1
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Ustunel S, Pandya H, Prévôt ME, Pegorin G, Shiralipour F, Paul R, Clements RJ, Khabaz F, Hegmann E. A Molecular Rheology Dynamics Study on 3D Printing of Liquid Crystal Elastomers. Macromol Rapid Commun 2024:e2300717. [PMID: 38445752 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202300717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
This work presents a rheological study of a biocompatible and biodegradable liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) ink for three dimensional (3D) printing. These materials have shown that their structural variations have an effect on morphology, mechanical properties, alignment, and their impact on cell response. Within the last decade LCEs are extensively studied as potential printing materials for soft robotics applications, due to the actuation properties that are produced when liquid crystal (LC) moieties are induced through external stimuli. This report utilizes experiments and coarse-grained molecular dynamics to study the macroscopic rheology of LCEs in nonlinear shear flow. Results from the shear flow simulations are in line with the outcomes of these experimental investigations. This work believes the insights from these results can be used to design and print new material with desirable properties necessary for targeted applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senay Ustunel
- Materials Science Graduate Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44240, USA
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44240, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44240, USA
| | - Harsh Pandya
- School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325, USA
| | - Marianne E Prévôt
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44240, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kent State University, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44240, USA
| | - Gisele Pegorin
- Materials Science Graduate Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44240, USA
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44240, USA
| | - Faeze Shiralipour
- Materials Science Graduate Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44240, USA
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44240, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44240, USA
| | - Rajib Paul
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44240, USA
| | - Robert J Clements
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44240, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Program, Kent State University, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44240, USA
- Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44240, USA
| | - Fardin Khabaz
- School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325, USA
- Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325, USA
| | - Elda Hegmann
- Materials Science Graduate Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44240, USA
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44240, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44240, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Program, Kent State University, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44240, USA
- Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44240, USA
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2
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Kantaros A, Ganetsos T. From Static to Dynamic: Smart Materials Pioneering Additive Manufacturing in Regenerative Medicine. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15748. [PMID: 37958733 PMCID: PMC10647622 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The emerging field of regenerative medicine holds immense promise for addressing complex tissue and organ regeneration challenges. Central to its advancement is the evolution of additive manufacturing techniques, which have transcended static constructs to embrace dynamic, biomimetic solutions. This manuscript explores the pivotal role of smart materials in this transformative journey, where materials are endowed with dynamic responsiveness to biological cues and environmental changes. By delving into the innovative integration of smart materials, such as shape memory polymers and stimulus-responsive hydrogels, into additive manufacturing processes, this research illuminates the potential to engineer tissue constructs with unparalleled biomimicry. From dynamically adapting scaffolds that mimic the mechanical behavior of native tissues to drug delivery systems that respond to physiological cues, the convergence of smart materials and additive manufacturing heralds a new era in regenerative medicine. This manuscript presents an insightful overview of recent advancements, challenges, and future prospects, underscoring the pivotal role of smart materials as pioneers in shaping the dynamic landscape of regenerative medicine and heralding a future where tissue engineering is propelled beyond static constructs towards biomimetic, responsive, and regenerative solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antreas Kantaros
- Department of Industrial Design and Production Engineering, University of West Attica, 12244 Athens, Greece
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3
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Zhang Z, Yang X, Zhao Y, Ye F, Shang L. Liquid Crystal Materials for Biomedical Applications. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2300220. [PMID: 37235719 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202300220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Liquid crystal is a state of matter being intermediate between solid and liquid. Liquid crystal materials exhibit both orientational order and fluidity. While liquid crystals have long been highly recognized in the display industry, in recent decades, liquid crystals provide new opportunities into the cross-field of material science and biomedicine due to their biocompatibility, multifunctionality, and responsiveness. In this review, the latest achievements of liquid crystal materials applied in biomedical fields are summarized. The start is made by introducing the basic concepts of liquid crystals, and then shifting to the components of liquid crystals as well as functional materials derived therefrom. After that, the ongoing and foreseeable applications of liquid crystal materials in the biomedical field with emphasis put on several cutting-edge aspects, including drug delivery, bioimaging, tissue engineering, implantable devices, biosensing, and wearable devices are discussed. It is hoped that this review will stimulate ingenious ideas for the future generation of liquid crystal-based drug development, artificial implants, disease diagnosis, health status monitoring, and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuohao Zhang
- Shanghai Xuhui Central Hospital, Zhongshan-Xuhui Hospital, and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, the International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism (Ministry of Science and Technology), Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xinyuan Yang
- Shanghai Xuhui Central Hospital, Zhongshan-Xuhui Hospital, and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, the International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism (Ministry of Science and Technology), Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yuanjin Zhao
- Shanghai Xuhui Central Hospital, Zhongshan-Xuhui Hospital, and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, the International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism (Ministry of Science and Technology), Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Fangfu Ye
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325001, China
| | - Luoran Shang
- Shanghai Xuhui Central Hospital, Zhongshan-Xuhui Hospital, and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, the International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism (Ministry of Science and Technology), Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
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4
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Ustunel S, Sternbach S, Prévôt ME, Freeman EJ, McDonough JA, Clements RJ, Hegmann E. 3D
Co‐culturing of human neuroblastoma and human oligodendrocytes, emulating native tissue using
3D
porous biodegradable liquid crystal elastomers. J Appl Polym Sci 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/app.53883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Senay Ustunel
- Materials Science Graduate Program Kent State University Kent Ohio USA
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute Kent State University Kent Ohio USA
| | - Sarah Sternbach
- Department of Biological Sciences Kent State University Kent Ohio USA
| | - Marianne E. Prévôt
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute Kent State University Kent Ohio USA
| | - Ernie J. Freeman
- Department of Biological Sciences Kent State University Kent Ohio USA
- Biomedical Sciences Program Kent State University Kent Ohio USA
- Brain Health Research Institute Kent State University Kent Ohio USA
| | - Jennifer A. McDonough
- Department of Biological Sciences Kent State University Kent Ohio USA
- Biomedical Sciences Program Kent State University Kent Ohio USA
- Brain Health Research Institute Kent State University Kent Ohio USA
| | - Robert J. Clements
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute Kent State University Kent Ohio USA
- Department of Biological Sciences Kent State University Kent Ohio USA
- Biomedical Sciences Program Kent State University Kent Ohio USA
- Brain Health Research Institute Kent State University Kent Ohio USA
| | - Elda Hegmann
- Materials Science Graduate Program Kent State University Kent Ohio USA
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute Kent State University Kent Ohio USA
- Department of Biological Sciences Kent State University Kent Ohio USA
- Biomedical Sciences Program Kent State University Kent Ohio USA
- Brain Health Research Institute Kent State University Kent Ohio USA
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5
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Prévôt ME, Ustunel S, Freychet G, Webb CR, Zhernenkov M, Pindak R, Clements RJ, Hegmann E. Physical Models from Physical Templates Using Biocompatible Liquid Crystal Elastomers as Morphologically Programmable Inks For 3D Printing. Macromol Biosci 2023; 23:e2200343. [PMID: 36415071 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202200343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Advanced manufacturing has received considerable attention as a tool for the fabrication of cell scaffolds however, finding ideal biocompatible and biodegradable materials that fit the correct parameters for 3D printing and guide cells to align remain a challenge. Herein, a photocrosslinkable smectic-A (Sm-A) liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) designed for 3D printing is presented, that promotes cell proliferation but most importantly induces cell anisotropy. The LCE-based bio-ink allows the 3D duplication of a highly complex brain structure generated from an animal model. Vascular tissue models are generated from fluorescently stained mouse tissue spatially imaged using confocal microscopy and subsequently processed to create a digital 3D model suitable for printing. The 3D structure is reproduced using a Digital Light Processing (DLP) stereolithography (SLA) desktop 3D printer. Synchrotron Small-Angle X-ray Diffraction (SAXD) data reveal a strong alignment of the LCE layering within the struts of the printed 3D scaffold. The resultant anisotropy of the LCE struts is then shown to direct cell growth. This study offers a simple approach to produce model tissues built within hours that promote cellular alignment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne E Prévôt
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA
| | - Senay Ustunel
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.,Materials Science Graduate Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA
| | - Guillaume Freychet
- Brookhaven National Laboratory, National Synchrotron Light Source-II, Upton, NY, 11973, USA
| | - Caitlyn R Webb
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA
| | - Mikhail Zhernenkov
- Brookhaven National Laboratory, National Synchrotron Light Source-II, Upton, NY, 11973, USA
| | - Ron Pindak
- Brookhaven National Laboratory, National Synchrotron Light Source-II, Upton, NY, 11973, USA
| | - Robert J Clements
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.,Biomedical Sciences Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA
| | - Elda Hegmann
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.,Materials Science Graduate Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.,Biomedical Sciences Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.,Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA
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6
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Blanco-Fernández G, Blanco-Fernandez B, Fernández-Ferreiro A, Otero-Espinar FJ. Lipidic lyotropic liquid crystals: Insights on biomedical applications. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 313:102867. [PMID: 36889183 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2023.102867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Liquid crystals (LCs) possess unique physicochemical properties, translatable into a wide range of applications. To date, lipidic lyotropic LCs (LLCs) have been extensively explored in drug delivery and imaging owing to the capability to encapsulate and release payloads with different characteristics. The current landscape of lipidic LLCs in biomedical applications is provided in this review. Initially, the main properties, types, methods of fabrication and applications of LCs are showcased. Then, a comprehensive discussion of the main biomedical applications of lipidic LLCs accordingly to the application (drug and biomacromolecule delivery, tissue engineering and molecular imaging) and route of administration is examined. Further discussion of the main limitations and perspectives of lipidic LLCs in biomedical applications are also provided. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Liquid crystals (LCs) are those systems between a solid and liquid state that possess unique morphological and physicochemical properties, translatable into a wide range of biomedical applications. A short description of the properties of LCs, their types and manufacturing procedures is given to serve as a background to the topic. Then, the latest and most innovative research in the field of biomedicine is examined, specifically the areas of drug and biomacromolecule delivery, tissue engineering and molecular imaging. Finally, prospects of LCs in biomedicine are discussed to show future trends and perspectives that might be utilized. This article is an ampliation, improvement and actualization of our previous short forum article "Bringing lipidic lyotropic liquid crystal technology into biomedicine" published in TIPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Blanco-Fernández
- Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Paraquasil Group, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (FIDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Institute of Materials (iMATUS), University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Bárbara Blanco-Fernandez
- CIBER in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, CIBER-BBN, Madrid, Spain; Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10-12, Barcelona 08028, Spain.
| | - Anxo Fernández-Ferreiro
- Pharmacology Group, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (FIDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Pharmacy Department, University Clinical Hospital of Santiago de Compostela (SERGAS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - Francisco J Otero-Espinar
- Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Paraquasil Group, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (FIDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Institute of Materials (iMATUS), University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
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7
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Rojas-Rodríguez M, Fiaschi T, Mannelli M, Mortati L, Celegato F, Wiersma DS, Parmeggiani C, Martella D. Cellular Contact Guidance on Liquid Crystalline Networks with Anisotropic Roughness. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15. [PMID: 36791024 PMCID: PMC10037237 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c22892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Cell contact guidance is widely employed to manipulate cell alignment and differentiation in vitro. The use of nano- or micro-patterned substrates allows efficient control of cell organization, thus opening up to biological models that cannot be reproduced spontaneously on standard culture dishes. In this paper, we explore the concept of cell contact guidance by Liquid Crystalline Networks (LCNs) presenting different surface topographies obtained by self-assembly of the monomeric mixture. The materials are prepared by photopolymerization of a low amount of diacrylate monomer dissolved in a liquid crystalline solvent, not participating in the reaction. The alignment of the liquid crystals, obtained before polymerization, determines the scaffold morphology, characterized by a nanometric structure. Such materials are able to drive the organization of different cell lines, e.g., fibroblasts and myoblasts, allowing for the alignment of single cells or high-density cell cultures. These results demonstrate the capabilities of rough surfaces prepared from the spontaneous assembly of liquid crystals to control biological models without the need of lithographic patterning or complex fabrication procedures. Interestingly, during myoblast differentiation, also myotube structuring in linear arrays is observed along the LCN fiber orientation. The implementation of this technology will open up to the formation of muscular tissue with well-aligned fibers in vitro mimicking the structure of native tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Rojas-Rodríguez
- European
Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy, via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Tania Fiaschi
- Department
of Biomedical, Experimental, and Clinical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Florence, viale Morgagni 50, 50143 Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Mannelli
- Department
of Biomedical, Experimental, and Clinical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Florence, viale Morgagni 50, 50143 Florence, Italy
| | - Leonardo Mortati
- Istituto
Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRiM), strada delle Cacce 91, 10135 Turin, Italy
| | - Federica Celegato
- Istituto
Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRiM), strada delle Cacce 91, 10135 Turin, Italy
| | - Diederik S. Wiersma
- European
Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy, via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Istituto
Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRiM), strada delle Cacce 91, 10135 Turin, Italy
- Department
of Physics and Astronomy, University of
Florence, via Sansone
1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Camilla Parmeggiani
- European
Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy, via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Istituto
Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRiM), strada delle Cacce 91, 10135 Turin, Italy
- Department
of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3−13, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Daniele Martella
- European
Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy, via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Istituto
Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRiM), strada delle Cacce 91, 10135 Turin, Italy
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8
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Jiang Y, Dong X, Zhu S, Dai S, Bai H, Li Q, Li L, Yuan N, Ding J. Skin-friendly and antibacterial monodomain liquid crystal elastomer actuator. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2023; 222:113110. [PMID: 36586236 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2022.113110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Monodomain liquid crystal elastomers (mLCEs) are flexible and biocompatible smart materials that show unique behaviors of soft elasticity, anisotropy, and reversible shape changes above the nematic-isotropic transition temperature. Therefore, it has great potential for application in wearable devices and biologically. However, most of the reported mLCEs have nematic-isotropic transition temperature (TNI) higher than 60 °C; and above this TNI, the tensile strength of the mLCEs decreases by orders of magnitude. These issues have received little attention, limiting their application in humans. Herein, the TNI of mLCEs was reduced from 78.4 °C to 23.5 °C by substituting part of the rigid LC mesogens with a flexible backbone. The physical entanglement of hydrogen bonds between molecular chains alleviated the molecular chain slip caused by the long flexible backbone. The tensile strength remained constant during the phase transformation. Furthermore, dynamic disulfide bonds were used to modify the LC polymer network, imparting it with excellent antimicrobial, programmable, and self-healing properties. To realize its application in the closure of skin wounds, a porous PHG-mLCE/hydrogel patch that was breathable and waterproof was designed to increase skin adhesion (262 N/m).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaoyao Jiang
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre for Photovoltaic Science and Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, PR China
| | - Xu Dong
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, PR China
| | - Shijie Zhu
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre for Photovoltaic Science and Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, PR China
| | - Shengping Dai
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an 343009, PR China
| | - Hongyu Bai
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre for Photovoltaic Science and Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, PR China
| | - Qingyue Li
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre for Photovoltaic Science and Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, PR China
| | - Lvzhou Li
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, PR China.
| | - Ningyi Yuan
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre for Photovoltaic Science and Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, PR China.
| | - Jianning Ding
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Centre for Photovoltaic Science and Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, PR China; School of Mechanical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, PR China.
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9
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Uchida J, Soberats B, Gupta M, Kato T. Advanced Functional Liquid Crystals. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2109063. [PMID: 35034382 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202109063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Liquid crystals have been intensively studied as functional materials. Recently, integration of various disciplines has led to new directions in the design of functional liquid-crystalline materials in the fields of energy, water, photonics, actuation, sensing, and biotechnology. Here, recent advances in functional liquid crystals based on polymers, supramolecular complexes, gels, colloids, and inorganic-based hybrids are reviewed, from design strategies to functionalization of these materials and interfaces. New insights into liquid crystals provided by significant progress in advanced measurements and computational simulations, which enhance new design and functionalization of liquid-crystalline materials, are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junya Uchida
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
| | - Bartolome Soberats
- Department of Chemistry, University of the Balearic Islands, Cra. Valldemossa Km. 7.5, Palma de Mallorca, 07122, Spain
| | - Monika Gupta
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
| | - Takashi Kato
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
- Research Initiative for Supra-Materials, Shinshu University, Wakasato, Nagano, 380-8553, Japan
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10
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Synchrotron Microbeam Diffraction Studies on the Alignment within 3D-Printed Smectic-A Liquid Crystal Elastomer Filaments during Extrusion. CRYSTALS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/cryst11050523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
3D printing of novel and smart materials has received considerable attention due to its applications within biological and medical fields, mostly as they can be used to print complex architectures and particular designs. However, the internal structure during 3D printing can be problematic to resolve. We present here how time-resolved synchrotron microbeam Small-Angle X-ray Diffraction (μ-SAXD) allows us to elucidate the local orientational structure of a liquid crystal elastomer-based printed scaffold. Most reported 3D-printed liquid crystal elastomers are mainly nematic; here, we present a Smectic-A 3D-printed liquid crystal elastomer that has previously been reported to promote cell proliferation and alignment. The data obtained on the 3D-printed filaments will provide insights into the internal structure of the liquid crystal elastomer for the future fabrication of liquid crystal elastomers as responsive and anisotropic 3D cell scaffolds.
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11
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Ustunel S, Prévôt ME, Clements RJ, Hegmann E. Cradle-to-cradle: designing biomaterials to fit as truly biomimetic cell scaffolds– a review. LIQUID CRYSTALS TODAY 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/1358314x.2020.1855919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Senay Ustunel
- Materials Science Graduate Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Marianne E. Prévôt
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Robert J. Clements
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
- Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Elda Hegmann
- Materials Science Graduate Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
- Brain Health Research Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
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12
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Shaha RK, Merkel DR, Anderson MP, Devereaux EJ, Patel RR, Torbati AH, Willett N, Yakacki CM, Frick CP. Biocompatible liquid-crystal elastomers mimic the intervertebral disc. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2020; 107:103757. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2020.103757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Revised: 02/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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13
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Jiang J, Dhakal NP, Guo Y, Andre C, Thompson L, Skalli O, Peng C. Controlled Dynamics of Neural Tumor Cells by Templated Liquid Crystalline Polymer Networks. Adv Healthc Mater 2020; 9:e2000487. [PMID: 32378330 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202000487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The ability to control the alignment and organization of cell populations has great potential for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. A variety of approaches such as nano/microtopographical patterning, mechanical loading, and nanocomposite synthesis have been developed to engineer scaffolds able to control cellular properties and behaviors. In this work, a patterned liquid crystal polymer network (LCN) film is synthesized by using a nematic liquid crystal template in which the molecular orientations are predesigned by photopatterning technique. Various configurations of polymer networks such as linear and circular patterns are created. When neural tumor cells are plated onto the templated LCN films, the cell alignment, migration, and proliferation are directed in both linear and curvilinear fashions following the pattern of the aligned polymer chains. A complex LCN pattern with zigzag geometry is also fabricated and found to be capable of controlling cell alignment and collective cellular organization. The demonstrated control of cell dynamics and organization by LCN films with various molecular alignments opens new opportunities to design scaffolds to control cultured cell organization in a manner resembling that found in tissues and to develop novel advanced materials for nerve repair, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinghua Jiang
- Department of Physics and Materials ScienceThe University of Memphis Memphis TN 38152 USA
| | - Netra Prasad Dhakal
- Department of Physics and Materials ScienceThe University of Memphis Memphis TN 38152 USA
| | - Yubing Guo
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal InstituteKent State University Kent OH 44242 USA
| | - Christian Andre
- Department of Physics and Materials ScienceThe University of Memphis Memphis TN 38152 USA
| | - Lauren Thompson
- Department of BiologyThe University of Memphis Memphis TN 38152 USA
| | - Omar Skalli
- Department of BiologyThe University of Memphis Memphis TN 38152 USA
| | - Chenhui Peng
- Department of Physics and Materials ScienceThe University of Memphis Memphis TN 38152 USA
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14
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Babakhanova G, Krieger J, Li BX, Turiv T, Kim MH, Lavrentovich OD. Cell alignment by smectic liquid crystal elastomer coatings with nanogrooves. J Biomed Mater Res A 2020; 108:1223-1230. [PMID: 32034939 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.36896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Control of cells behavior through topography of substrates is an important theme in biomedical applications. Among many materials used as substrates, polymers show advantages since they can be tailored by chemical functionalization. Fabrication of polymer substrates with nano- and microscale topography requires processing by lithography, microprinting, etching, and so forth. In this work, we introduce a different approach based on anisotropic elastic properties of polymerized smectic A (SmA) liquid crystal elastomer (LCE). When the SmA liquid crystal coating is deposited onto a substrate with planar alignment of the molecules, it develops nanogrooves at its free surface. After photopolymerization, these nanogrooves show an excellent ability to align human dermal fibroblasts over large areas. The alignment quality is good for both bare SmA LCE substrates and for substrates coated with fibronectin. The SmA LCE nano-topographies show a high potential for tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta Babakhanova
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
- Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
| | - Jess Krieger
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
| | - Bing-Xiang Li
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
- Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
| | - Taras Turiv
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
- Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
| | - Min-Ho Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
| | - Oleg D Lavrentovich
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
- Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
- Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
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15
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Mori T, Cukelj R, Prévôt ME, Ustunel S, Story A, Gao Y, Diabre K, McDonough JA, Freeman EJ, Hegmann E, Clements RJ. 3D Porous Liquid Crystal Elastomer Foams Supporting Long-term Neuronal Cultures. Macromol Rapid Commun 2020; 41:e1900585. [PMID: 32009277 DOI: 10.1002/marc.201900585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
3D liquid crystal elastomer (3D-LCE) foams are used to support long-term neuronal cultures for over 60 days. Sequential imaging shows that cell density remains relatively constant throughout the culture period while the number of cells per observational area increases. In a subset of samples, retinoic acid is used to stimulate extensive neuritic outgrowth and maturation of proliferated neurons within the LCEs, inducing a threefold increase in length with cells displaying morphologies indicative of mature neurons. Designed LCEs' micro-channels have a similar diameter to endogenous parenchymal arterioles, ensuring that neurons throughout the construct have constant access to growth media during extended experiments. Here it is shown that 3D-LCEs provide a unique environment and simple method to longitudinally study spatial neuronal function, not possible in conventional culture environments, with simplistic integration into existing methodological pipelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taizo Mori
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, 1425 Lefton Esplanade, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242-0001, USA
| | - Richard Cukelj
- Department of Biological Sciences, 1425 Lefton Esplanade, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242-0001, USA
| | - Marianne Estelle Prévôt
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, 1425 Lefton Esplanade, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242-0001, USA
| | - Senay Ustunel
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, 1425 Lefton Esplanade, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242-0001, USA.,Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program, 1425 Lefton Esplanade, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242-0001, USA
| | - Anna Story
- Department of Biological Sciences, 1425 Lefton Esplanade, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242-0001, USA
| | - Yunxiang Gao
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, 1425 Lefton Esplanade, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242-0001, USA
| | - Karene Diabre
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, 1425 Lefton Esplanade, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242-0001, USA
| | - Jennifer Ann McDonough
- Department of Biological Sciences, 1425 Lefton Esplanade, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242-0001, USA.,Biomedical Sciences Program, 1425 Lefton Esplanade, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242-0001, USA.,Brain Health Research Institute, 1425 Lefton Esplanade, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242-0001, USA
| | - Ernest Johnson Freeman
- Department of Biological Sciences, 1425 Lefton Esplanade, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242-0001, USA.,Biomedical Sciences Program, 1425 Lefton Esplanade, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242-0001, USA.,Brain Health Research Institute, 1425 Lefton Esplanade, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242-0001, USA
| | - Elda Hegmann
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, 1425 Lefton Esplanade, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242-0001, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, 1425 Lefton Esplanade, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242-0001, USA.,Biomedical Sciences Program, 1425 Lefton Esplanade, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242-0001, USA.,Brain Health Research Institute, 1425 Lefton Esplanade, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242-0001, USA.,Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program, 1425 Lefton Esplanade, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242-0001, USA
| | - Robert John Clements
- Department of Biological Sciences, 1425 Lefton Esplanade, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242-0001, USA.,Biomedical Sciences Program, 1425 Lefton Esplanade, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242-0001, USA.,Brain Health Research Institute, 1425 Lefton Esplanade, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242-0001, USA
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16
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Rajasekharan AK, Gyllensten C, Blomstrand E, Liebi M, Andersson M. Tough Ordered Mesoporous Elastomeric Biomaterials Formed at Ambient Conditions. ACS NANO 2020; 14:241-254. [PMID: 31846286 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.9b01924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic dry elastomers are randomly cross-linked polymeric networks with isotropic and unordered higher-level structural features. However, their growing use as soft-tissue biomaterials has demanded the need for an ordered and anisotropic nano-micro (or) mesoarchitecture, which is crucial for imparting specific properties such as hierarchical toughening, anisotropic mechanics, sustained drug delivery, and directed tissue growth. High processing cost, poor control in 3D, and compromised mechanical properties have made it difficult to synthesize tough and dry macroscopic elastomers with well-organized nano-microstructures. Inspired from biological design principles, we report a tough ordered mesoporous elastomer formed via bottom-up lyotropic self-assembly of noncytotoxic, polymerizable amphiphilic triblock copolymers and hydrophobic polymers. The elastomer is cross-linked using covalent cross-links and physical hydrophobic entanglements that are organized in a periodic manner at the nanoscale. This transforms into a well-ordered hexagonal arrangement of nanofibrils that are highly oriented at the micron scale, further organized as 3D macroscale objects. The ordered nano-microstructure and molecular multinetwork endows the elastomer with hierarchical toughening while possessing excellent stiffness and elongation comparable to engineering elastomers like silicone and vulcanized rubber. Processing of the elastomer is performed at ambient conditions using 3D printing and photo-cross-linking, which is fast and energy efficient and enables production of complex 3D objects with tailorable sub-millimeter features such as macroporosity. Furthermore, the periodic and amphiphilic nanostructure permits functionalization of the elastomer with secondary components such as inorganic nanoparticles or drug molecules, enabling complementary mechanical properties such as high stiffness and functional capabilities such as in localized drug delivery applications.
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17
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Martella D, Parmeggiani C. Advances in Cell Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering: The Value of Liquid Crystalline Elastomers. Chemistry 2018; 24:12206-12220. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.201800477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Martella
- Chemistry Department “Ugo Schiff”; University of Florence; Via della Lastruccia 3-13 Sesto Fiorentino Italy
- CNR-INO; European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS); University of Florence; via Nello Carrara 1 Sesto Fiorentino Italy
| | - Camilla Parmeggiani
- Chemistry Department “Ugo Schiff”; University of Florence; Via della Lastruccia 3-13 Sesto Fiorentino Italy
- CNR-INO; European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS); University of Florence; via Nello Carrara 1 Sesto Fiorentino Italy
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18
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Escalera-López D, Garcia-Amorós J, Velasco D. Smectic-B Liquid Single Crystal Elastomers as Efficient Optical Mechanotransducers. MACROMOL CHEM PHYS 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/macp.201700550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Escalera-López
- Grup de Materials Orgànics; Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (IN2UB); Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica (Secció de Química Orgànica); Universitat de Barcelona; Martí i Franquès 1 E-08028 Barcelona Spain
| | - Jaume Garcia-Amorós
- Grup de Materials Orgànics; Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (IN2UB); Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica (Secció de Química Orgànica); Universitat de Barcelona; Martí i Franquès 1 E-08028 Barcelona Spain
| | - Dolores Velasco
- Grup de Materials Orgànics; Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (IN2UB); Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica (Secció de Química Orgànica); Universitat de Barcelona; Martí i Franquès 1 E-08028 Barcelona Spain
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19
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Abstract
We present a robust method to prepare thin oriented nematic liquid crystalline elastomer-polymer (LCE-polymer) core-sheath fibers. An electrospinning setup is utilized to spin a single solution of photo-crosslinkable low molecular weight reactive mesogens and a support polymer to form the coaxial LCE-polymer fibers, where the support polymer forms the sheath via in situ phase separation as the solvent evaporates. We discuss the effect of phase separation and compare two different sheath polymers (polyvinylpyrrolidone and polylactic acid), investigating optical and morphological properties of obtained fibers, as well as the shape changes upon heating. The current fibers show only irreversible contraction, the relaxation most likely being hindered by the presence of the passive sheath polymer, increasing in stiffness on cooling. If the sheath polymer can be removed while keeping the LCE core intact, we expect LCE fibers produced in this way to have potential to be used as actuators, for instance in soft robotics and responsive textiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anshul Sharma
- Physics and Materials Science Research Unit, University of Luxembourg, 162 A Avenue de la Faïencerie, 1511 Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
| | - Jan P F Lagerwall
- Physics and Materials Science Research Unit, University of Luxembourg, 162 A Avenue de la Faïencerie, 1511 Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
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20
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Prévôt ME, Ustunel S, Hegmann E. Liquid Crystal Elastomers-A Path to Biocompatible and Biodegradable 3D-LCE Scaffolds for Tissue Regeneration. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2018; 11:E377. [PMID: 29510523 PMCID: PMC5872956 DOI: 10.3390/ma11030377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2018] [Revised: 02/21/2018] [Accepted: 02/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The development of appropriate materials that can make breakthroughs in tissue engineering has long been pursued by the scientific community. Several types of material have been long tested and re-designed for this purpose. At the same time, liquid crystals (LCs) have captivated the scientific community since their discovery in 1888 and soon after were thought to be, in combination with polymers, artificial muscles. Within the past decade liquid crystal elastomers (LCE) have been attracting increasing interest for their use as smart advanced materials for biological applications. Here, we examine how LCEs can potentially be used as dynamic substrates for culturing cells, moving away from the classical two-dimensional cell-culture nature. We also briefly discuss the integration of a few technologies for the preparation of more sophisticated LCE-composite scaffolds for more dynamic biomaterials. The anisotropic properties of LCEs can be used not only to promote cell attachment and the proliferation of cells, but also to promote cell alignment under LCE-stimulated deformation. 3D LCEs are ideal materials for new insights to simulate and study the development of tissues and the complex interplay between cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne E Prévôt
- Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA.
| | - Senay Ustunel
- Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA.
- Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program (CPIP), Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA.
| | - Elda Hegmann
- Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA.
- Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program (CPIP), Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA.
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21
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Sung B, Kim MH. Liquid-crystalline nanoarchitectures for tissue engineering. BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY 2018; 9:205-215. [PMID: 29441265 PMCID: PMC5789436 DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.9.22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Hierarchical orders are found throughout all levels of biosystems, from simple biopolymers, subcellular organelles, single cells, and macroscopic tissues to bulky organs. Especially, biological tissues and cells have long been known to exhibit liquid crystal (LC) orders or their structural analogues. Inspired by those native architectures, there has recently been increased interest in research for engineering nanobiomaterials by incorporating LC templates and scaffolds. In this review, we introduce and correlate diverse LC nanoarchitectures with their biological functionalities, in the context of tissue engineering applications. In particular, the tissue-mimicking LC materials with different LC phases and the regenerative potential of hard and soft tissues are summarized. In addition, the multifaceted aspects of LC architectures for developing tissue-engineered products are envisaged. Lastly, a perspective on the opportunities and challenges for applying LC nanoarchitectures in tissue engineering fields is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baeckkyoung Sung
- Liquid Crystal Institute and Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| | - Min-Ho Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
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22
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Martella D, Paoli P, Pioner JM, Sacconi L, Coppini R, Santini L, Lulli M, Cerbai E, Wiersma DS, Poggesi C, Ferrantini C, Parmeggiani C. Liquid Crystalline Networks toward Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Repair. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2017; 13:1702677. [PMID: 29045016 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201702677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The communication reports the use of liquid crystalline networks (LCNs) for engineering tissue cultures with human cells. Their ability as cell scaffolds for different cell lines is demonstrated. Preliminary assessments of the material biocompatibility are performed on human dermal fibroblasts and murine muscle cells (C2C12), demonstrating that coatings or other treatments are not needed to use the acrylate-based materials as support. Moreover, it is found that adherent C2C12 cells undergo differentiation, forming multinucleated myotubes, which show the typical elongated shape, and contain bundles of stress fibers. Once biocompatibility is demonstrated, the same LCN films are used as a substrate for culturing human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocites (hiPSC-CMs) proving that LCNs are capable to develop adult-like dimensions and a more mature cell function in a short period of culture in respect to standard supports. The demonstrated biocompatibility together with the extraordinary features of LCNs opens to preparation of complex cell scaffolds, both patterned and stimulated, for dynamic cell culturing. The ability of these materials to improve cell maturation and differentiation will be developed toward engineered heart and skeletal muscular tissues exploring regenerative medicine toward bioartificial muscles for injured sites replacement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Martella
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, via N. Carrara 1, Sesto F. No., 50019, Italy
| | - Paolo Paoli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche "Mario Serio", Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale Morgagni 50, Firenze, 50134, Italy
| | - Josè M Pioner
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale Morgagni 63, Firenze, 50134, Italy
| | - Leonardo Sacconi
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, via N. Carrara 1, Sesto F. No., 50019, Italy
- CNR-INO, via Nello Carrara 1, Sesto F. No., 50019, Italy
| | - Raffaele Coppini
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale Pieraccini, 6-50139, Firenze, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Santini
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale Pieraccini, 6-50139, Firenze, Italy
| | - Matteo Lulli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali e Cliniche "Mario Serio", Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale Morgagni 50, Firenze, 50134, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Cerbai
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale Pieraccini, 6-50139, Firenze, Italy
| | - Diederik S Wiersma
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, via N. Carrara 1, Sesto F. No., 50019, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRiM), Torino, 10135, Italy
| | - Corrado Poggesi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale Morgagni 63, Firenze, 50134, Italy
| | - Cecilia Ferrantini
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale Morgagni 63, Firenze, 50134, Italy
| | - Camilla Parmeggiani
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, via N. Carrara 1, Sesto F. No., 50019, Italy
- CNR-INO, via Nello Carrara 1, Sesto F. No., 50019, Italy
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23
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Prévôt ME, Ustunel S, Bergquist LE, Cukelj R, Gao Y, Mori T, Pauline L, Clements RJ, Hegmann E. Synthesis of Biocompatible Liquid Crystal Elastomer Foams as Cell Scaffolds for 3D Spatial Cell Cultures. J Vis Exp 2017:55452. [PMID: 28448030 PMCID: PMC5564508 DOI: 10.3791/55452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we present a step-by-step preparation of a 3D, biodegradable, foam-like cell scaffold. These scaffolds were prepared by cross-linking star block co-polymers featuring cholesterol units as side-chain pendant groups, resulting in smectic-A (SmA) liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs). Foam-like scaffolds, prepared using metal templates, feature interconnected microchannels, making them suitable as 3D cell culture scaffolds. The combined properties of the regular structure of the metal foam and of the elastomer result in a 3D cell scaffold that promotes not only higher cell proliferation compared to conventional porous templated films, but also better management of mass transport (i.e., nutrients, gases, waste, etc.). The nature of the metal template allows for the easy manipulation of foam shapes (i.e., rolls or films) and for the preparation of scaffolds of different pore sizes for different cell studies while preserving the interconnected porous nature of the template. The etching process does not affect the chemistry of the elastomers, preserving their biocompatible and biodegradable nature. We show that these smectic LCEs, when grown for extensive time periods, enable the study of clinically relevant and complex tissue constructs while promoting the growth and proliferation of cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Leah E Bergquist
- Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program, Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University
| | - Richard Cukelj
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University
| | | | - Taizo Mori
- Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University
| | | | | | - Elda Hegmann
- Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University;
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24
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Prévôt M, Hegmann E. From Biomaterial, Biomimetic, and Polymer to Biodegradable and Biocompatible Liquid Crystal Elastomer Cell Scaffolds. ACS SYMPOSIUM SERIES 2017. [DOI: 10.1021/bk-2017-1253.ch001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Prévôt
- Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242-0001, United States
- Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242-0001, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242-0001, United States
| | - E. Hegmann
- Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242-0001, United States
- Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242-0001, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242-0001, United States
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