EDC/NHS-crosslinked type II collagen-chondroitin sulfate scaffold: characterization and in vitro evaluation

A synergistic strategy based on active hydroxymethyl amine compounds and fucoidan for bioprosthetic heart valves with enhancing anti-coagulation and anti-calcification properties

With an aging population, the patients with valvular heart disease (VHD) are growing worldwide, and valve replacement is a primary choice for these patients with severe valvular disease. Among them, bioprosthetic heart valves (BHVs), especially BHVs trough transcatheter aortic valve replacement, are widely accepted by patients on account of their good hemodynamics and biocompatibility. Commercial BHVs in clinic are prepared by glutaraldehyde cross-linked pericardial tissue with the risk of calcification and thrombotic complications. In the present study, a strategy combines improved hemocompatibility and anti-calcification properties for BHVs has been developed based on a novel non-glutaraldehyde BHV crosslinker hexakis(hydroxymethyl)melamine (HMM) and the anticoagulant fucoidan. Besides the similar mechanical properties and enhanced component stability compared to glutaraldehyde crosslinked PP (G-PP), the fucoidan modified HMM-crosslinked PPs (HMM-Fu-PPs) also exhibit significantly enhanced anticoagulation performance with a 72 % decrease in thrombus weight compared with G-PP in ex-vivo shunt assay, along with the superior biocompatibility, satisfactory anti-calcification properties confirmed by subcutaneous implantation. Owing to good comprehensive performance of these HMM-Fu-PPs, this simple and feasible strategy may offer a great potential for BHV fabrication in the future, and open a new avenue to explore more N-hydroxymethyl compound based crosslinker with excellent performance in the field of biomaterials.

Construction and properties detection of 3D micro-structure scaffolds base on decellularized sheep kidney before and after crosslinking

Decellularized extracellular matrix is one form of natural material in tissue engineering. The process of dECM retains the tissue microstructure, provides good cell adhesion sites, maintains most of biological signals that promotes the survival and differentiation ability of cells. In this study, sheep kidney was decellularized followed by histochemical staining, elemental analysis and scanning electron microscopy characterizations. The dECM scaffold was prepared with different sequences of freeze drying technology, crosslinking and the water absorption, porosity, mechanical strength with subsequent thermogravimetric analysis, Infrared spectroscopy and biocompatibility tests. Our results indicated that these decellularized treatments of sheep kidney can effectively remove DNA and retain uniform pore size distribution. After crosslinking the scaffold's water absorption decreased from 987.56 ± 40.21% to 934.39 ± 39.61%, the porosity decreased from 89.64 ± 3.2% to 85.09 ± 17.63%, and the compression modulus increased from 304.32 ± 25.43 kPa to 459.53 ± 38.92 kPa, with thermal process the percentage of weight loss decreased from 66.57% to 44.731%, in addition, the composition didn't change significantly, crosslinking could also promote the stability. In terms of biocompatibility, the number of viable cells increased significantly with the days. In conclusion, the crosslinked decellularized sheep kidney extracellular matrix scaffold reduced water absorption and porosity slightly, but has a significant increase in mechanical properties, and presented excellent biocompatibility which are beneficial to cell adhesion, growth and differentiation.

Carbodiimide crosslinked decellularized lenticules as a drug carrier for sustained antibacterial eye treatments

In this study, the drug-loading and antibacterial activity of carbodiimide/N-hydroxysuccinimide (EDC/NHS) crosslinked decellularized lenticules (CDLs) were evaluated. Small incision lenticule extraction derived lenticules were decellularized and modified with crosslinking concentrations of 0.00 (E/L00, non-crosslinked), 0.01 (E/L01), 0.05 (E/L05) and 0.25 mmol (E/L25) EDC per mg lenticules at 5:1 EDC/NHS ratios with non-decellularized non-crosslinked lenticules (NDLs) as controls. NDLs and EDC/NHS CDLs had similar water contents. The light transmittance percentages (400-800 nm) were 91.55 ± 1.16%, 88.68 ± 1.19%, 80.86 ± 1.94%, 85.12 ± 2.42% and 85.62 ± 2.84% for NDLs, E/L00, E/L01, E/L05 and E/L25, respectively (P< 0.01). The EDC/NHS CDLs (diameter: 6.36 ± 0.18 mm; central thickness: 117.31 ± 3.46 μm) were soaked in 3% (wt./vol.) levofloxacin (LEV) solution for 3 h. The drug release concentrations of LEV-impregnated EDC/NHS CDLs were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Zone inhibition (ZOI) againstStaphylococcus aureusof E/L01, E/L05 and E/L25 were superior to E/L00 CDLs (P< 0.01) and among the different crosslinked groups, E/L05 lenticules produced the largest ZOIs and their drug concentration release over 21 d was the highest. EDC/NHS crosslinking can improve the drug-loading effect and antibacterial activity of decellularized lenticules. LEV-impregnated EDC/NHS CDLs are promising drug delivery carriers.

A highly porous type II collagen containing scaffold for the treatment of cartilage defects enhances MSC chondrogenesis and early cartilaginous matrix deposition

The combination of type II collagen (CII) and hyaluronic acid (HyA) resulted in the development of a CII-containing scaffold with improved chondrogenic benefits for simple and effective “off-the-shelf” application for enhanced cartilage repair.

Collagen type II: From biosynthesis to advanced biomaterials for cartilage engineering

Collagen type II is the major constituent of cartilage tissue. Yet, cartilage engineering approaches are primarily based on collagen type I devices that are associated with suboptimal functional therapeutic outcomes. Herein, we briefly describe cartilage's development and cellular and extracellular composition and organisation. We also provide an overview of collagen type II biosynthesis and purification protocols from tissues of terrestrial and marine species and recombinant systems. We then advocate the use of collagen type II as a building block in cartilage engineering approaches, based on safety, efficiency and efficacy data that have been derived over the years from numerous in vitro and in vivo studies.

Synergistic effects of graphene quantum dots and carbodiimide in promoting resin-dentin bond durability

OBJECTIVE

Resin-based dental adhesion is mostly utilized in minimally invasive operative dentistry. However, improving the durability and stability of resin-dentin bond interfaces remain a challenge. Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) reinforced by 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) were introduced to modify the resin-dentin bond interfaces, thereby promoting their durability and stability.

METHODS

GQDs, EDC, and EDC+GQDs groups were designed to evaluate the effects of GQDs and EDC on collagenase activity, the interaction of GQDs with collagen, and the resin-dentin interface. First, the effects of GQDs and EDC on collagenase activity was evaluated by Collagenase (EC 3.4.24.3) reacting with its substrate. The interaction of GQDs and EDC with collagen were evaluated by cross-linking degree analysis, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and enzymatic hydrolysis. Second, the acid-etched and rinse adhesive system was used to evaluate the resin-dentin bond on the basis of microtensile bond strength, in situ zymography and fluorescence confocal laser scanning microscopy.

RESULTS

GQDs could inhibit collagenase activity. GQDs with the aid of EDC could cross-link collagen via covalent bonds and improve the anti-enzymatic hydrolysis of collagen. In the resin-dentin adhesion model, the μTBS of the EDC+GQDs group was significantly higher than the other control groups after thermocycling. The addition of EDC to GQDs could inhibit matrix metalloproteinase activity and promote the integrity of the bonding interfaces after thermocycling.

SIGNIFICANCE

This study presents a novel strategy to modify the resin-dentin interface and provides a new application for GQDs. This strategy has the potential to improve the durability of resin-based restoration in dentistry.

A method for simultaneously crosslinking and functionalizing extracellular matrix-based biomaterials as bioprosthetic heart valves with enhanced endothelialization and reduced inflammation

With the coming of an aging society and the emergence of transcatheter valve technology, the implantation of bioprosthetic heart valves (BHVs) in patients with valvular disease has significantly increased worldwide. Currently, most clinically available BHVs are crosslinked with glutaraldehyde (GLUT). However, the GLUT treated BHV is less durable due to the combined effect of multiple factors such as cytotoxicity, immune responses, and calcification. In this study, the in-situ polymerization of sulfonic monomers with a decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) was performed to simultaneously achieve the crosslinking and functionalization of ECM. Subsequently, the feasibility of the hybrid ECM used as leaflet material of BHV was evaluated. In in-vitro tests, the results indicated that the hybrid ECM fixed collagen efficiently and the introduction of sulfonic polymer promoted the proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In in-vivo tests, after being implanted in SD rats and mice, the hybrid ECM significantly inhibited immune response and calcification compared with the non-hybrid counterpart and GLUT crosslinked tissue. These results indicated that the hybrid ECM exhibited more competitive stability and better biocompatibility compared to these features in GLUT-crosslinked valve. Therefore, the sulfonic polymer hybrid ECM provides a potential material for more durable BHV and the in-situ polymerization strategy can serve as a general treatment method for tissue crosslinking as well as tailoring the biophysical properties of ECM.

Injectable Disc-Derived ECM Hydrogel Functionalised with Chondroitin Sulfate for Intervertebral Disc Regeneration

Low back pain resulting from intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a significant socioeconomic burden. The main effect of the degeneration process involves the alteration of the nucleus pulposus (NP) via cell-mediated enzymatic breakdown of key extracellular matrix (ECM) components. Thus, the development of injectable and biomimetic biomaterials that can instruct the regenerative cell component to produce tissue-specific ECM is pivotal for IVD repair. Chondroitin sulfate (CS) and type II collagen are the primary components of NP tissue and together create the ideal environment for cells to deposit de-novo matrix. Given their high matrix synthesis capacity potential post-expansion, nasal chondrocytes (NC) have been proposed as a potential cell source to promote NP repair. The overall goal of this study was to assess the effects of CS incorporation into disc derived self-assembled ECM hydrogels on the matrix deposition of NCs. Results showed an increased sGAG production with higher amounts of CS in the gel composition and that its presence was found to be critical for the synthesis of collagen type II. Taken together, our results demonstrate how the inclusion of CS into the composition of the material aids the preservation of a rounded cell morphology for NCs in 3D culture and enhances their ability to synthesise NP-like matrix.

Regeneration of the rotator cuff tendon-to-bone interface using umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells and gradient extracellular matrix scaffolds from adipose tissue in a rat model

Regeneration of the gradient structure of the tendon-to-bone interface (TBI) is a crucial goal after rotator cuff repair. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a biomimetic hydroxyapatite-gradient scaffold (HA-G scaffold) isolated from adipose tissue (AD) with umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC MSCs) on the regeneration of the structure of the TBI by analyzing the histological and biomechanical changes in a rat repair model. As a result, the HA-G scaffold had progressively increased numbers of hydroxyapatite (HA) particles from the tendon to the bone phase. After seeding UC MSCs to the scaffold, specific matrices, such as collagen, glycoaminoglycan, and calcium, were synthesized with respect to the HA density. In a rat repair model, compared to the repair group, the UC MSCs seeded HA-G scaffold group had improved collagen organization and cartilage formation by 52% at 8 weeks and 262.96% at 4 weeks respectively. Moreover, ultimate failure load also increased by 30.71% at 4 weeks in the UC MSCs seeded HA-G scaffold group compared to the repair group. Especially, the improved values were comparable to values in normal tissue. This study demonstrated that HA-G scaffold isolated from AD induced UC MSCs to form tendon, cartilage and bone matrices similar to the TBI structure according to the HA density. Furthermore, UC MSC-seeded HA-G scaffold regenerated the TBI of the rotator cuff in a rat repair model in terms of histological and biomechanical properties similar to the normal TBI. Statement of Significance We found specific extracellular matrix (ECM) formation in the biomimetic-hydroxyapatite-gradient-scaffold (HA-G-scaffold) in vitro as well as improved histological and biomechanical results of repaired rotator cuff after the scaffold implantation in a rat model. This study has four strengths; An ECM scaffold derived from human adipose tissue; only one-layer used for a gradient scaffold not a multilayer used to mimic the unique structure of the gradient tendon-to-bone-interface (TBI) of the rotator cuff; UC-MSCs as a new cell source for TBI regeneration; and the UC-MSCs synthesized specific matrices with respect to the HA density without any other stimuli. This study suggested that the UC-MSC seeded HA-G-scaffold could be used as a promising strategy for the regeneration of rotator cuff tears.

Ethanol-mediated compaction and cross-linking enhance mechanical properties and degradation resistance while maintaining cytocompatibility of a nucleus pulposus scaffold

Intervertebral disc degeneration is a complex, cell-mediated process originating in the nucleus pulposus (NP) and is associated with extracellular matrix catabolism leading to disc height loss and impaired spine kinematics. Previously, we developed an acellular bovine NP (ABNP) for NP replacement that emulated human NP matrix composition and supported cell seeding; however, its mechanical properties were lower than those reported for human NP. To address this, we investigated ethanol-mediated compaction and cross-linking to enhance the ABNP's dynamic mechanical properties and degradation resistance while maintaining its cytocompatibility. First, volumetric and mechanical effects of compaction only were confirmed by evaluating scaffolds after various immersion times in buffered 28% ethanol. It was found that compaction reached equilibrium at ~30% compaction after 45 min, and dynamic mechanical properties significantly increased 2-6× after 120 min of submersion. This was incorporated into a cross-linking treatment, through which scaffolds were subjected to 120 min precompaction in buffered 28% ethanol prior to carbodiimide cross-linking. Their dynamic mechanical properties were evaluated before and after accelerated degradation by ADAMTS-5 or MMP-13. Cytocompatibility was determined by seeding stem cells onto scaffolds and evaluating viability through metabolic activity and fluorescent staining. Compacted and cross-linked scaffolds showed significant increases in DMA properties without detrimentally altering their cytocompatibility, and these mechanical gains were maintained following enzymatic exposure. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 107B:2488-2499, 2019.

Three-Dimensional Porous Scaffolds with Biomimetic Microarchitecture and Bioactivity for Cartilage Tissue Engineering

Ideal tissue-engineering cartilage scaffolds should possess the same nanofibrous structure as the microstructure of native cartilage as well as the same biological function provided by the microenvironment for neocartilage regeneration. In the present study, three-dimensional composite biomimetic scaffolds with different concentration ratios of electrospun gelatin-polycaprolactone (gelatin-PCL) nanofibers and decellularized cartilage extracellular matrix (DCECM) were fabricated. The nanofibers with the biomimetic microarchitecture of native cartilage served as a skeleton with excellent mechanical properties, and the DCECM served as a biological functionalization platform for the induction of cell response and the promotion of cartilage regeneration. Experimental results showed that the composite nanofiber/DCECM (NF/DCECM) scaffolds had stronger mechanical properties and structural stability in wet state compared with those of DCECM scaffolds. In vitro experiments demonstrated that all scaffolds had good biocompatibility, but the chondrocyte proliferation rate of the composite NF/DCECM scaffolds was higher than that of the NF scaffolds. In vitro and in vivo cartilage regeneration results indicated that the DCECM component of the composite scaffolds facilitated early maturation of the cartilage lacuna and the secretion of collagen and glycosaminoglycan. The macroscopic and histological results at 12 weeks postsurgery exhibited that the composite NF/DCECM scaffolds yielded better cartilage repair outcomes than those of the nontreated group and NF scaffolds group. Overall, the present study demonstrated that the structurally and functionally biomimetic NF/DCECM scaffold is a promising tissue engineering scaffold for cartilage regeneration and cartilage defect repair.

Genipin cross-linked type II collagen/chondroitin sulfate composite hydrogel-like cell delivery system induces differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells and regenerates degenerated nucleus pulposus

Nucleus pulposus (NP) degeneration is usually the origin of intervertebral disc degeneration and consequent lower back pain. Although adipose-derived stem cell (ADSC)-based therapy is regarded to be promising for the treatment of degenerated NP, there is a lack of viable cell carriers to transplant ADSCs into the NP while maintaining cell function. In this study, we developed a type II collagen/chondroitin sulfate (CS) composite hydrogel-like ADSC (CCSA) delivery system with genipin as the cross-linking agent. The induction effect of the scaffold on ADSC differentiation was studied in vitro, and a rat coccygeal vertebrae degeneration model was used to investigate the regenerative effect of the CCSA system on the degenerated NP in vivo. The results showed that the CCSA delivery system cross-linked with 0.02% genipin was biocompatible and promoted the expressions of NP-specific genes. After the injection of the CCSA system, the disc height, water content, extracellular matrix synthesis, and structure of the degenerated NP were partly restored. Our CCSA delivery system uses minimally invasive approaches to promote the regeneration of degenerated NP and provides an exciting new avenue for the treatment of degenerative disc disease.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Nucleus pulposus (NP) degeneration is usually the origin of intervertebral disc degeneration and consequent lower back pain. Stem cell-based tissue engineering is a promising method in NP regeneration, but there is a lack of viable cell carriers to transplant ADSCs into the NP while maintaining cell function. In this study, we developed a type II collagen/chondroitin sulfate (CS) composite hydrogel-like ADSC (CCSA) delivery system with genipin as the cross-linking agent. Although several research groups have studied the fabrication of injectable hydrogel with biological matrix, our study differs from other works. We chose type II collagen and CS, the two primary native components in the NP, as the main materials and combined them according to the natural ratio of collagen and sGAG in the NP. The delivery system is preloaded with ADSCs and can be injected into the NP with a needle, followed by in situ gelation. Genipin is used as a cross-linker to improve the bio-stability of the scaffold, with low cytotoxicity. We investigated the stimulatory effects of our scaffold on the differentiation of ADSCs in vitro and the regenerative effect of the CCSA delivery system on degenerated NP in vivo.

Fabrication and characterization of collagen-based injectable and self-crosslinkable hydrogels for cell encapsulation

Injectable and self-crosslinkable hydrogels have drawn much attention for their potential application as cell delivery carriers to deliver cells to the injury site of arbitrary shape. In this study, injectable and self-crosslinkable hydrogels were designed and fabricated based on collagen type I (Col I) and activated chondroitin sulfate (CS-sNHS) by physical and chemical crosslinking without the addition of any catalysts. The physical properties of hydrogels, including mechanical properties, swelling and degradation properties, were investigated. The results demonstrated that the physical properties of hydrogels, especially the stiffness of hydrogels, were readily tuned by varying the degree of substitution (DS) of CS-sNHS without changing the concentration of collagen-based precursor. Chondrocytes were encapsulated into hydrogels to investigate the effects of hydrogels on the survival, proliferation and extracellular matrix (ECM) secretion of cells by FDA/PI staining, CCK-8 test and histological staining. The results suggested that all of these hydrogels supported the survival and ECM secretion of chondrocytes, while there was more ECM secretion around chondrocytes encapsulated in hydrogel Col I/CS-sNHS56% in which the DS of CS-sNHS was 56%. When the neutral precursor solution for hydrogel of Col I or Col I/CS-sNHS56% was subcutaneously injected into SD rats, hydrogels both displayed acceptable biocompatibility in vivo. These results imply that these injectable and self-crosslinkable hydrogels are suitable candidates for applications in the fields of cell delivery and tissue engineering.

A 3D-Printed PLCL Scaffold Coated with Collagen Type I and Its Biocompatibility

Scaffolds play an important role in tissue engineering and their structure and biocompatibility have great influence on cell behaviors. In this study, poly(l-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) scaffolds were printed by a 3D printing technology, low-temperature deposition manufacturing (LDM), and then PLCL scaffolds were treated by alkali and coated with collagen type I (COLI). The scaffolds were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), porosity test, mechanical test, and infrared spectroscopy. The prepared PLCL and PLCL-COLI scaffolds had three-dimensional (3D) porous structure and they not only have macropores but also have micropores in the deposited lines. Although the mechanical property of PLCL-COLI was slightly lower than that of PLCL scaffold, the hydrophilicity of PLCL-COLI was significantly enhanced. Rabbit articular chondrocytes were extracted and were identified as chondrocytes by toluidine blue staining. To study the biocompatibility, the chondrocytes were seeded on scaffolds for 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 days. MTT assay showed that the proliferation of chondrocytes on PLCL-COLI scaffold was better than that on PLCL scaffold. And the morphology of cells on PLCL-COLI after 1-day culture was much better than that on PLCL. This 3D-printed PLCL scaffold coated with COLI shows a great potential application in tissue engineering.

Harnessing chondroitin sulphate in composite scaffolds to direct progenitor and stem cell function for tissue repair

This review details the inclusion of chondroitin sulphate in bioscaffolds for superior functional properties in tissue regenerative applications.

Advances in Protein-Based Materials: From Origin to Novel Biomaterials

Biomaterials play a very important role in biomedicine and tissue engineering where they directly affect the cellular activities and their microenvironment . Myriad of techniques have been employed to fabricate a vast number natural, artificial and recombinant polymer s in order to harness these biomaterials in tissue regene ration , drug delivery and various other applications. Despite of tremendous efforts made in this field during last few decades, advanced and new generation biomaterials are still lacking. Protein based biomaterials have emerged as an attractive alternatives due to their intrinsic properties like cell to cell interaction , structural support and cellular communications. Several protein based biomaterials like, collagen , keratin , elastin , silk protein and more recently recombinant protein s are being utilized in a number of biomedical and biotechnological processes. These protein-based biomaterials have enormous capabilities, which can completely revolutionize the biomaterial world. In this review, we address an up-to date review on the novel, protein-based biomaterials used for biomedical field including tissue engineering, medical science, regenerative medicine as well as drug delivery. Further, we have also emphasized the novel fabrication techniques associated with protein-based materials and implication of these biomaterials in the domain of biomedical engineering .

Ice as a Green-Structure-Directing Agent in the Synthesis of Macroporous MWCNTs and Chondroitin Sulphate Composites

The incorporation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) into chondroitin sulphate-based scaffolds and the effect on the structural, mechanical, conductive, and thermal properties of the resulting scaffolds is investigated. Three-dimensional hierarchical materials are prepared upon the application of the ice segregation-induced self-assembly (ISISA) process. The use of ice as structure-directing agents avoids chemicals typically used for this purpose (e.g., surfactants, block copolymers, etc.), hence, emphasising the green features of this soft-templating approach. We determine the critical parameters that control the morphology of the scaffolds formed upon ice-templating (i.e., MWCNTs type, freezing conditions, polymer and MWCNT concentration). MWCNTs are surface functionalized by acidic treatment. MWCNT functionalization is characterized by Raman, Fourier transfer infrared (FTIR) and X-ray Photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopies. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis and porosity studies reveal that MWCNT content modifies the morphology of the macroporous structure, which decreases by increasing MWCNT concentration. Differences in scaffold morphology should be translated into their conductivity and mechanical properties. As a general trend, the Young's modulus and the electrical conductivity of the scaffolds increase with the MWCNT content. Preliminary biocompatibility tests with human osteoblast-like cells also reveal the capability of these structures to support cell growth.

Monomeric, porous type II collagen scaffolds promote chondrogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in vitro

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common cause of pain and disability and is often associated with the degeneration of articular cartilage. Lesions to the articular surface, which are thought to progress to OA, have the potential to be repaired using tissue engineering strategies; however, it remains challenging to instruct cell differentiation within a scaffold to produce tissue with appropriate structural, chemical and mechanical properties. We aimed to address this by driving progenitor cells to adopt a chondrogenic phenotype through the tailoring of scaffold composition and physical properties. Monomeric type-I and type-II collagen scaffolds, which avoid potential immunogenicity associated with fibrillar collagens, were fabricated with and without chondroitin sulfate (CS) and their ability to stimulate the chondrogenic differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells was assessed. Immunohistochemical analyses showed that cells produced abundant collagen type-II on type-II scaffolds and collagen type-I on type-I scaffolds. Gene expression analyses indicated that the addition of CS - which was released from scaffolds quickly - significantly upregulated expression of type II collagen, compared to type-I and pure type-II scaffolds. We conclude that collagen type-II and CS can be used to promote a more chondrogenic phenotype in the absence of growth factors, potentially providing an eventual therapy to prevent OA.

Early cathepsin K degradation of type II collagen in vitro and in vivo in articular cartilage

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the initial events in the cleavage of type II collagen mediated by cathepsin K and demonstrate the presence of the resulting products in human and equine articular osteoarthritic cartilage.

DESIGN

Equine type II collagen was digested with cathepsin K and the cleavage products characterized by mass spectrometry. Anti-neoepitope antibodies were raised against the most N-terminal cleavage products and used to investigate the progress of collagen cleavage, in vitro, and the presence of cathepsin K-derived products in equine and human osteoarthritic cartilage.

RESULTS

Six cathepsin K cleavage sites distributed throughout the triple helical region were identified in equine type II collagen. Most of the cleavages occurred following a hydroxyproline residue. The most N-terminal site was within three residues of the previously identified site in bovine type II collagen. Western blotting using anti-neoepitope antibodies showed that the initial cleavages occurred at the N-terminal sites and this was followed by more extensive degradation resulting in products too small to be resolved by SDS gel electrophoresis. Immunohistochemical staining of cartilage sections from equine or human osteoarthritic joints showed staining in lesional areas which was not observed in non-arthritic sites.

CONCLUSIONS

Cathepsin K cleaves triple helical collagen by erosion from the N-terminus and with subsequent progressive cleavages. The liberated fragments can be detected in osteoarthritic cartilage and may represent useful biomarkers for disease activity.

Fish collagen-based scaffold containing PLGA microspheres for controlled growth factor delivery in skin tissue engineering

To design a scaffold controlled release system for skin tissue engineering, fish collagen/chitosan/chondroitin sulfate scaffolds were fabricated by freeze-drying and incorporated with bFGF-loaded PLGA microspheres (MPs). SEM showed that the scaffolds exhibited an interconnected porous structure, and the spherical MPs were uniformly distributed into the scaffolds. The higher swelling and degradation rate of scaffolds/MPs could lead to a higher diffusion rate of MPs from the scaffolds, causing an increase in the protein release. The release rate of proteins could be adjusted by the size of MPs and the ratio of collagen to chitosan of scaffolds. Circular dichroism spectroscopy and MTT of bFGF after release indicated that the released bFGF retained its structural integrity and bioactivity during preparation. Cell proliferation and in vivo evaluation results suggested that the scaffolds/MPs had a good biocompatibility and an ability to promote fibroblast cell proliferation and skin tissue regeneration. These results demonstrated that this scaffold/MP controlled release system has the potential for skin tissue engineering.

Tissue Engineering of Ureteral Grafts: Preparation of Biocompatible Crosslinked Ureteral Scaffolds of Porcine Origin

The surgical reconstruction of ureteric defects is often associated with post-operative complications and requires additional medical care. Decellularized ureters originating from porcine donors could represent an alternative therapy. Our aim was to investigate the possibility of manufacturing decellularized ureters, the characteristics of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the biocompatibility of these grafts in vitro/in vivo after treatment with different crosslinking agents. To achieve these goals, native ureters were obtained from pigs and were decellularized. The success of decellularization and the ECM composition were characterized by (immuno)histological staining methods and a DNA-assay. In vitro: scaffolds were crosslinked either with carbodiimide (CDI), genipin (GP), glutaraldehyde, left chemically untreated or were lyophilized. Scaffolds in each group were reseeded with Caco2, LS48, 3T3 cells, or native rat smooth muscle cells (SMC). After 2 weeks, the number of ingrown cells was quantified. In vivo: crosslinked scaffolds were implanted subcutaneously into rats and the type of infiltrating cells were determined after 1, 9, and 30 days. After decellularization, scaffold morphology and composition of ECM were maintained, all cellular components were removed, DNA destroyed and strongly reduced. In vitro: GP and CDI scaffolds revealed a higher number of ingrown 3T3 and SMC cells as compared to untreated scaffolds. In vivo: at day 30, implants were predominantly infiltrated by fibroblasts and M2 anti-inflammatory macrophages. A maximum of MMP3 was observed in the CDI group at day 30. TIMP1 was below the detection limit. In this study, we demonstrated the potential of decellularization to create biocompatible porcine ureteric grafts, whereas a CDI-crosslink may facilitate the remodeling process. The use of decellularized ureteric grafts may represent a novel therapeutic method in reconstruction of ureteric defects.

Crosslinking biopolymers for biomedical applications

Biomaterials made from proteins, polysaccharides, and synthetic biopolymers are preferred but lack the mechanical properties and stability in aqueous environments necessary for medical applications. Crosslinking improves the properties of the biomaterials, but most crosslinkers either cause undesirable changes to the functionality of the biopolymers or result in cytotoxicity. Glutaraldehyde, the most widely used crosslinking agent, is difficult to handle and contradictory views have been presented on the cytotoxicity of glutaraldehyde-crosslinked materials. Recently, poly(carboxylic acids) that can crosslink in both dry and wet conditions have been shown to provide the desired improvements in tensile properties, increase in stability under aqueous conditions, and also promote cell attachment and proliferation. Green chemicals and newer crosslinking approaches are necessary to obtain biopolymeric materials with properties desired for medical applications.

Investigating thiol-modification on hyaluronan via carbodiimide chemistry using response surface methodology

Hyaluronan (HA) is a naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan widely researched for its use as a biomaterial in tissue engineering, drug delivery, angiogenesis, and ophthalmic surgeries. The mechanical properties of this biomaterial can be altered to a required extent by chemically modifying the pendant reactive groups. However, derivatizing these polymers to a predetermined extent has been the Achilles heel for this process. In this study, we have investigated the factors controlling the derivatization of the carboxyl moieties of HA with amine containing thiol, cystamine dihydrochloride (Cys), via carbodiimide crosslinking chemistry. We used fractional factorial design to screen and identify the significant factor(s) affecting the reaction, and response surface methodology (RSM) to develop a model equation for predicting the degree of thiolation of HA. Also, we analyzed the reaction mechanism for potential side reactions. We observed that N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) (mole ratio with repeat unit of HA) is the significant factor controlling the degree of amidation. The quadratic equations developed from RSM predict the formulation for a desired degree of amidation of HA and percentage of potential side product. Hence, derivatizing HA to a predetermined extent with minimal side product can be achieved using the statistical design of experiments.

Crosslinking strategies for preparation of extracellular matrix-derived cardiovascular scaffolds

Heart valve and blood vessel replacement using artificial prostheses is an effective strategy for the treatment of cardiovascular disease at terminal stage. Natural extracellular matrix (ECM)-derived materials (decellularized allogeneic or xenogenic tissues) have received extensive attention as the cardiovascular scaffold. However, the bioprosthetic grafts usually far less durable and undergo calcification and progressive structural deterioration. Glutaraldehyde (GA) is a commonly used crosslinking agent for improving biocompatibility and durability of the natural scaffold materials. However, the nature ECM and GA-crosslinked materials may result in calcification and eventually lead to the transplant failure. Therefore, studies have been conducted to explore new crosslinking agents. In this review, we mainly focused on research progress of ECM-derived cardiovascular scaffolds and their crosslinking strategies.

Functionalization of biomaterial surfaces using artificial extracellular matrices

Construction of biomaterials with the ability to guide cell function is a topic of high interest in biomaterial development. One approach is using components native to the ECM of the target tissue to generate in vitro a microenvironment that can also elicit specific responses in cells and tissues—an artificial ECM (aECM). The focus is on collagen as the basic material, which can be modified using a number of different glycoproteins, proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans. Preparation, immobilization and the biochemical characteristics of such aECM are discussed, as well as the in vitro and in vivo response of cells and tissues, illustrating the potential of such matrices to direct cell fate.

Crosslinking of micropatterned collagen-based nerve guides to modulate the expected half-life

The microstructural, mechanical, compositional, and degradative properties of a nerve conduit are known to strongly affect the regenerative process of the injured peripheral nerve. Starting from the fabrication of micropatterned collagen-based nerve guides, according to a spin-casting process reported in the literature, this study further investigates the possibility to modulate the degradation rate of the scaffolds over a wide time frame, in an attempt to match different rates of nerve regeneration that might be encountered in vivo. To this aim, three different crosslinking methods, that is, dehydrothermal (DHT), carbodiimide-based (EDAC), and glutaraldehyde-based (GTA) crosslinking, were selected. The elastically effective degree of crosslinking, attained by each method and evaluated according to the classical rubber elasticity theory, was found to significantly tune the in vitro half-life (t1/2 ) of the matrices, with an exponential dependence of the latter on the crosslink density. The high crosslinking efficacy of EDAC and GTA treatments, respectively threefold and fourfold when compared to the one attained by DHT, led to a sharp increase of the corresponding in vitro half-lives (ca., 10, 172, and 690 h, for DHT, EDAC, and GTA treated matrices, respectively). As shown by cell viability assays, the cytocompatibility of both DHT and EDAC treatments, as opposed to the toxicity of GTA, suggests that such methods are suitable to crosslink collagen-based scaffolds conceived for clinical use. In particular, nerve guides with expected high residence times in vivo might be produced by finely controlling the biocompatible reaction(s) adopted for crosslinking.

Neocartilage formation from mesenchymal stem cells grown in type II collagen-hyaluronan composite scaffolds

Three-dimensional (3D) collagen type II-hyaluronan (HA) composite scaffolds (CII-HA) which mimics the extracellular environment of natural cartilage were fabricated in this study. Rheological measurements demonstrated that the incorporation of HA increased the compression modulus of the scaffolds. An initial in vitro evaluation showed that scaffolds seeded with porcine chondrocytes formed cartilaginous-like tissue after 8 weeks, and HA functioned to promote the growth of chondrocytes into scaffolds. Placenta-derived multipotent cells (PDMC) and gingival fibroblasts (GF) were seeded on tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS), CII-HA films, and small intestinal submucosa (SIS) sheets for comparing their chondrogenesis differentiation potentials with those of adipose-derived adult stem cells (ADAS) and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC). Among different cells, PDMC showed the greatest chondrogenic differentiation potential on both CII-HA films and SIS sheets upon TGF-β3 induction, followed by GF. This was evidenced by the up-regulation of chondrogenic genes (Sox9, aggrecan, and collagen type II), which was not observed for cells grown on TCPS. This finding suggested the essential role of substrate materials in the chondrogenic differentiation of PDMC and GF. Neocartilage formation was more obvious in both PDMC and GF cells plated on CII-HA composite scaffolds vs. 8-layer SIS at 28 days in vitro. Finally, implantation of PDMC/CII-HA constructs into NOD-SCID mice confirmed the formation of tissue-engineered cartilage in vivo.

Mechanical and biocompatible characterization of a cross-linked collagen-hyaluronic acid wound dressing

Collagen scaffolds have been widely employed as a dermal equivalent to induce fibroblast infiltrations and dermal regeneration in the treatment of chronic wounds and diabetic foot ulcers. Cross-linking methods have been developed to address the disadvantages of the rapid degradation associated with collagen-based scaffolds. To eliminate the potential drawbacks associated with glutaraldehyde cross-linking, methods using a water soluble carbodiimide have been developed. In the present study, the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) hyaluronic acid (HA), was covalently attached to an equine tendon derived collagen scaffold using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) to create ntSPONGE™. The HA was shown to be homogeneously distributed throughout the collagen matrix. In vitro analyses of the scaffold indicated that the cross-linking enhanced the biological stability by decreasing the enzymatic degradation and increasing the thermal denaturation temperature. The material was shown to support the attachment and proliferation of mouse L929 fibroblast cells. In addition, the cross-linking decreased the resorption rate of the collagen as measured in an intramuscular implant model in rabbits. The material was also shown to be biocompatible in a variety of in vitro and in vivo assays. These results indicate that this cross-linked collagen-HA scaffold, ntSPONGE™, has the potential for use in chronic wound healing.

Characterisation of freeze-dried type II collagen and chondroitin sulfate scaffolds

Collagen type-II is the dominant type of collagen in articular cartilage and chondroitin sulfate is one of the main components of cartilage extracellular matrix. Afibrillar and fibrillar type-II atelocollagen scaffolds with and without chondroitin sulfate were prepared using casting and freeze-drying methods. The scaffolds were characterised to highlight the effects of fibrillogenesis and chondroitin sulfate addition on viscosity, pore structure, porosity and mechanical properties. Microstructure analysis showed that fibrillogenesis increased the circularity of pores significantly in collagen-only scaffolds, whereas with it, no significant change was observed in chondroitin sulfate-containing scaffolds. Addition of chondroitin sulfate to afibrillar scaffolds increased the circularity of the pores and the proportion of pores between 50 and 300 μm suitable for chondrocytes growth. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy explained the bonding between chondroitin sulfate and afibrillar collagen- confirmed with rheology results- which increased the compressive modulus 10-fold to 0.28 kPa. No bonding was observed in other scaffolds and consequently no significant changes in compressive modulus were detected.

Corneal stromal cell growth on gelatin/chondroitin sulfate scaffolds modified at different NHS/EDC molar ratios

A nanoscale modification strategy that can incorporate chondroitin sulfate (CS) into the cross-linked porous gelatin materials has previously been proposed to give superior performance for designed corneal keratocyte scaffolds. The purpose of this work was to further investigate the influence of carbodiimide chemistry on the characteristics and biofunctionalities of gelatin/CS scaffolds treated with varying N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS)/1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) molar ratios (0-1) at a constant EDC concentration of 10 mM. Results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and dimethylmethylene blue assays consistently indicated that when the NHS to EDC molar ratio exceeds a critical level (i.e., 0.5), the efficiency of carbodiimide-mediated biomaterial modification is significantly reduced. With the optimum NHS/EDC molar ratio of 0.5, chemical treatment could achieve relatively high CS content in the gelatin scaffolds, thereby enhancing the water content, glucose permeation, and fibronectin adsorption. Live/Dead assays and interleukin-6 mRNA expression analyses demonstrated that all the test samples have good cytocompatibility without causing toxicity and inflammation. In the molar ratio range of NHS to EDC from 0 to 0.5, the cell adhesion ratio and proliferation activity on the chemically modified samples significantly increased, which is attributed to the increasing CS content. Additionally, the materials with highest CS content (0.143 ± 0.007 nmol/10 mg scaffold) showed the greatest stimulatory effect on the biosynthetic activity of cultivated keratocytes. These findings suggest that a positive correlation is noticed between the NHS to EDC molar ratio and the CS content in the biopolymer matrices, thereby greatly affecting the corneal stromal cell growth.

The microstructure of collagen type I gel cross-linked with gold nanoparticles

Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, rheometry, and electrochemistry were used to provide insight into the microstructure of collagen type I gel (1%, w/v) modified with the tiopronin-protected (N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)glycine) gold nanoparticles (TPAu), a multivalent crosslinker. The cross-linking reaction, performed via EDC (1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide) coupling, results in compliant, mechanically stable and continuous gels. The gels contain unusual interconnected collagen-TPAu particles. Electrochemical measurements of 4-hydroxy-(2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl) (4HT) diffusion within the gel reveal that the gel hindrance is nearly independent of the TPAu concentration. The properties of the collagen-TPAu gel make it suitable for potential biomedical applications, such as delivery of small molecule drugs.

Tunable collagen hydrogels are modified by the therapeutic agents they are designed to deliver

Injectable hydrogels are increasingly being developed for biomedical applications due to their ability to be delivered in a minimally invasive manner. One potential use for such materials is in cell delivery for cardiac regeneration. While the materials' properties are often characterized, how these properties (and in particular gelation) are affected by the addition of the therapeutic agent(s) they are designed to deliver is often overlooked. The aim of this study was to examine the interactive effects between collagen-based hydrogels and different additives (cells and microspheres). The results demonstrated that the incorporation of either cells or microspheres to a collagen hydrogel decreased its gelation time and increased its viscosity. Increased concentrations of the EDC/NHS cross-linker resulted in greater loss of cell viability. However, it was found that this cell loss could be minimized by delivering cells with the cross-linker scavenger glycine. A better understanding of how materials and cells (and other additives) respond to each other will help towards the goal of improving scaffolds being developed for regenerative therapy.

Mineralization regulation and biological influence of bioactive glass-collagen-phosphatidylserine composite scaffolds

Biomimetic scaffolds are appealing products for the repair of bone defects using tissue engineering strategies. In the present study, novel biomimetic composite scaffolds, with similar properties to natural bone, were prepared, blended and cross-linked with bioactive glass, type I collagen and phosphatidylserine. When exposed to cell culture solution in the absence of a cellular source, the composite scaffolds form crystals with octahedral structure. These crystals are similar to the products derived from MC3T3-E1 cell mineralization within the composite scaffolds, with respect to both composition and morphology. Furthermore, crystals with octahedral structure were observed to develop into plate-like hydroxyapatite. The bio-mineralization behavior of the composite scaffolds is likely influenced by inorganic components. Finally, a rabbit tibia defect model shows that the highly bioactive properties of the investigated composites result in excellent bone repair.

Properties of newly-synthesized cationic semi-interpenetrating hydrogels containing either hyaluronan or chondroitin sulfate in a methacrylic matrix

Extracellular matrix components such as hyaluronan (HA) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) were combined with a synthetic matrix of p(HEMA-co-METAC) (poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate-co-2-methacryloxyethyltrimethylammonium)) at 1% and 2% w/w concentration following a previously developed procedure. The resulting semi-interpenetrating hydrogels were able to extensively swell in water incrementing their dry weight up to 13 fold depending on the glycosamminoglycan content and nature. When swollen in physiological solution, materials water uptake significantly decreased, and the differences in swelling capability became negligible. In physiological conditions, HA was released from the materials up to 38%w/w while CS was found almost fully retained. Materials were not cytotoxic and a biological evaluation, performed using 3T3 fibroblasts and an original time lapse videomicroscopy station, revealed their appropriateness for cell adhesion and proliferation. Slight differences observed in the morphology of adherent cells suggested a better performance of CS containing hydrogels.

Effect of chondroitin sulphate C on the in vitro and in vivo chondrogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells in crosslinked type II collagen scaffolds

This study evaluates the crosslinkage effect of chondroitin sulphate C (CSC) and type II collagen (COL II) on chondrogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in vitro and in vivo. In the in vitro studies, our results show that the weight ratio CSC:COL II that reaches 1.2:100 (CSC1.2/100 -COL II scaffold) can provide an optimal microenvironment for MSC chondrogenesis. When MSCs are cultured in this CSC1.2/100 -COL II scaffold, the chondrogenic gene expression of cultured cells is upregulated, while the osteogenic gene expression of these is downregulated. In addition, MSCs cultivated in the CSC1.2/100 -COL II scaffold are found to express the highest glycosaminoglycans:DNA ratio as compared to those in scaffolds of other CSC:COL II ratios. Histological and immunohistological evidence also supports the result. In the in vivo study, our results show that MSCs cultivated in the CSC1.2/100 -COL II scaffold demonstrate a better repair ability on cartilage lesions than does the COL II scaffold. After 1 month in vivo, the injected MSCs in the CSC1.2/100 -COL II scaffold show lacuna structures and stimulate the formation of type II collagen at the defective sites. Six months after transplantation, the generated cells in the CSC1.2/100 -COL II group show higher gene expressions of type II collagen and aggrecan but lower gene expression of type I collagen at the defective sites than those in the COL II group. The results strongly suggest that CSC1.2/100 -COL II scaffold can serve as a potential candidate for cartilage repair and improve the chondrogenesis of MSCs in general.

Xenogenic esophagus scaffolds fixed with several agents: comparative in vivo study of rejection and inflammation

Most infants with long-gap esophageal atresia receive an esophageal replacement with tissue from stomach or colon, because the native esophagus is too short for true primary repair. Tissue-engineered esophageal conducts could present an attractive alternative. In this paper, circular decellularized porcine esophageal scaffold tissues were implanted subcutaneously into Sprague-Dawley rats. Depending on scaffold cross-linking with genipin, glutaraldehyde, and carbodiimide (untreated scaffolds : positive control; bovine pericardium : gold standard), the number of infiltrating fibroblasts, lymphocytes, macrophages, giant cells, and capillaries was determined to quantify the host response after 1, 9, and 30 days. Decellularized esophagus scaffolds were shown to maintain native matrix morphology and extracellular matrix composition. Typical inflammatory reactions were observed in all implants; however, the cellular infiltration was reduced in the genipin group. We conclude that genipin is the most efficient and best tolerated cross-linking agent to attenuate inflammation and to improve the integration of esophageal scaffolds into its surrounding tissue after implantation.

Preferential cell response to anisotropic electro-spun fibrous scaffolds under tension-free conditions

Anisotropic alignment of collagen fibres in musculoskeletal tissues is responsible for the resistance to mechanical loading, whilst in cornea is responsible for transparency. Herein, we evaluated the response of tenocytes, osteoblasts and corneal fibroblasts to the topographies created through electro-spinning and solvent casting. We also evaluated the influence of topography on mechanical properties. At day 14, human osteoblasts seeded on aligned orientated electro-spun mats exhibited the lowest metabolic activity (P < 0.001). At day 5 and at day 7, no significant difference was observed in metabolic activity of human corneal fibroblasts and bovine tenocytes respectively seeded on different scaffold conformations (P > 0.05). Osteoblasts and corneal fibroblasts aligned parallel to the direction of the aligned orientated electro-spun mats, whilst tenocytes aligned perpendicular to the aligned orientated electro-spun mats. Mechanical evaluation demonstrated that aligned orientated electro-spun fibres exhibited significant higher stress at break values than their random aligned counterparts (P < 0.006) and random orientated electro-spun fibres exhibited significant higher strain at break values than the aligned orientated scaffolds (P < 0.006). While maintaining fibre structure, we also developed a co-deposition method of spraying and electro-spinning, which enables the incorporation of microspheres within the three-dimensional structure of the scaffold.