate the suitability of alginate for three-dimensional cultures to enhance differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) towards neural lineages. We tested whether encapsulation of mESCs within alginate beads could support and/or enhance neural differentiation with respect to two-dimensional cultures. We encapsulated cells in beads of alginate with or without modification by fibronectin (Fn) or hyaluronic acid (HA). Gene expression analysis showed that cells grown in alginate and alginate-HA present increased differentiation toward neural lineages with respect to the two-dimensional control and to Fn group. Immunocytochemistry analyses confirmed these results, further showing terminal differentiation of neurons as seen by the expression of synaptic markers and markers of different neuronal subtypes. Our data show that alginate, alone or modified, is a suitable biomaterial to promote in vitro differentiation of pluripotent cells toward neural fates.

A Technology Platform to Test the Efficacy of Purification of Alginate

Alginates are widely used in tissue engineering technologies, e.g., in cell encapsulation, in drug delivery and various immobilization procedures. The success rates of these studies are highly variable due to different degrees of tissue response. A cause for this variation in success is, among other factors, its content of inflammatory components. There is an urgent need for a technology to test the inflammatory capacity of alginates. Recently, it has been shown that pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) in alginate are potent immunostimulatories. In this article, we present the design and evaluation of a technology platform to assess (i) the immunostimulatory capacity of alginate or its contaminants, (ii) where in the purification process PAMPs are removed, and (iii) which Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and ligands are involved. A THP1 cell-line expressing pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and the co-signaling molecules CD14 and MD2 was used to assess immune activation of alginates during the different steps of purification of alginate. To determine if this activation was mediated by TLRs, a THP1-defMyD88 cell-line was applied. This cell-line possesses a non-functional MyD88 coupling protein, necessary for activating NF-κB via TLRs. To identify the specific TLRs being activated by the PAMPs, we use different human embryonic kidney (HEK) cell-line that expresses only one specific TLR. Finally, specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were applied to identify the specific PAMP. By applying this three-step procedure, we can screen alginate in a manner, which is both labor and cost efficient. The efficacy of the platform was evaluated with an alginate that did not pass our quality control. We demonstrate that this alginate was immunostimulatory, even after purification due to reintroduction of the TLR5 activating flagellin. In addition, we tested two commercially available purified alginates. Our experiments show that these commercial alginates contained peptidoglycan, lipoteichoic acid, flagellin, and even lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The platform presented here can be used to evaluate the efficacy of purification procedures in removing PAMPs from alginates in a cost-efficient manner.

Surface characteristics determining the cell compatibility of ionically cross-linked alginate gels

In this study we investigated differences in the characteristics determining the suitability of five types of ion (Fe(3+), Al(3+), Ca(2+), Ba(2+) and Sr(2+))-cross-linked alginate films as culture substrates for cells. Human dermal fibroblasts were cultured on each alginate film to examine the cell affinity of the alginates. Since cell behavior on the surface of a material is dependent on the proteins adsorbed to it, we investigated the protein adsorption ability and surface features (wettability, morphology and charge) related to the protein adsorption abilities of alginate films. We observed that ferric, aluminum and barium ion-cross-linked alginate films supported better cell growth and adsorbed higher amounts of serum proteins than other types. Surface wettability analysis demonstrated that ferric and aluminum ion-cross-linked alginates had moderate hydrophilic surfaces, while other types showed highly hydrophilic surfaces. The roughness was exhibited only on barium ion-cross-linked alginate surface. Surface charge measurements revealed that alginate films had negatively charged surfaces, and showed little difference among the five types of gel. These results indicate that the critical factors of ionically cross-linked alginate films determining the protein adsorption ability required for their cell compatibility may be surface wettability and morphology.

Smart Polymersomes: Formation, Characterisation and Applications

The term polymersome, which refers to a fully synthetic polymeric vesicle, became commonplace around the turn of the millennium. Since then these highly intriguing structures have been at the center of multi-disciplinary research, bridging the fields of nanotechnology, chemistry, physics, biology, medicine and imaging and, more recently, pioneering the field of synthetic biology. As structures they offer greater control into understanding the relationship between amphiphile properties and membrane curvature. Moreover, as delivery vectors for therapeutic and diagnostic compounds they enable greater efficiency of current therapies and targeted delivery. With the rising costs of both healthcare and drug development, polymersomes and nanomedicine are well placed to combat these modern-day problems. This chapter provides an overview of the approaches to prepare and to characterize polymersomes as well as their applications in biomedicine, highlighting recent achievements in the stimuli-responsive drug delivery field.

Cell-laden poly(ɛ-caprolactone)/alginate hybrid scaffolds fabricated by an aerosol cross-linking process for obtaining homogeneous cell distribution: fabrication, seeding efficiency, and cell proliferation and distribution

Generally, solid-freeform fabricated scaffolds show a controllable pore structure (pore size, porosity, pore connectivity, and permeability) and mechanical properties by using computer-aided techniques. Although the scaffolds can provide repeated and appropriate pore structures for tissue regeneration, they have a low biological activity, such as low cell-seeding efficiency and nonuniform cell density in the scaffold interior after a long culture period, due to a large pore size and completely open pores. Here we fabricated three different poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL)/alginate scaffolds: (1) a rapid prototyped porous PCL scaffold coated with an alginate, (2) the same PCL scaffold coated with a mixture of alginate and cells, and (3) a multidispensed hybrid PCL/alginate scaffold embedded with cell-laden alginate struts. The three scaffolds had similar micropore structures (pore size = 430-580 μm, porosity = 62%-68%, square pore shape). Preosteoblast cells (MC3T3-E1) were used at the same cell density in each scaffold. By measuring cell-seeding efficiency, cell viability, and cell distribution after various periods of culturing, we sought to determine which scaffold was more appropriate for homogeneously regenerated tissues.

Stem cell microencapsulation for phenotypic control, bioprocessing, and transplantation

Cell microencapsulation has been utilized for decades as a means to shield cells from the external environment while simultaneously permitting transport of oxygen, nutrients, and secretory molecules. In designing cell therapies, donor primary cells are often difficult to obtain and expand to appropriate numbers, rendering stem cells an attractive alternative due to their capacities for self-renewal, differentiation, and trophic factor secretion. Microencapsulation of stem cells offers several benefits, namely the creation of a defined microenvironment which can be designed to modulate stem cell phenotype, protection from hydrodynamic forces and prevention of agglomeration during expansion in suspension bioreactors, and a means to transplant cells behind a semi-permeable barrier, allowing for molecular secretion while avoiding immune reaction. This review will provide an overview of relevant microencapsulation processes and characterization in the context of maintaining stem cell potency, directing differentiation, investigating scalable production methods, and transplanting stem cells for clinically relevant disorders.

An appropriate selection of a 3D alginate culture model for hepatic Huh-7 cell line encapsulation intended for viral studies

Three-dimensional (3D) culture systems have been introduced to provide cells with a biomimetic environment that is similar to in vivo conditions. Among the polymeric molecules available, sodium-alginate (Na-alg) salt is a material that is currently employed in different areas of drug delivery and tissue engineering, because it offers biocompatibility and optimal chemical properties, and its gelation with calcium chloride provides calcium-alginate (Ca-alg) scaffolds with mechanical stability and relative permeability. In this work, four different preparations of Ca-alg beads with varying Na-alg viscosity and concentration were used for a human hepatoma cell line (Huh-7) encapsulation. The effects of Ca-alg bead preparation on structural cell organization, liver-specific functions, and the expression of specific receptors implicated in hepatotropic virus permissivity were evaluated. Hepatic cells were cultured in 500 μm diameter Ca-alg beads for 7 days under dynamic conditions. For all culture systems, cell viability reached almost 100% at day 7. Cell proliferation was concomitantly followed by hepatocyte organization in aggregates, which adopted two different morphologies (spheroid aggregates or multicellular channel-like structures), depending on Ca-alg bead preparation. These cellular organizations established a real 3D hepatocyte architecture with cell polarity, cell junctions, and abundant bile canaliculi possessing microvillus-lined channels. The functionality of these 3D cultures was confirmed by the production of albumin and the exhibition of CYP1A activity over culture time, which were variable, according to Ca-alg bead condition. The expression of specific receptors of hepatitis C virus by Huh-7 cells suggests encouraging data for the further development of a new viral culture system in Ca-alg beads. In summary, this 3D hepatic cell culture represents a promising physiologically relevant system for further in vitro studies and demonstrates that an adequate encapsulation condition can be selected for each target application in liver tissue engineering, specifically in viral studies.

Finely dispersed single-walled carbon nanotubes for polysaccharide hydrogels

Here we demonstrate a polysaccharide hydrogel reinforced with finely dispersed single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) using biocompatible dispersants O-carboxymethylchitosan (OC) and chondroitin sulfate A (CS-A) as a structural support. Both of the dispersants can disperse SWNTs in aqueous solutions and hydrogel matrix as individual tubes or small bundles. Additionally, we have found that compressive modulus and strain of the hydrogels reinforced with SWNTs were enhanced as much as two times by the addition of a few weight percent of SWNTs. Moreover, the SWNT-incorporated hydrogels exhibited lower impedance and higher charge capacity than the alginate/dispersant hydrogel without SWNTs. The OC and the CS-A demonstrated much higher reinforcing enhancement than a commercially available dispersant, sodium dodecyl sulfate. Combined with the experimental data on the mechanical and electrical properties, the biocompatibility of OC and CS-A can provide the possibility of biomedical application of the SWNT-reinforced hydrogels.