Optimization of microencapsulated recombinant CHO cell growth, endostatin production, and stability of microcapsulein vivo

[Experimental study on transplantation of microencapsulated transgenic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells for early steroid-induced osteonecrosis of femoral head in rabbits]

Objective

To investigate the effect of microencapsulated transgenic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) transplantation on early steroid induced osteonecrosis of femoral head (SONFH) in rabbits.

Methods

Alginate poly- L-lysine-sodium alginate (APA) microencapsulated transgenic BMSCs with high expression of Foxc2 were prepared by high-voltage electrostatic method. Part of the cells were cultured in osteoblasts and observed by alizarin red staining at 2 and 3 weeks. Forty New Zealand white rabbits were used to prepare SONFH models by using hormone and endotoxin. Thirty two rabbits who were successful modeling were screened out by MRI and randomly divided into 4 groups (groups A, B, C and D, n=8); another 6 normal rabbits were taken as normal control (group E). The rabbits in group A did not receive any treatment; and in groups B, C, and D were injected with normal saline, allogeneic BMSCs, and APA microencapsulated transgenic BMSCs respectively after core decompression. At 6 and 12 weeks after operation, specimens of femoral head were taken for HE staining to observe bone ingrowth; the expressions of osteocalcin (OCN), peroxisome proliferative activated receptor γ 2 (PPARγ-2), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) proteins were observed by immunohistochemistry staining. At 12 weeks after operation, the bone microstructure was observed by transmission electron microscope, and the maximum compressive strength and average elastic modulus of cancellous bone and subchondral bone were measured by biomechanics.

Results

After 2 and 3 weeks of induction culture, alizarin red staining showed the formation of calcium nodules, and the number of calcium nodules increased at 3 weeks when compared with 2 weeks. The rabbits in each group survived until the experiment was completed. Compared with groups A, B, and C, the trabeculae of group D were more orderly, the empty bone lacunae were less, there were abundant functional organelles, and obvious osteogenesis was observed, and the necrotic area was completely repaired at 12 weeks. Immunohistochemical staining showed that, at 6 and 12 weeks after operation, the expressions of OCN and VEGF in groups A, B, and C were significantly lower than those in groups D and E, while those in groups B and C were significantly higher than those in group A, and in group E than in group D ( P<0.05). The expression of PPARγ-2 was significantly higher in groups A, B, and C than in groups D and E, and in group A than in groups B and C, and in group D than in group E ( P<0.05). At 12 weeks after operation, biomechanical test showed that the average elastic modulus and maximum compressive strength of cancellous bone and subchondral bone in groups D and E were significantly higher than those in groups A, B, and C ( P<0.05); there was no significant difference between groups A, B, and C and between groups D and E ( P>0.05).

Conclusion

In vivo transplantation of microencapsulated transgenic BMSCs can repair early SONFH in rabbits.

Growth and production of microencapsulated recombinant CHO in a stirred tank bioreactor

Microencapsulation supplies cells with a three-dimensional microenvironment enhancing the metabolic activity, cell density and recombinant protein expression in a stirred tank bioreactor which is used widely to culture mammalian cells in many biochemical processes. In this paper, we address the growth and Desmodus rotundus salivary plasminogen activator (DSPA) production of recombinant CHO (rCHO) in a stirred tank bioreactor. Cells were cultured using two different methods--in an unmicroencapsulated versus microencapsulated culture--and compared differences between them in terms of cell reproduction and DSPA protein productivity. Compared to the unmicroencapsulated rCHO, microencapsulated cells got higher cell density and prolonged the plateau phase. Microencapsulated rCHO promoted DSPA production, with a maximum rate that was 4.8 times higher than in unmicroencapsulated cells, and the accumulated production of DSPA was 3.3 higher than in unmicroencapsulated cells. Negative relationship was found between specific growth rate and DSPA production capacity of unit cells. These findings will facilitate the methods for higher DSPA production in stirred tank bioreactors.

Stirring rate regulates the proliferation and metabolism of microencapsulated recombinant CHO cells

Stirred tank bioreactors are the most widely used method for the large-scale culture of mammalian cells. However, the scale of stirred tank bioreactors is limited by insufficient oxygen/nutrient mixing and the accumulation of waste products in high cell density cultures. The most effective method to solve these problems is to increase the stirring rate; this usually leads to increased cell proliferation, but can decrease the utilization of nutrients for recombinant protein synthesis. To investigate the effects of stirring rate on the proliferation, metabolism, and recombinant protein yield of microencapsulated recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (rCHO) cells, the cells were cultured under different stirring rates, and cell viability, metabolic activity, and protein yield were measured. Microencapsulation promoted Desmodus rotundus salivary plasminogen activator expression, and higher stirring rates promoted increases in microencapsulated cell density and metabolic activity. However, the maximum yield of recombinant protein was obtained at a moderate stirring rate, whereas protein yield was decreased at the highest tested stirring rate. The stirring rate had a significant impact on the growth and protein expression of microencapsulated rCHO cells, and a specific stirring rate was identified to maximize the yield of recombinant protein.

Growth, metabolic activity, and productivity of immobilized and freely suspended CHO cells in perfusion culture

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells producing β-galactosidase (β-gal) were successfully cultured on silicone-based porous microcarriers (ImmobaSil FS) in a 1 L stirred-tank perfusion bioreactor. We studied the growth, metabolism, and productivity of free and immobilized cells to understand cellular activity in immobilized conditions. CHO cells attached to ImmobaSil FS significantly better than to other microcarriers. Scanning electron microscope images showed that the CHO cells thoroughly colonized the porous surfaces of the ImmobaSil FS, exhibiting a spherical morphology with microvilli that extended to anchorage cells on the silicone surface. In perfusion culture, the concentration of the attached cells reached 8 × 10(8) cells/mL of carrier, whereas those that remained freely suspended reached 2 × 10(7) cells/mL medium. The β-gal concentration reached more than 5 unit/mL in perfusion culture, more than fivefold that of batch culture. The maximum concentration per microcarrier was proportional to the initial cell density. The specific growth rate, the specific β-gal production rate, the percentage of S phase, and the oxygen uptake rate were all relatively lower for immobilized cells than freely suspended cells in the same bioreactor, indicating that not only do cells survive and grow to a greater extent in a free suspension state, but they are also metabolically more active than viable cells inside the pores of the microcarriers.

Investigation of alginate-ε-poly-L-lysine microcapsules for cell microencapsulation

Cell microencapsulation is a promising approach for cell implantation, cell-based gene therapy, and large-scale cell culture. The well-studied α-AP (alginate-α-poly-L-lysine) microcapsules have been restricted to large-scale cell-culture and clinical applications because of high costs and cytotoxic effects in some cases. This study used ε-poly-L-lysine (ε-PLL), a high-biocompatible and low-cost food additives produced by fermentation, to prepare ε-AP (alginate-ε-PLL) microcapsules with various thickness membranes and swelling behaviors. ε-AP microcapsules were permeable to BSA, a standard protein of culture medium. ε-AP-microencapsulated Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells proliferated with culture time; no obvious difference with α-AP-microencapsulated CHO cells during the early 19 days. Whereas ε-AP-microencapsulated CHO cells kept higher viability (OD = 0.646 ± 0.012) on the 22nd day and microcapsule strength (integrity rate of 88%) on the 24th day than that of α-AP microcapsules (OD = 0.558 ± 0.025, integrity rate of 80%). ε-AP (alginate-ε-PLL) microcapsules exhibited more superior properties and could lower the costs to broaden the applications of microencapsulation technology.

Anti-tumor therapy with macroencapsulated endostatin producer cells

Background

Theracyte is a polytetrafluoroethylene membrane macroencapsulation system designed to induce neovascularization at the tissue interface, protecting the cells from host's immune rejection, thereby circumventing the problem of limited half-life and variation in circulating levels. Endostatin is a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis and tumor growth. Continuous delivery of endostatin improves the efficacy and potency of the antitumoral therapy. The purpose of this study was to determine whether recombinant fibroblasts expressing endostatin encapsulated in Theracyte immunoisolation devices can be used for delivery of this therapeutic protein for treatment of mice bearing B16F10 melanoma and Ehrlich tumors.

Results

Mice were inoculated subcutaneously with melanoma (B16F10 cells) or Ehrlich tumor cells at the foot pads. Treatment began when tumor thickness had reached 0.5 mm, by subcutaneous implantation of 10⁷ recombinant encapsulated or non-encapsulated endostatin producer cells. Similar melanoma growth inhibition was obtained for mice treated with encapsulated or non-encapsulated endostatin-expressing cells. The treatment of mice bearing melanoma tumor with encapsulated endostatin-expressing cells was decreased by 50.0%, whereas a decrease of 56.7% in tumor thickness was obtained for mice treated with non-encapsulated cells. Treatment of Ehrlich tumor-bearing mice with non-encapsulated endostatin-expressing cells reduced tumor thickness by 52.4%, whereas lower tumor growth inhibition was obtained for mice treated with encapsulated endostatin-expressing cells: 24.2%. Encapsulated endostatin-secreting fibroblasts failed to survive until the end of the treatment. However, endostatin release from the devices to the surrounding tissues was confirmed by immunostaining. Decrease in vascular structures, functional vessels and extension of the vascular area were observed in melanoma microenvironments.

Conclusions

This study indicates that immunoisolation devices containing endostatin-expressing cells are effective for the inhibition of the growth of melanoma and Ehrlich tumors.

Macroencapsulation of engineered cells is therefore a reliable platform for the refinement of innovative therapeutic strategies against tumors.

Encapsulation of Living Cells in Small (∼100 μm) Alginate Microcapsules by Electrostatic Spraying: A Parametric Study

A parametric study was performed to understand the effect of preparation parameters on size, morphology, and encapsulation efficiency (i.e., cells/microcapsule) of alginate microcapsules prepared using the electrostatic spray method. The preparation parameters studied include sodium alginate concentration, spray voltage, flow rate, and cell density. It was found that both the flow rate and spray voltage have a significant impact on microcapsule size while the microcapsule morphology is greatly influenced by both the sodium alginate concentration and spray voltage. To obtain small (∼100 μm) cell-loaded microcapsules with good morphology (i.e., round in shape and uniform in size) and high encapsulation efficiency (>5 cells/microcapsule), the optimal ranges of spray voltage, flow rate, alginate concentration, and cell density are from 1.6–1.8 kV, 1.5–3 ml/h, >1.5% (w/v), and (3–5)×106 cells/ml, respectively. Under optimal preparation conditions, cells were found to survive the microencapsulation process well.