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Moxon SR, Ferreira MJ, dos Santos P, Popa B, Gloria A, Katsarava R, Tugushi D, Serra AC, Hooper NM, Kimber SJ, Fonseca AC, Domingos MAN. A Preliminary Evaluation of the Pro-Chondrogenic Potential of 3D-Bioprinted Poly(ester Urea) Scaffolds. Polymers (Basel) 2020; 12:E1478. [PMID: 32630145 PMCID: PMC7408263 DOI: 10.3390/polym12071478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Degeneration of articular cartilage (AC) is a common healthcare issue that can result in significantly impaired function and mobility for affected patients. The avascular nature of the tissue strongly burdens its regenerative capacity contributing to the development of more serious conditions such as osteoarthritis. Recent advances in bioprinting have prompted the development of alternative tissue engineering therapies for the generation of AC. Particular interest has been dedicated to scaffold-based strategies where 3D substrates are used to guide cellular function and tissue ingrowth. Despite its extensive use in bioprinting, the application of polycaprolactone (PCL) in AC is, however, restricted by properties that inhibit pro-chondrogenic cell phenotypes. This study proposes the use of a new bioprintable poly(ester urea) (PEU) material as an alternative to PCL for the generation of an in vitro model of early chondrogenesis. The polymer was successfully printed into 3D constructs displaying adequate substrate stiffness and increased hydrophilicity compared to PCL. Human chondrocytes cultured on the scaffolds exhibited higher cell viability and improved chondrogenic phenotype with upregulation of genes associated with type II collagen and aggrecan synthesis. Bioprinted PEU scaffolds could, therefore, provide a potential platform for the fabrication of bespoke, pro-chondrogenic tissue engineering constructs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel R. Moxon
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester M13 9PL, UK; (S.R.M.); (N.M.H.)
| | - Miguel J.S. Ferreira
- Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK; (M.J.S.F.); (B.P.)
| | - Patricia dos Santos
- Centre for Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Processes, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima-Pólo II, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal; (P.d.S.); (A.C.S.)
| | - Bogdan Popa
- Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK; (M.J.S.F.); (B.P.)
| | - Antonio Gloria
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials—National Research Council of Italy, V.le J.F. Kennedy 54—Mostra d’Oltremare Pad. 20, 80125 Naples, Italy;
| | - Ramaz Katsarava
- Institute of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Agricultural University of Georgia, 240, David Aghmashenebeli Alley, Tbilisi 0159, Georgia; (R.K.); (D.T.)
| | - David Tugushi
- Institute of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Agricultural University of Georgia, 240, David Aghmashenebeli Alley, Tbilisi 0159, Georgia; (R.K.); (D.T.)
| | - Armenio C. Serra
- Centre for Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Processes, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima-Pólo II, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal; (P.d.S.); (A.C.S.)
| | - Nigel M. Hooper
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester M13 9PL, UK; (S.R.M.); (N.M.H.)
| | - Susan J. Kimber
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester M13 9PL, UK;
| | - Ana C. Fonseca
- Centre for Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Processes, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima-Pólo II, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal; (P.d.S.); (A.C.S.)
| | - Marco A. N. Domingos
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester M13 9PL, UK;
- The Henry Royce Institute, The University of Manchester, Alan Turing Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
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Shrivats AR, Hsu E, Averick S, Klimak M, Watt ACS, DeMaio M, Matyjaszewski K, Hollinger JO. Cationic Nanogel-mediated Runx2 and Osterix siRNA Delivery Decreases Mineralization in MC3T3 Cells. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2015; 473:2139-49. [PMID: 25448327 PMCID: PMC4418993 DOI: 10.1007/s11999-014-4073-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2014] [Accepted: 11/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heterotopic ossification (HO) may occur after musculoskeletal trauma, traumatic brain injury, and total joint arthroplasty. As such, HO is a compelling clinical concern in both military and civilian medicine. A possible etiology of HO involves dysregulated signals in the bone morphogenetic protein osteogenic cascade. Contemporary treatment options for HO (ie, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and radiation therapy) have adverse effects associated with their use and are not biologically engineered to abrogate the molecular mechanisms that govern osteogenic differentiation. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES We hypothesized that (1) nanogel-mediated short interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery against Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) and osterix (Osx) genes will decrease messenger RNA expression; (2) inhibit activity of the osteogenic marker alkaline phosphatase (ALP); and (3) inhibit hydroxyapatite (HA) deposition in osteoblast cell cultures. METHODS Nanogel nanostructured polymers delivered siRNA in 48-hour treatment cycles against master osteogenic regulators, Runx2 and Osx, in murine calvarial preosteoblasts (MC3T3-E1.4) stimulated for osteogenic differentiation by recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP-2). The efficacy of RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics was determined by quantitation of messenger RNA knockdown (by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction), downstream protein knockdown (determined ALP enzymatic activity assay), and HA deposition (determined by OsteoImage™ assay). RESULTS Gene expression assays demonstrated that nanogel-based RNAi treatments at 1:1 and 5:1 nanogel:short interfering RNA weight ratios reduced Runx2 expression by 48.59% ± 19.53% (p < 0.001) and 43.22% ± 18.01% (both p < 0.001). The same 1:1 and 5:1 treatments against both Runx2 and Osx reduced expression of Osx by 51.65% ± 10.85% and 47.65% ± 9.80% (both p < 0.001). Moreover, repeated 48-hour RNAi treatment cycles against Runx2 and Osx rhBMP-2 administration reduced ALP activity after 4 and 7 days. ALP reductions after 4 days in culture by nanogel 5:1 and 10:1 RNAi treatments were 32.4% ± 12.0% and 33.6% ± 13.8% (both p < 0.001). After 7 days in culture, nanogel 1:1 and 5:1 RNAi treatments produced 35.9% ± 14.0% and 47.7% ± 3.2% reductions in ALP activity. Osteoblast mineralization data after 21 days suggested that nanogel 1:1, 5:1, and 10:1 RNAi treatments decreased mineralization (ie, HA deposition) from cultures treated only with rhBMP-2 (p < 0.001). However, despite RNAi attack on Runx2 and Osx, HA deposition levels remained greater than non-rhBMP-2-treated cell cultures. CONCLUSIONS Although mRNA and protein knockdown were confirmed as a result of RNAi treatments against Runx2 and Osx, complete elimination of mineralization processes was not achieved. RNAi targeting mid- and late-stage osteoblast differentiation markers such as ALP, osteocalcin, osteopontin, and bone sialoprotein) may produce the desired RNAi-nanogel nanostructured polymer HO prophylaxis. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Successful HO prophylaxis should target and silence osteogenic markers critical for heterotopic bone formation processes. The identification of such markers, beyond RUNX2 and OSX, may enhance the effectiveness of RNAi prophylaxes for HO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun R. Shrivats
- />Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 700 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 USA
| | - Eric Hsu
- />Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 700 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 USA
| | - Saadyah Averick
- />Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 USA
| | - Molly Klimak
- />Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 700 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 USA
| | - April C. S. Watt
- />Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 700 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 USA
| | - Marlene DeMaio
- />Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, 620 John Paul Jones Cir, Portsmouth, VA 23708 USA
| | - Krzysztof Matyjaszewski
- />Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 USA
| | - Jeffrey O. Hollinger
- />Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 700 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 USA
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Teixeira GQ, Barrias CC, Lourenço AH, Gonçalves RM. A multicompartment holder for spinner flasks improves expansion and osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells in three-dimensional scaffolds. Tissue Eng Part C Methods 2014; 20:984-93. [PMID: 24650268 DOI: 10.1089/ten.tec.2014.0067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the tissue engineering field dynamic culture systems, such as spinner flasks, are widely used due to their ability to improve mass transfer in suspension cell cultures. However, this culture system is often unsuitable to culture cells in three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds. To address this drawback, we designed a multicompartment holder for 3D cell culture, easily adaptable to spinner flasks. Here, the device was tested with human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) seeded in 3D porous chitosan scaffolds that were maintained in spinner flasks under dynamic conditions (50 rpm). Standard static culture conditions were used as control. The dynamic conditions were shown to significantly increase MSCs proliferation over 1 week (approximately 6-fold) and to improve cell distribution within the scaffold. Moreover, they also promoted osteogenic differentiation of MSCs, inducing an earlier peak in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and a more homogenous ALP staining and matrix mineralization in the whole scaffolds, but particularly in the center. Overall, this study shows a new multicompartment holder to culture 3D scaffolds that can broaden the application of spinner flasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graciosa Q Teixeira
- 1 INEB-Instituto Nacional de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto , Porto, Portugal
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