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Orge I, Nogueira Pinto H, Silva M, Bidarra S, Ferreira S, Calejo I, Masereeuw R, Mihăilă S, Barrias C. Vascular units as advanced living materials for bottom-up engineering of perfusable 3D microvascular networks. Bioact Mater 2024; 38:499-511. [PMID: 38798890 PMCID: PMC11126780 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2024.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The timely establishment of functional neo-vasculature is pivotal for successful tissue development and regeneration, remaining a central challenge in tissue engineering. In this study, we present a novel (micro)vascularization strategy that explores the use of specialized "vascular units" (VUs) as building blocks to initiate blood vessel formation and create perfusable, stroma-embedded 3D microvascular networks from the bottom-up. We demonstrate that VUs composed of endothelial progenitor cells and organ-specific fibroblasts exhibit high angiogenic potential when embedded in fibrin hydrogels. This leads to the formation of VUs-derived capillaries, which fuse with adjacent capillaries to form stable microvascular beds within a supportive, extracellular matrix-rich fibroblastic microenvironment. Using a custom-designed biomimetic fibrin-based vessel-on-chip (VoC), we show that VUs-derived capillaries can inosculate with endothelialized microfluidic channels in the VoC and become perfused. Moreover, VUs can establish capillary bridges between channels, extending the microvascular network throughout the entire device. When VUs and intestinal organoids (IOs) are combined within the VoC, the VUs-derived capillaries and the intestinal fibroblasts progressively reach and envelop the IOs. This promotes the formation of a supportive vascularized stroma around multiple IOs in a single device. These findings underscore the remarkable potential of VUs as building blocks for engineering microvascular networks, with versatile applications spanning from regenerative medicine to advanced in vitro models.
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Affiliation(s)
- I.D. Orge
- i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS-Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - H. Nogueira Pinto
- i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - M.A. Silva
- i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- INEB-Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - S.J. Bidarra
- i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- INEB-Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - S.A. Ferreira
- i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - I. Calejo
- i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - R. Masereeuw
- Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - S.M. Mihăilă
- Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - C.C. Barrias
- i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- INEB-Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS-Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Coronel R, García-Moreno E, Siendones E, Barrero MJ, Martínez-Delgado B, Santos-Ocaña C, Liste I, Cascajo-Almenara MV. Brain organoid as a model to study the role of mitochondria in neurodevelopmental disorders: achievements and weaknesses. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1403734. [PMID: 38978706 PMCID: PMC11228165 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1403734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial diseases are a group of severe pathologies that cause complex neurodegenerative disorders for which, in most cases, no therapy or treatment is available. These organelles are critical regulators of both neurogenesis and homeostasis of the neurological system. Consequently, mitochondrial damage or dysfunction can occur as a cause or consequence of neurodevelopmental or neurodegenerative diseases. As genetic knowledge of neurodevelopmental disorders advances, associations have been identified between genes that encode mitochondrial proteins and neurological symptoms, such as neuropathy, encephalomyopathy, ataxia, seizures, and developmental delays, among others. Understanding how mitochondrial dysfunction can alter these processes is essential in researching rare diseases. Three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures, which self-assemble to form specialized structures composed of different cell types, represent an accessible manner to model organogenesis and neurodevelopmental disorders. In particular, brain organoids are revolutionizing the study of mitochondrial-based neurological diseases since they are organ-specific and model-generated from a patient's cell, thereby overcoming some of the limitations of traditional animal and cell models. In this review, we have collected which neurological structures and functions recapitulate in the different types of reported brain organoids, focusing on those generated as models of mitochondrial diseases. In addition to advancements in the generation of brain organoids, techniques, and approaches for studying neuronal structures and physiology, drug screening and drug repositioning studies performed in brain organoids with mitochondrial damage and neurodevelopmental disorders have also been reviewed. This scope review will summarize the evidence on limitations in studying the function and dynamics of mitochondria in brain organoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Coronel
- Neural Regeneration Unit, Functional Unit for Research on Chronic Diseases (UFIEC), National Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Systems Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá (UAH), Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | - Enrique García-Moreno
- Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology, CIBERER, National Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), Pablo de Olavide University-CSIC-JA, Seville, Spain
| | - Emilio Siendones
- Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology, CIBERER, National Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), Pablo de Olavide University-CSIC-JA, Seville, Spain
| | - Maria J. Barrero
- Models and Mechanisms Unit, Institute of Rare Diseases Research (IIER), Spanish National Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Beatriz Martínez-Delgado
- Molecular Genetics Unit, Institute of Rare Diseases Research (IIER), CIBER of Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos Santos-Ocaña
- Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology, CIBERER, National Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), Pablo de Olavide University-CSIC-JA, Seville, Spain
| | - Isabel Liste
- Neural Regeneration Unit, Functional Unit for Research on Chronic Diseases (UFIEC), National Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - M. V. Cascajo-Almenara
- Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology, CIBERER, National Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), Pablo de Olavide University-CSIC-JA, Seville, Spain
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Strobel HA, Moss SM, Hoying JB. Isolated Fragments of Intact Microvessels: Tissue Vascularization, Modeling, and Therapeutics. Microcirculation 2024; 31:e12852. [PMID: 38619428 DOI: 10.1111/micc.12852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
The microvasculature is integral to nearly every tissue in the body, providing not only perfusion to and from the tissue, but also homing sites for immune cells, cellular niches for tissue dynamics, and cooperative interactions with other tissue elements. As a microtissue itself, the microvasculature is a composite of multiple cell types exquisitely organized into structures (individual vessel segments and extensive vessel networks) capable of considerable dynamics and plasticity. Consequently, it has been challenging to include a functional microvasculature in assembled or fabricated tissues. Isolated fragments of intact microvessels, which retain the cellular composition and structures of native microvessels, are proving effective in a variety of vascularization applications including tissue in vitro disease modeling, vascular biology, mechanistic discovery, and tissue prevascularization in regenerative therapeutics and grafting. In this review, we will discuss the importance of recapitulating native tissue biology and the successful vascularization applications of isolated microvessels.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah M Moss
- Advanced Solutions Life Sciences, Manchester, USA
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Yu T, Yang Q, Peng B, Gu Z, Zhu D. Vascularized organoid-on-a-chip: design, imaging, and analysis. Angiogenesis 2024; 27:147-172. [PMID: 38409567 DOI: 10.1007/s10456-024-09905-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Vascularized organoid-on-a-chip (VOoC) models achieve substance exchange in deep layers of organoids and provide a more physiologically relevant system in vitro. Common designs for VOoC primarily involve two categories: self-assembly of endothelial cells (ECs) to form microvessels and pre-patterned vessel lumens, both of which include the hydrogel region for EC growth and allow for controlled fluid perfusion on the chip. Characterizing the vasculature of VOoC often relies on high-resolution microscopic imaging. However, the high scattering of turbid tissues can limit optical imaging depth. To overcome this limitation, tissue optical clearing (TOC) techniques have emerged, allowing for 3D visualization of VOoC in conjunction with optical imaging techniques. The acquisition of large-scale imaging data, coupled with high-resolution imaging in whole-mount preparations, necessitates the development of highly efficient analysis methods. In this review, we provide an overview of the chip designs and culturing strategies employed for VOoC, as well as the applicable optical imaging and TOC methods. Furthermore, we summarize the vascular analysis techniques employed in VOoC, including deep learning. Finally, we discuss the existing challenges in VOoC and vascular analysis methods and provide an outlook for future development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Yu
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics - MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics - Advanced Biomedical Imaging Facility, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Qihang Yang
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics - MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics - Advanced Biomedical Imaging Facility, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China
| | - Bo Peng
- Frontiers Science Center for Flexible Electronics, Xi'an Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE) and Xi'an Institute of Biomedical Materials & Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shanxi, 710072, China
| | - Zhongze Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210096, China
- Institute of Biomaterials and Medical Devices, Southeast University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215163, China
| | - Dan Zhu
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics - MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China.
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics - Advanced Biomedical Imaging Facility, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China.
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Gao Y, Xiao J, Chen Z, Ma Y, Liu X, Yang D, Leo HL, Yu H, Kong J, Guo Q. Engineering orthotopic tumor spheroids with organ-specific vasculatures for local chemoembolization evaluation. Biomater Sci 2023; 11:2115-2128. [PMID: 36723179 DOI: 10.1039/d2bm01632j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Developing a three-dimensional (3D) in vitro tumor model with vasculature systems suitable for testing endovascular interventional therapies remains a challenge. Here we develop an orthotopic liver tumor spheroid model that captures the organ-level complexity of vasculature systems and the extracellular matrix to evaluate transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) treatment. The orthotopic tumor spheroids are derived by seeding HepG2 cell colonies with controlled size and location surrounding the portal triads in a decellularized rat liver matrix and are treated by clinically relevant drug-eluting beads embolized in a portal vein vasculature while maintaining dynamic physiological conditions with nutrient and oxygen supplies through the hepatic vein vasculature. The orthotopic tumor model exhibits strong drug retention inside the spheroids and embolization location-dependent cellular apoptosis responses in an analogous manner to in vivo conditions. Such a tumor spheroid model built in a decellularized scaffold containing organ-specific vasculatures, which closely resembles the unique tumor microenvironment, holds the promise to efficiently assess various diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for endovascular therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Gao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Smart Healthcare Engineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China.
| | - Jingyu Xiao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Smart Healthcare Engineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China.
| | - Zijian Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Smart Healthcare Engineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China. .,Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117583, Singapore
| | - Yutao Ma
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Smart Healthcare Engineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China.
| | - Xiaoya Liu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Smart Healthcare Engineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China.
| | - Dishuang Yang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Smart Healthcare Engineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China.
| | - Hwa Liang Leo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117583, Singapore
| | - Hanry Yu
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore.,Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Singapore.,Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore 138669, Singapore.,Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore 138602, Singapore
| | - Jian Kong
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518020, China.
| | - Qiongyu Guo
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Smart Healthcare Engineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China.
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Cyr DG, Pinel L. Emerging organoid models to study the epididymis in male reproductive toxicology. Reprod Toxicol 2022; 112:88-99. [PMID: 35810924 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2022.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The importance of the epididymis on sperm maturation and consequently male fertility has been well documented. The pseudostratified epithelium of the epididymis is comprised of multiple cell types, including principal cells, which are the most abundant, and basal cells. The role of basal cells has been unclear and has been a source of discussion in the literature. However, the recent demonstration that these cells are multipotent or adult stem cells has opened new areas of research in epididymal biology. One such avenue is to understand the regulation of these stem cells, and to exploit their properties to develop tools for toxicological studies to elucidate the effects of chemicals on cell differentiation and epididymal function in vitro. Studies in both rat and mouse have shown that purified single epididymal basal cells cultured under 3D conditions can proliferate and differentiate to form organoids, or mini organs. Furthermore, these epididymal basal stem cells can self-renew and differentiate into other epididymal cell types. It is known that during epididymal development, basal cells are derived from undifferentiated columnar cells, which have been reported to share common properties to stem cells. Like basal cells, these undifferentiated columnar cells can also form organoids under 3D culture conditions and can differentiate into basal, principal and clear cells. Organoids derived from either basal cells or columnar cells offer unique models for toxicology studies and represent an exciting and emerging approach to understand the epididymis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel G Cyr
- Laboratory for Reproductive Toxicology, INRS-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Université du Québec, Laval, QC, Canada; Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproduction, Laval University, Québec, QC, Canada.
| | - Laurie Pinel
- Laboratory for Reproductive Toxicology, INRS-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Université du Québec, Laval, QC, Canada
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García-García RD, Garay-Pacheco E, Marín-Llera JC, Chimal-Monroy J. Recombinant Limb Assay as in Vivo Organoid Model. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:863140. [PMID: 35557939 PMCID: PMC9086426 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.863140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Organ formation initiates once cells become committed to one of the three embryonic germ layers. In the early stages of embryogenesis, different gene transcription networks regulate cell fate after each germ layer is established, thereby directing the formation of complex tissues and functional organs. These events can be modeled in vitro by creating organoids from induced pluripotent, embryonic, or adult stem cells to study organ formation. Under these conditions, the induced cells are guided down the developmental pathways as in embryonic development, resulting in an organ of a smaller size that possesses the essential functions of the organ of interest. Although organoids are widely studied, the formation of skeletal elements in an organoid model has not yet been possible. Therefore, we suggest that the formation of skeletal elements using the recombinant limb (RL) assay system can serve as an in vivo organoid model. RLs are formed from undissociated or dissociated-reaggregated undifferentiated mesodermal cells introduced into an ectodermal cover obtained from an early limb bud. Next, this filled ectoderm is grafted into the back of a donor chick embryo. Under these conditions, the cells can receive the nascent embryonic signals and develop complex skeletal elements. We propose that the formation of skeletal elements induced through the RL system may occur from stem cells or other types of progenitors, thus enabling the study of morphogenetic properties in vivo from these cells for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jesús Chimal-Monroy
- Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, México
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