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Widener AE, Roberts A, Phelps EA. Granular Hydrogels for Harnessing the Immune Response. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2303005. [PMID: 38145369 PMCID: PMC11196388 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202303005] [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: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
This review aims to understand the current progress in immune-instructive granular hydrogels and identify the key features used as immunomodulatory strategies. Published work is systematically reviewed and relevant information about granular hydrogels used throughout these studies is collected. The base polymer, microgel generation technique, polymer crosslinking chemistry, particle size and shape, annealing strategy, granular hydrogel stiffness, pore size and void space, degradability, biomolecule presentation, and drug release are cataloged for each work. Several granular hydrogel parameters used for immune modulation: porosity, architecture, bioactivity, drug release, cell delivery, and modularity, are identified. The authors found in this review that porosity is the most significant factor influencing the innate immune response to granular hydrogels, while incorporated bioactivity is more significant in influencing adaptive immune responses. Here, the authors' findings and summarized results from each section are presented and suggestions are made for future studies to better understand the benefits of using immune-instructive granular hydrogels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrienne E Widener
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, 1275 Center Dr., Gainesville, 32611, USA
| | - Abilene Roberts
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, 1275 Center Dr., Gainesville, 32611, USA
| | - Edward A Phelps
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, 1275 Center Dr., Gainesville, 32611, USA
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2
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Bulut S, Günther D, Bund M, Haats C, Bissing T, Bastard C, Wessling M, De Laporte L, Pich A. Cellular Architects at Work: Cells Building their Own Microgel Houses. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2302957. [PMID: 37988182 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202302957] [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: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Microporous annealed particle (MAP) scaffolds are investigated for their application as injectable 3D constructs in the field of regenerative medicine and tissue repair. While available MAP scaffolds provide a stable interlinked matrix of microgels for cell culture, the infiltration depth and space for cells to grow inside the scaffolds is pre-determined by the void fraction during the assembly. In the case of MAP scaffolds fabricated from interlinked spherical microgels, a cellularity gradient can be observed with the highest cell density on the scaffold surface. Additionally, the interlinked microgel network limits the ability of cells to remodel their environment, which contradicts native tissue dynamics. In this work, a cell-induced interlinking method for MAP scaffold formation is established, which avoids the necessity of chemical crosslinkers and pre-engineered pores to achieve micro- or macropores in these 3D frameworks. This method enables cells to self-organize with microgels into dynamic tissue constructs, which can be further controlled by altering the microgel properties, the cell/microgel ratio, and well shape. To form a cell-induced interlinked scaffold, the cells are mixed with dextran-based microgels and function as a glue between the microgels, resulting in a more homogenous cell distribution throughout the scaffold with efficient cell-cell interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selin Bulut
- DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials e. V, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Functional and Interactive Polymers, Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry (ITMC), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Daniel Günther
- DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials e. V, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Advanced Materials for Biomedicine (AMB), Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry (ITMC), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Advanced Materials for Biomedicine (AMB), Institute of Applied Medical Engineering (AME), University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Center for Biohybrid Medical Systems (CBMS), Forckenbeckstraße 55, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Michelle Bund
- DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials e. V, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Functional and Interactive Polymers, Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry (ITMC), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Christina Haats
- DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials e. V, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Advanced Materials for Biomedicine (AMB), Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry (ITMC), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Thomas Bissing
- DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials e. V, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Functional and Interactive Polymers, Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry (ITMC), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Céline Bastard
- DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials e. V, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Advanced Materials for Biomedicine (AMB), Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry (ITMC), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Advanced Materials for Biomedicine (AMB), Institute of Applied Medical Engineering (AME), University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Center for Biohybrid Medical Systems (CBMS), Forckenbeckstraße 55, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Matthias Wessling
- DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials e. V, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Department of Chemical Process Engineering (AVT.CVT), RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 51, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Laura De Laporte
- DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials e. V, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Advanced Materials for Biomedicine (AMB), Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry (ITMC), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Advanced Materials for Biomedicine (AMB), Institute of Applied Medical Engineering (AME), University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Center for Biohybrid Medical Systems (CBMS), Forckenbeckstraße 55, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Andrij Pich
- DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials e. V, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 50, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Functional and Interactive Polymers, Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry (ITMC), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Aachen Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM), Maastricht University, Brightlands Chemelot Campus, Urmonderbaan 22, Geleen, 6167 RD, Netherlands
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3
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Jaberi A, Kedzierski A, Kheirabadi S, Tagay Y, Ataie Z, Zavari S, Naghashnejad M, Waldron O, Adhikari D, Lester G, Gallagher C, Borhan A, Ravnic D, Tabdanov E, Sheikhi A. Engineering Microgel Packing to Tailor the Physical and Biological Properties of Gelatin Methacryloyl Granular Hydrogel Scaffolds. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2402489. [PMID: 39152936 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202402489] [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: 07/07/2024] [Revised: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024]
Abstract
Granular hydrogel scaffolds (GHS) are fabricated via placing hydrogel microparticles (HMP) in close contact (packing), followed by physical and/or chemical interparticle bond formation. Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) GHS have recently emerged as a promising platform for biomedical applications; however, little is known about how the packing of building blocks, physically crosslinked soft GelMA HMP, affects the physical (pore microarchitecture and mechanical/rheological properties) and biological (in vitro and in vivo) attributes of GHS. Here, the GHS pore microarchitecture is engineered via the external (centrifugal) force-induced packing and deformation of GelMA HMP to regulate GHS mechanical and rheological properties, as well as biological responses in vitro and in vivo. Increasing the magnitude and duration of centrifugal force increases the HMP deformation/packing, decreases GHS void fraction and median pore diameter, and increases GHS compressive and storage moduli. MDA-MB-231 human triple negative breast adenocarcinoma cells spread and flatten on the GelMA HMP surface in loosely packed GHS, whereas they adopt an elongated morphology in highly packed GHS as a result of spatial confinement. Via culturing untreated or blebbistatin-treated cells in GHS, the effect of non-muscle myosin II-driven contractility on cell morphology is shown. In vivo subcutaneous implantation in mice confirms a significantly higher endothelial, fibroblast, and macrophage cell infiltration within the GHS with a lower packing density, which is in accordance with the in vitro cell migration outcome. These results indicate that the packing state of GelMA GHS may enable the engineering of cell response in vitro and tissue response in vivo. This research is a fundamental step forward in standardizing and engineering GelMA GHS microarchitecture for tissue engineering and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arian Jaberi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Alexander Kedzierski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Sina Kheirabadi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Yerbol Tagay
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
| | - Zaman Ataie
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Saman Zavari
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Mohammad Naghashnejad
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Olivia Waldron
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
| | - Daksh Adhikari
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Gerald Lester
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Colin Gallagher
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Ali Borhan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Dino Ravnic
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Erdem Tabdanov
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Penn State College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
| | - Amir Sheikhi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
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4
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Tang RC, Shang L, Scumpia PO, Di Carlo D. Injectable Microporous Annealed Crescent-Shaped (MAC) Particle Hydrogel Scaffold for Enhanced Cell Infiltration. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2302477. [PMID: 37985462 PMCID: PMC11102933 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202302477] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogels are widely used for tissue engineering applications to support cellular growth, yet the tightly woven structure often restricts cell infiltration and expansion. Consequently, granular hydrogels with microporous architectures have emerged as a new class of biomaterial. Particularly, the development of microporous annealed particle (MAP) hydrogel scaffolds has shown improved stability and integration with host tissue. However, the predominant use of spherically shaped particles limits scaffold porosity, potentially limiting the level of cell infiltration. Here, a novel microporous annealed crescent-shaped particle (MAC) scaffold that is predicted to have improved porosity and pore interconnectivity in silico is presented. With microfluidic fabrication, tunable cavity sizes that optimize interstitial void space features are achieved. In vitro, cells incorporated into MAC scaffolds form extensive 3D multicellular networks. In vivo, the injectable MAC scaffold significantly enhances cell infiltration compared to spherical MAP scaffolds, resulting in increased numbers of myofibroblasts and leukocytes present within the gel without relying on external biomolecular chemoattractants. The results shed light on the critical role of particle shape in cell recruitment, laying the foundation for MAC scaffolds as a next-generation granular hydrogel for diverse tissue engineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui-Chian Tang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Lily Shang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Philip O Scumpia
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine David Geffen School of Medicine University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Dermatology, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, 90073, USA
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Dino Di Carlo
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- California Nano Systems Institute (CNSI) University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
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5
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Daly AC. Granular Hydrogels in Biofabrication: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2301388. [PMID: 37317658 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202301388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Granular hydrogels, which are formed by densely packing microgels, are promising materials for bioprinting due to their extrudability, porosity, and modularity. However, the multidimensional parameter space involved in granular hydrogel design makes material optimization challenging. For example, design inputs such as microgel morphology, packing density, or stiffness can influence multiple rheological properties that govern printability and the behavior of encapsulated cells. This review provides an overview of fabrication methods for granular hydrogels, and then examines how important design inputs can influence material properties associated with printability and cellular responses across multiple scales. Recent applications of granular design principles in bioink engineering are described, including the development of granular support hydrogels for embedded printing. Further, the paper provides an overview of how key physical properties of granular hydrogels can influence cellular responses, highlighting the advantages of granular materials for promoting cell and tissue maturation after the printing process. Finally, potential future directions for advancing the design of granular hydrogels for bioprinting are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew C Daly
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Galway, Galway, H91 TK33, Ireland
- CÚRAM the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Medical Devices, University of Galway, Galway, H91 TK33, Ireland
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6
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Mukundan LM, Das S, Rajasekaran R, Ganguly D, Seesala VS, Dhara S, Chattopadhyay S. Photo-annealable agarose microgels for jammed microgel printing: Transforming thermogelling hydrogel to a functional bioink. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 278:134550. [PMID: 39116964 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.134550] [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: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) printing of hydrogel structures using jammed microgel inks offer distinct advantages of improved printing functionalities, as these inks are strain-yielding and self-recovering types. However, interparticle binding in granular hydrogel inks is a challenge to overcome the limited integrity and reduced macroscale modulus prevalent in the 3D printed microgel scaffolds. In this study, we prepared chemically annealable agarose microgels through a process of xerogel rehydration, applying a low-cost and high throughput method of spray drying. The crosslinked jammed microgel matrix is found to have superior mechanical properties with a Young's modulus of 2.23 MPa and extensibility up to 7.2%, surpassing those of traditional biopolymer-based and microgel-based inks. Furthermore, this study addresses the complexities encountered in the existing system of printing thermoresponsive agarose bioink using this jammed microgel printing approach. The jammed agarose microgel ink exhibited to be self-recovering, yield stress fluid and validated the temperature-independent printing. Furthermore, the 3D printed jammed microgel scaffold demonstrated good cell responsiveness as evaluated through the viability and morphological study in-vitro with mesenchymal stem cells cultured in it. This unique fabrication approach offers exciting possibilities to expand on microgel printing for varied requirements in tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lakshmi M Mukundan
- Rubber Technology Center, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur; School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India
| | - Samir Das
- School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India
| | - Ragavi Rajasekaran
- School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India
| | | | - Venkata Sundeep Seesala
- School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India
| | - Santanu Dhara
- School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India
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7
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Li H, Iyer KS, Bao L, Zhai J, Li JJ. Advances in the Development of Granular Microporous Injectable Hydrogels with Non-spherical Microgels and Their Applications in Tissue Regeneration. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2301597. [PMID: 37499268 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202301597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Granular microporous hydrogels are emerging as effective biomaterial scaffolds for tissue engineering due to their improved characteristics compared to traditional nanoporous hydrogels, which better promote cell viability, cell migration, cellular/tissue infiltration, and tissue regeneration. Recent advances have resulted in the development of granular hydrogels made of non-spherical microgels, which compared to those made of spherical microgels have higher macroporosity, more stable mechanical properties, and better ability to guide the alignment and differentiation of cells in anisotropic tissue. The development of these hydrogels as an emerging research area is attracting increasing interest in regenerative medicine. This review first summarizes the fabrication techniques available for non-spherical microgels with different aspect-ratios. Then, it introduces the development of granular microporous hydrogels made of non-spherical microgels, their physicochemical characteristics, and their applications in tissue regeneration. The limitations and future outlook of research on microporous granular hydrogels are also critically discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Li
- Chemical and Environment Engineering Department, School of Engineering, STEM College, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia
| | - Keerthi Subramanian Iyer
- Chemical and Environment Engineering Department, School of Engineering, STEM College, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia
| | - Lei Bao
- Chemical and Environment Engineering Department, School of Engineering, STEM College, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia
| | - Jiali Zhai
- School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia
| | - Jiao Jiao Li
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and IT, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia
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8
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Asadikorayem M, Brunel LG, Weber P, Heilshorn SC, Zenobi-Wong M. Porosity dominates over microgel stiffness for promoting chondrogenesis in zwitterionic granular hydrogels. Biomater Sci 2024. [PMID: 39347711 PMCID: PMC11441418 DOI: 10.1039/d4bm00233d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/01/2024]
Abstract
Granular hydrogels comprised of jammed, crosslinked microgels offer great potential as biomaterial scaffolds for cell-based therapies, including for cartilage tissue regeneration. As stiffness and porosity of hydrogels affect the phenotype of encapsulated cells and the extent of tissue regeneration, the design of tunable granular hydrogels to control and optimize these parameters is highly desirable. We hypothesized that chondrogenesis could be modulated using a granular hydrogel platform based on biocompatible, zwitterionic materials with independent intra- and inter-microgel crosslinking mechanisms. Microgels are made with mechanical fragmentation of photocrosslinked zwitterionic carboxybetaine acrylamide (CBAA) and sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA) hydrogels, and secondarily crosslinked in the presence of cells using horseradish peroxide (HRP) to produce cell-laden granular hydrogels. We varied the intra-microgel crosslinking density to produce microgels with varied stiffnesses (1-3 kPa) and swelling properties. These microgels, when resuspended at the same weight fraction and secondarily crosslinked, resulted in granular hydrogels with distinct porosities (5-40%) due to differing swelling properties. The greatest extent of chondrogenesis was achieved in scaffolds with the highest microgel stiffness and highest porosity. However, when scaffold porosity was kept constant and just microgel stiffness varied, cell phenotype and chondrogenesis were similar across scaffolds. These results indicate the dominant role of granular scaffold porosity on chondrogenesis, whereas microgel stiffness appears to play a relatively minor role. These observations are in contrast to cells encapsulated within conventional bulk hydrogels, where stiffness has been shown to significantly affect chondrocyte response. In summary, we introduce chemically-defined, zwitterionic biomaterials to fabricate versatile granular hydrogels allowing for tunable scaffold porosity and microgel stiffness to study and influence chondrogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Asadikorayem
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Lucia G Brunel
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Patrick Weber
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Sarah C Heilshorn
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Marcy Zenobi-Wong
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
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9
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Hen N, Josef E, Davidovich-Pinhas M, Levenberg S, Bianco-Peled H. On the Relation between the Viscoelastic Properties of Granular Hydrogels and Their Performance as Support Materials in Embedded Bioprinting. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2024. [PMID: 39344029 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.4c01136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/01/2024]
Abstract
Granular hydrogels, formed by jamming microgels suspension, are promising materials for three-dimensional bioprinting applications. Despite their extensive use as support materials for embedded bioprinting, the influence of the particle's physical properties on the macroscale viscoelasticity on one hand and on the printing performance on the other hand remains unclear. Herein, we investigate the linear and nonlinear rheology of κ-carrageenan granular hydrogel through small- and large-amplitude oscillatory shear measurements. We tuned the granular hydrogel's properties by changing the stiffness (soft, medium, stiff) and the packing density of the individual microgels. Characterizations in the linear viscoelasticity regime revealed that the storage modulus of granular hydrogels is not a simple function of microgel stiffness and depends on the microgel packing density. At larger strains, increasing the microgel stiffness reduced the energy dissipation of the granular beds and increased the solid-fluid transition point. To understand how the different rheological properties of granular support materials influence embedded bioprinting, we examined the printing fidelity and cellular filament shrinkage within the granular beds. We found that microgels with low packing density diminished the printing quality, while stiff microgels promoted filament roughness. In addition, we found that highly packed stiff microgels significantly reduced the postprinting contraction of cellular filaments. Overall, this work provides a comprehensive knowledge of the rheology of granular hydrogels that can be used to rationally design support beds for bioprinting applications with specific characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noy Hen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Technion─Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
- The Norman Seiden Multidisciplinary Program for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Technion─Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
| | - Elinor Josef
- Technion─Israel Institute of Technology, Atlit, 12th Nahal Galim, 3033980, Israel
| | - Maya Davidovich-Pinhas
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Technion─Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
| | - Shulamit Levenberg
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Technion─Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
| | - Havazelet Bianco-Peled
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Technion─Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
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10
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Recalde Phillips SY, Perez-Ponce KD, Ruben E, Baig T, Poux E, Gregory CA, Alge DL. Impact of Annealing Chemistry on the Properties and Performance of Microporous Annealed Particle Hydrogels. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:5798-5808. [PMID: 39190621 PMCID: PMC11388458 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Microporous annealed particle (MAP) hydrogels are a promising class of in situ-forming scaffolds for tissue repair and regeneration. While an expansive toolkit of annealing chemistries has been described, the effects of different annealing chemistries on MAP hydrogel properties and performance have not been studied. In this study, we address this gap through a controlled head-to-head comparison of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based MAP hydrogels that were annealed using tetrazine-norbornene and thiol-norbornene click chemistry. Characterization of material properties revealed that tetrazine click annealing significantly increases MAP hydrogel shear storage modulus and results in slower in vitro degradation kinetics when microgels with a higher cross-link density are used. However, these effects are muted when the MAP hydrogels are fabricated from microgels with a lower cross-link density. In contrast, in vivo testing in murine critical-sized calvarial defects revealed that these differences in physicochemical properties do not translate to differences in bone volume or calvarial defect healing when growth-factor-loaded MAP hydrogel scaffolds are implanted into mouse calvarial defects. Nonetheless, the impact of tetrazine click annealing could be important in other applications and should be investigated further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarea Y Recalde Phillips
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Kiara D Perez-Ponce
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Elizabeth Ruben
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Talia Baig
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Emily Poux
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
| | - Carl A Gregory
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department of Medical Physiology, School of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Bryan, Texas 77807, United States
| | - Daniel L Alge
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United States
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11
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Ghasemzadeh-Hasankolaei M, Correia TR, Mano JF. Bioinstructive Liquefied Pockets in Hierarchical Hydrogels and Bioinks. Adv Healthc Mater 2024:e2400286. [PMID: 39235370 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202400286] [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: 05/15/2024] [Revised: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
This study proposes a novel, versatile, and modular platform for constructing porous and heterogeneous microenvironments based on the embedding of liquefied-based compartments in hydrogel systems. Using a bottom-up approach, microgels carrying the necessary cargo components, including cells and microparticles, are combined with a hydrogel precursor to fabricate a hierarchical structured (HS) system. The HS system possesses three key features that can be fully independently controlled: I) liquefied pockets enabling free cellular mobility; II) surface modified microparticles facilitating 3D microtissue organization inside the liquefied pockets; III) at a larger scale, the pockets are jammed in the hydrogel, forming a macro-sized construct. After crosslinking, the embedded microgels undergo a liquefaction process, forming a porous structure that ensures high diffusion of small biomolecules and enables cells to move freely within their miniaturized compartmentalized volume. More importantly, this platform allows the creation of multimodular cellular microenvironments within a hydrogel with controlled macrostructures, while decoupling micro- and macroenvironments. As a proof of concept, the enhancement of cellular functions using the HS system by encapsulating human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hASCs) is successfully demonstrated. Finally, the potential application of this system as a hybrid bioink for bioprinting complex 3D structures is showcased.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tiago R Correia
- CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal
| | - João F Mano
- CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal
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12
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Kurt E, Devlin G, Asokan A, Segura T. Gene Delivery From Granular Scaffolds for Tunable Biologics Manufacturing. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2309911. [PMID: 38462954 PMCID: PMC11294003 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202309911] [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: 01/01/2024] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
The understanding of the molecular basis for disease has generated a myriad of therapeutic biologics, including therapeutic proteins, antibodies, and viruses. However, the promise that biologics can resolve currently incurable diseases hinges in their manufacturability. These therapeutics require that their genetic material be introduced to mammalian cells such that the cell machinery can manufacture the biological components. These are then purified, validated, and packaged. Most manufacturing uses batch processes that collect the biologic a few days following genetic modification, due to toxicity or difficulty in separating product from cells in a continuous operation, limiting the amount of biologic that can be produced and resulting in yearlong backlogs. Here, a scaffold-based approach for continuous biologic manufacturing is presented, with sustained production of active antibodies and viruses for 30 days. The use of scaffold-based biologic production enabled perfusion-based bioreactors to be used, which can be incorporated into a fully continuous process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan Kurt
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC
| | - Garth Devlin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC
- Departments of Surgery and Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
| | - Aravind Asokan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC
- Departments of Surgery and Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
| | - Tatiana Segura
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC
- Departments Neurology and Dermatology, Duke University, Durham, NC
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13
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Zhang J, Sun X, Heng Y, Zeng Y, Wang Y, Shen Y, Peng A, Tang W, Zeng M, Yu Z. Transforming Cell-Drug Interaction through Granular Hydrogel-Mediated Delivery of Polyplex Nanoparticles for Enhanced Safety and Extended Efficacy in Gene Therapy. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:39784-39795. [PMID: 39036892 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c05425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
The utilization of hydrogels for DNA/cationic polymer polyplex nanoparticle (polyplex) delivery has significantly advanced gene therapy in tissue regeneration and cancer treatment. However, persistent challenges related to the efficacy and safety of encapsulated polyplexes, stemming from issues such as aggregation, degradation, or difficulties in controlled release during or postintegration with hydrogel scaffolds, necessitate further exploration. Here, we introduce an injectable gene therapy gel achieved by incorporating concentrated polyplexes onto densely packed hydrogel microparticles (HMPs). Polyplexes, when uniformly adhered to the gene therapy gel through reversible electrostatic interactions, can detach from the HMP surface in a controlled manner, contrasting with free polyplexes, and thereby reducing dose-dependent toxicity during transfection. Additionally, the integration of RGD cell adhesion peptides enhances the scaffolding characteristics of the gel, facilitating cell adhesion, migration, and further minimizing toxicity during gene drug administration. Notably, despite the overall transfection efficiency showing average performance, utilizing confocal microscopy to meticulously observe and analyze the cellular states infiltrating into various depths of the gene therapy gel resulted in the groundbreaking discovery of significantly enhanced local transfection efficiency, with primary cell transfection approaching 80%. This phenomenon could be potentially attributed to the granular hydrogel-mediated delivery of polyplex nanoparticles, which revolutionizes the spatial and temporal distribution and thus the "encounter" mode between polyplexes and cells. Moreover, the gene therapy gel's intrinsic injectability and self-healing properties offer ease of administration, making it a highly promising candidate as a novel gene transfection gel dressing with significant potential across various fields, including regenerative medicine and innovative living materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, 30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing 211816, P. R. China
| | - Ximeng Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, 30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing 211816, P. R. China
| | - Yongyuan Heng
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, 30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing 211816, P. R. China
| | - Yunfeng Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, 30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing 211816, P. R. China
| | - Yijia Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, 30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing 211816, P. R. China
| | - Yu Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, 30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing 211816, P. R. China
| | - Anhui Peng
- Electric Power Branch, Huaibei Mining Co., Ltd, Huaibei 235000, P. R. China
| | - Wenzhe Tang
- Electric Power Branch, Huaibei Mining Co., Ltd, Huaibei 235000, P. R. China
| | - Ming Zeng
- Department of Dermatology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510655, P. R. China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510000, P. R. China
| | - Ziyi Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, 30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing 211816, P. R. China
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14
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Chang CY, Nguyen H, Frahm E, Kolaczyk K, Lin CC. Triple click chemistry for crosslinking, stiffening, and annealing of gelatin-based microgels. RSC APPLIED POLYMERS 2024; 2:656-669. [PMID: 39035826 PMCID: PMC11255916 DOI: 10.1039/d3lp00249g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Microgels are spherical hydrogels with physicochemical properties ideal for many biomedical applications. For example, microgels can be used as individual carriers for suspension cell culture or jammed/annealed into granular hydrogels with micron-scale pores highly permissive to molecular transport and cell proliferation/migration. Conventionally, laborious optimization processes are often needed to create microgels with different moduli, sizes, and compositions. This work presents a new microgel and granular hydrogel preparation workflow using gelatin-norbornene-carbohydrazide (GelNB-CH). As a gelatin-derived macromer, GelNB-CH presents cell adhesive and degradable motifs while being amenable to three orthogonal click chemistries, namely the thiol-norbornene photo-click reaction, hydrazone bonding, and the inverse electron demand Diels-Alder (iEDDA) click reaction. The thiol-norbornene photo-click reaction (with thiol-bearing crosslinkers) and hydrazone bonding (with aldehyde-bearing crosslinkers) were used to crosslink the microgels and to realize on-demand microgel stiffening, respectively. The tetrazine-norbornene iEDDA click reaction (with tetrazine-bearing crosslinkers) was used to anneal microgels into granular hydrogels. In addition to materials development, we demonstrated the value of the triple-click chemistry granular hydrogels via culturing human mesenchymal stem cells and pancreatic cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Yi Chang
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University West Lafayette IN 47907 USA
| | - Han Nguyen
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University West Lafayette IN 47907 USA
| | - Ellen Frahm
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Indianapolis IN 46202 USA
| | - Keith Kolaczyk
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Indianapolis IN 46202 USA
| | - Chien-Chi Lin
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University West Lafayette IN 47907 USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Indianapolis IN 46202 USA
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center Indianapolis IN 46202 USA
- Integrated Nanosystems Development Institute Indianapolis IN 46202 USA
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15
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Edwards SD, Ganash M, Guan Z, Lee J, Kim YJ, Jeong KJ. Enhanced osteogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells encapsulated in injectable microporous hydrogel. Sci Rep 2024; 14:14665. [PMID: 38918510 PMCID: PMC11199573 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65731-9] [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: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Delivery of therapeutic stem cells to treat bone tissue damage is a promising strategy that faces many hurdles to clinical translation. Among them is the design of a delivery vehicle which promotes desired cell behavior for new bone formation. In this work, we describe the use of an injectable microporous hydrogel, made of crosslinked gelatin microgels, for the encapsulation and delivery of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and compared it to a traditional nonporous injectable hydrogel. MSCs encapsulated in the microporous hydrogel showed rapid cell spreading with direct cell-cell connections whereas the MSCs in the nonporous hydrogel were entrapped by the surrounding polymer mesh and isolated from each other. On a per-cell basis, encapsulation in microporous hydrogel induced a 4 × increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and calcium mineral deposition in comparison to nonporous hydrogel, as measured by ALP and calcium assays, which indicates more robust osteogenic differentiation. RNA-seq confirmed the upregulation of the genes and pathways that are associated with cell spreading and cell-cell connections, as well as the osteogenesis in the microporous hydrogel. These results demonstrate that microgel-based injectable hydrogels can be useful tools for therapeutic cell delivery for bone tissue repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth D Edwards
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, 03824, USA
| | - Mrinal Ganash
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, 03824, USA
| | - Ziqiang Guan
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, 03824, USA
| | - Jeil Lee
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Sejong City, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Jo Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, 03824, USA
| | - Kyung Jae Jeong
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, 03824, USA.
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16
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Li Y, Song W, Kong L, He Y, Li H. Injectable and Microporous Microgel-Fiber Granular Hydrogel Loaded with Bioglass and siRNA for Promoting Diabetic Wound Healing. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2309599. [PMID: 38054634 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202309599] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Injectable hydrogels find extensive application in the treatment of diabetic wound healing. However, traditional bulk hydrogels are significantly limited due to their nano-porous structure, which obstructs cell migration and tissue infiltration. Moreover, regulating inflammation and matrix metalloproteinase -9 (MMP-9) expression in diabetic wounds is crucial for enhancing wound healing. This study marks the first instance of introducing an efficient, scalable, and simple method for producing microfiber-gel granules encapsulating bioceramics powders. Utilizing this method, an injectable microporous granular microgel-fiber hydrogel (MFgel) is successfully developed by assembling microgel-fibers made from hyaluronic acid (HA) and sodium alginate (SA) loaded with small interfering RNA (siRNA) and bioglass (BG) particles. Compared to traditional hydrogels (Tgel), MFgel possesses a highly interconnected network with micron-sized pores, demonstrating favorable properties for cell adhesion and penetration in in vitro experiments. Additionally, MFgel exhibits a higher compressive modulus and superior mechanical stability. When implanted subcutaneously in mice, MFgel promotes cellular and tissue infiltration, facilitating cell proliferation. Furthermore, when applied to skin defects in diabetic rats, MFgel not only effectively regulates inflammation and suppresses MMP-9 expression but also enhances angiogenesis and collagen deposition, thereby significantly accelerating diabetic wound healing. Taken together, this hydrogel possesses great potential in diabetic wound healing applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Li
- Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Wei Song
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Lingzhi Kong
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Yaohua He
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai, 200233, China
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Jinshan District Central Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences, Jinshan Branch of Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, 201500, China
| | - Haiyan Li
- Chemical and Environment Engineering Department, School of Engineering, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia
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17
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Trikalitis VD, Perea Paizal J, Rangel V, Stein F, Rouwkema J. Embedded Printing of Hydrogels and Watery Suspensions of Cells in Patterned Granular Baths. Tissue Eng Part C Methods 2024; 30:206-216. [PMID: 38568935 DOI: 10.1089/ten.tec.2024.0015] [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] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Bioprinting within support media has emerged as the superior alternative to conventional extrusion printing. Not only because it allows for more freedom over the shapes that can be printed but also because it allows for the printing of inks that would not retain shape fidelity in freeform deposition such as watery liquids. Apart from functioning as mechanical support during embedded printing, hydrogel microparticle support media can provide the unique advantage of offering distinct chemotactic cues to cells printed in the baths by varying the composition of the hydrogel microparticles. There is great potential in compartmentalized granular baths consisting of different hydrogel particle materials in the field of tissue engineering, as these allow for the local inclusion of properties or cues to guide tissue development. In this work, we present a method to create compartmentalized embedding baths by printing multiple granular hydrogel materials that are widely used in tissue engineering. After adapting the volume fraction (φp) of the particles in the bath, we print within them using both inks composed of hydrogel or of cells and other particles suspended in watery liquid. Our process consists of the following three steps: First, the hydrogel microparticles are packed at a φp that allows them to be extruded while being reversibly jammed, facilitating the localized deposition of the granular media to form a compartmentalized bath. Second, each granular media is deposited in succession to create a packed suspension compartment, and by adding liquid post deposition, φp is reduced to allow for embedded printing. Finally, we demonstrate the printing of multiple inks within the compartmentalized embedding bath and highlight the distinct differences between using inks composed of hydrogels or inks composed of particles suspended in watery liquid. This approach combines the advantages of embedded printing through the use of granular media with the added ability to pattern multiple bioactive granular materials to locally affect the behavior of cells printed within the bath. We expect that this workflow will allow researchers to create spatially compartmentalized, customized bioactive embedding baths that allow for the embedded printing of inks composed of hydrogels, cells, and other particles adapted to their need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasileios D Trikalitis
- Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Vascularization Lab, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente Faculty of Engineering Technology, Enschede, the Netherlands
| | - Julia Perea Paizal
- Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Vascularization Lab, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente Faculty of Engineering Technology, Enschede, the Netherlands
| | - Vincent Rangel
- Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Vascularization Lab, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente Faculty of Engineering Technology, Enschede, the Netherlands
| | - Fabian Stein
- Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Vascularization Lab, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente Faculty of Engineering Technology, Enschede, the Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Rouwkema
- Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Vascularization Lab, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente Faculty of Engineering Technology, Enschede, the Netherlands
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18
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Carvalho BG, Nakayama A, Miwa H, Han SW, de la Torre LG, Di Carlo D, Lee J, Kim HJ, Khademhosseini A, de Barros NR. Gelatin methacryloyl granular scaffolds for localized mRNA delivery. AGGREGATE (HOBOKEN, N.J.) 2024; 5:e464. [PMID: 38800607 PMCID: PMC11126212 DOI: 10.1002/agt2.464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
mRNA therapy is the intracellular delivery of messenger RNA (mRNA) to produce desired therapeutic proteins. Developing strategies for local mRNA delivery is still required where direct intra-articular injections are inappropriate for targeting a specific tissue. The mRNA delivery efficiency depends on protecting nucleic acids against nuclease-mediated degradation and safe site-specific intracellular delivery. Herein, we report novel mRNA-releasing matrices based on RGD-moiety-rich gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) microporous annealed particle (MAP) scaffolds. GelMA concentration in aerogel-based microgels (μgels) produced through a microfluidic process, MAP stiffnesses, and microporosity are crucial parameters for cell adhesion, spreading, and proliferation. After being loaded with mRNA complexes, MAP scaffolds composed of 10 % GelMA μgels display excellent cell viability with increasing cell infiltration, adhesion, proliferation, and gene transfer. The intracellular delivery is achieved by the sustained release of mRNA complexes from MAP scaffolds and cell adhesion on mRNA-releasing scaffolds. These findings highlight that hybrid systems can achieve efficient protein expression by delivering mRNA complexes, making them promising mRNA-releasing biomaterials for tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Gregatti Carvalho
- Department of Material and Bioprocess Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), 13083-970, Brazil; Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), 90064, USA
| | - Aya Nakayama
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), 90064, USA
| | - Hiromi Miwa
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), 90095, USA
| | - Sang Won Han
- Center for Cell Therapy and Molecular, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), 04044-010, Brazil
| | - Lucimara Gaziola de la Torre
- Department of Material and Bioprocess Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Dino Di Carlo
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), 90095, USA
| | - Junmin Lee
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 37673, Republic of Korea; Institute for Convergence Research and Education in Advanced Technology, Yonsei University, Incheon 21983, Republic of Korea
| | - Han-Jun Kim
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), 90064, USA; College of Pharmacy, Korea University, 30019, Republic of Korea; Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, 632014, India
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19
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Di Caprio N, Davidson MD, Daly AC, Burdick JA. Injectable MSC Spheroid and Microgel Granular Composites for Engineering Tissue. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2312226. [PMID: 38178647 PMCID: PMC10994732 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202312226] [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: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Many cell types require direct cell-cell interactions for differentiation and function; yet, this can be challenging to incorporate into 3-dimensional (3D) structures for the engineering of tissues. Here, a new approach is introduced that combines aggregates of cells (spheroids) with similarly-sized hydrogel particles (microgels) to form granular composites that are injectable, undergo interparticle crosslinking via light for initial stabilization, permit cell-cell contacts for cell signaling, and allow spheroid fusion and growth. One area where this is important is in cartilage tissue engineering, as cell-cell contacts are crucial to chondrogenesis and are missing in many tissue engineering approaches. To address this, granular composites are developed from adult porcine mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) spheroids and hyaluronic acid microgels and simulations and experimental analyses are used to establish the importance of initial MSC spheroid to microgel volume ratios to balance mechanical support with tissue growth. Long-term chondrogenic cultures of granular composites produce engineered cartilage tissue with extensive matrix deposition and mechanical properties within the range of cartilage, as well as integration with native tissue. Altogether, a new strategy of injectable granular composites is developed that leverages the benefits of cell-cell interactions through spheroids with the mechanical stabilization afforded with engineered hydrogels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolas Di Caprio
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA
| | - Matthew D. Davidson
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA
| | - Andrew C. Daly
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- CURAM, SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Jason A. Burdick
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA
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20
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Chung H, Choi JK, Hong C, Lee Y, Hong KH, Oh SJ, Kim J, Song SC, Kim JW, Kim SH. A micro-fragmented collagen gel as a cell-assembling platform for critical limb ischemia repair. Bioact Mater 2024; 34:80-97. [PMID: 38143565 PMCID: PMC10733640 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2023.12.008] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is a devastating disease characterized by the progressive blockage of blood vessels. Although the paracrine effect of growth factors in stem cell therapy made it a promising angiogenic therapy for CLI, poor cell survival in the harsh ischemic microenvironment limited its efficacy. Thus, an imperative need exists for a stem-cell delivery method that enhances cell survival. Here, a collagen microgel (CMG) cell-delivery scaffold (40 × 20 μm) was fabricated via micro-fragmentation from collagen-hyaluronic acid polyionic complex to improve transplantation efficiency. Culturing human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) with CMG enabled integrin receptors to interact with CMG to form injectable 3-dimensional constructs (CMG-hASCs) with a microporous microarchitecture and enhanced mass transfer. CMG-hASCs exhibited higher cell survival (p < 0.0001) and angiogenic potential in tube formation and aortic ring angiogenesis assays than cell aggregates. Injection of CMG-hASCs intramuscularly into CLI mice increased blood perfusion and limb salvage ratios by 40 % and 60 %, respectively, compared to cell aggregate-treated mice. Further immunofluorescent analysis revealed that transplanted CMG-hASCs have greater muscle regenerative and angiogenic potential, with enhanced cell survival than cell aggregates (p < 0.05). Collectively, we propose CMG as a cell-assembling platform and CMG-hASCs as promising therapeutics to treat CLI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haeun Chung
- Center for Biomaterials, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, University of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Kyun Choi
- Center for Biomaterials, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, University of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Changgi Hong
- Department of Applied Bioengineering, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Research Institute for Convergence Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngseop Lee
- Department of Applied Bioengineering, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki Hyun Hong
- Center for Biomaterials, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Ja Oh
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, 17104, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeongmin Kim
- Department of Applied Bioengineering, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Research Institute for Convergence Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo-Chang Song
- Center for Biomaterials, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, University of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Wan Kim
- S.Biomedics Co., Ltd., Seoul, 04797, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Heon Kim
- Center for Biomaterials, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, University of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
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21
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Tuftee C, Alsberg E, Ozbolat IT, Rizwan M. Emerging granular hydrogel bioinks to improve biological function in bioprinted constructs. Trends Biotechnol 2024; 42:339-352. [PMID: 37852853 PMCID: PMC10939978 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Advancements in 3D bioprinting have been hindered by the trade-off between printability and biological functionality. Existing bioinks struggle to meet both requirements simultaneously. However, new types of bioinks composed of densely packed microgels promise to address this challenge. These bioinks possess intrinsic porosity, allowing for cell growth, oxygen and nutrient transport, and better immunomodulatory properties, leading to superior biological functions. In this review, we highlight key trends in the development of these granular bioinks. Using examples, we demonstrate how granular bioinks overcome the trade-off between printability and cell function. Granular bioinks show promise in 3D bioprinting, yet understanding their unique structure-property-function relationships is crucial to fully leverage the transformative capabilities of these new types of bioinks in bioprinting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cody Tuftee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, USA
| | - Eben Alsberg
- Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center (JBVAMC), Chicago, IL 60612, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA; Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA; Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center (JBVAMC) at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Ibrahim Tarik Ozbolat
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Engineering Science and Mechanics, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Neurosurgery Department, Penn State University; Hershey, PA 17033, USA; Medical Oncology Department, Cukurova University, Adana 01330, Turkey
| | - Muhammad Rizwan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, USA.
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22
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Lemarié L, Dargar T, Grosjean I, Gache V, Courtial EJ, Sohier J. Human Induced Pluripotent Spheroids' Growth Is Driven by Viscoelastic Properties and Macrostructure of 3D Hydrogel Environment. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:1418. [PMID: 38136009 PMCID: PMC10740696 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10121418] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Stem cells, particularly human iPSCs, constitute a powerful tool for tissue engineering, notably through spheroid and organoid models. While the sensitivity of stem cells to the viscoelastic properties of their direct microenvironment is well-described, stem cell differentiation still relies on biochemical factors. Our aim is to investigate the role of the viscoelastic properties of hiPSC spheroids' direct environment on their fate. To ensure that cell growth is driven only by mechanical interaction, bioprintable alginate-gelatin hydrogels with significantly different viscoelastic properties were utilized in differentiation factor-free culture medium. Alginate-gelatin hydrogels of varying concentrations were developed to provide 3D environments of significantly different mechanical properties, ranging from 1 to 100 kPa, while allowing printability. hiPSC spheroids from two different cell lines were prepared by aggregation (⌀ = 100 µm, n > 1 × 104), included and cultured in the different hydrogels for 14 days. While spheroids within dense hydrogels exhibited limited growth, irrespective of formulation, porous hydrogels prepared with a liquid-liquid emulsion method displayed significant variations of spheroid morphology and growth as a function of hydrogel mechanical properties. Transversal culture (adjacent spheroids-laden alginate-gelatin hydrogels) clearly confirmed the separate effect of each hydrogel environment on hiPSC spheroid behavior. This study is the first to demonstrate that a mechanically modulated microenvironment induces diverse hiPSC spheroid behavior without the influence of other factors. It allows one to envision the combination of multiple formulations to create a complex object, where the fate of hiPSCs will be independently controlled by their direct microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Lemarié
- SEGULA Technologies, 69100 Villeurbanne, France;
- 3d.FAB, CNRS UMR 5246, ICBMS (Institute of Molecular and Supramolecular Chemistry and Biochemistry), Université Lyon 1, 69622 Villeurbanne, France;
- CNRS UMR 5305, LBTI (Tissue Biology and Therapeutic Engineering Laboratory), 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Tanushri Dargar
- CNRS UMR5261, INSERM U1315, INMG-PNMG (NeuroMyoGene Institute, Physiopathology and Genetics of the Neuron and the Muscle), Université Lyon 1, 69008 Lyon, France; (T.D.); (I.G.); (V.G.)
| | - Isabelle Grosjean
- CNRS UMR5261, INSERM U1315, INMG-PNMG (NeuroMyoGene Institute, Physiopathology and Genetics of the Neuron and the Muscle), Université Lyon 1, 69008 Lyon, France; (T.D.); (I.G.); (V.G.)
| | - Vincent Gache
- CNRS UMR5261, INSERM U1315, INMG-PNMG (NeuroMyoGene Institute, Physiopathology and Genetics of the Neuron and the Muscle), Université Lyon 1, 69008 Lyon, France; (T.D.); (I.G.); (V.G.)
| | - Edwin J. Courtial
- 3d.FAB, CNRS UMR 5246, ICBMS (Institute of Molecular and Supramolecular Chemistry and Biochemistry), Université Lyon 1, 69622 Villeurbanne, France;
| | - Jérôme Sohier
- CNRS UMR 5305, LBTI (Tissue Biology and Therapeutic Engineering Laboratory), 69007 Lyon, France
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23
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Seymour AJ, Kilian D, Navarro RS, Hull SM, Heilshorn SC. 3D printing microporous scaffolds from modular bioinks containing sacrificial, cell-encapsulating microgels. Biomater Sci 2023; 11:7598-7615. [PMID: 37824082 PMCID: PMC10842430 DOI: 10.1039/d3bm00721a] [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] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Microgel-based biomaterials have inherent porosity and are often extrudable, making them well-suited for 3D bioprinting applications. Cells are commonly introduced into these granular inks post-printing using cell infiltration. However, due to slow cell migration speeds, this strategy struggles to achieve depth-independent cell distributions within thick 3D printed geometries. To address this, we leverage granular ink modularity by combining two microgels with distinct functions: (1) structural, UV-crosslinkable microgels made from gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) and (2) sacrificial, cell-laden microgels made from oxidized alginate (AlgOx). We hypothesize that encapsulating cells within sacrificial AlgOx microgels would enable the simultaneous introduction of void space and release of cells at depths unachievable through cell infiltration alone. Blending the microgels in different ratios produces a family of highly printable GelMA : AlgOx microgel inks with void fractions ranging from 0.03 to 0.35. As expected, void fraction influences the morphology of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) within GelMA : AlgOx inks. Crucially, void fraction does not alter the ideal HUVEC distribution seen throughout the depth of 3D printed samples. This work presents a strategy for fabricating constructs with tunable porosity and depth-independent cell distribution, highlighting the promise of microgel-based inks for 3D bioprinting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis J Seymour
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - David Kilian
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Renato S Navarro
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Sarah M Hull
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Sarah C Heilshorn
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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24
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Riley L, Cheng P, Segura T. Identification and analysis of 3D pores in packed particulate materials. NATURE COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE 2023; 3:975-992. [PMID: 38177603 DOI: 10.1038/s43588-023-00551-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
We took the classic 'guess the number of beans in a jar game' and amplified the research question. Rather than estimate the quantity of particles in the jar, we sought to characterize the spaces between them. Here we present an approach for delineating the pockets of empty space (three-dimensional pores) between packed particles, which are hotspots for activity in applications and natural phenomena that deal with particulate materials. We utilize techniques from graph theory to exploit information about particle configuration that allows us to locate important spatial landmarks within the void space. These landmarks are the basis for our pore segmentation, where we consider both interior pores as well as entrance and exit pores into and out of the structure. Our method is robust for particles of varying size, form, stiffness and configuration, which allows us to study and compare three-dimensional pores across a range of packed particle types. We report striking relationships between particles and pores that are described mathematically, and we offer a visual library of pore types. With a meaningful discretization of void space, we demonstrate that packed particles can be understood not by their solid space, but by their empty space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay Riley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Tatiana Segura
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Neurology, Dermatology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
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25
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Riley L, Wei G, Bao Y, Cheng P, Wilson KL, Liu Y, Gong Y, Segura T. Void Volume Fraction of Granular Scaffolds. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2303466. [PMID: 37267936 PMCID: PMC10592564 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202303466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Void volume fraction (VVF) is a global measurement frequently used to characterize the void space of granular scaffolds, yet there is no gold standard by which to measure VVF in practice. To study the relationship between VVF and particles of varying size, form, and composition, a library of 3D simulated scaffolds is used. Results reveal that relative to particle count, VVF is a less predictable metric across replicate scaffolds. Simulated scaffolds are used to explores the relationship between microscope magnification and VVF, and recommendations are offered for optimizing the accuracy of approximating VVF using 2D microscope images. Lastly, VVF of hydrogel granular scaffolds is measured while varying four input parameters: image quality, magnification, analysis software, and intensity threshold. Results show that VVF is highly sensitive to these parameters. Overall, random packing produces variation in VVF among granular scaffolds comprising the same particle populations. Furthermore, while VVF is used to compare the porosity of granular materials within a study, VVF is a less reliable metric across studies that use different input parameters. VVF, a global measurement, cannot describe the dimensions of porosity within granular scaffolds, and the work supports the notion that more descriptors are necessary to sufficiently characterize void space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay Riley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University
| | - Grace Wei
- Department of Biology, Duke University
| | - Yijun Bao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University
| | | | | | - Yining Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University
| | - Yiyang Gong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University
| | - Tatiana Segura
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University
- Department of Medicine, Neurology, Dermatology, Duke University
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26
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Karam J, Singer BJ, Miwa H, Chen LH, Maran K, Hasani M, Garza S, Onyekwere B, Yeh HC, Li S, Carlo DD, Seidlits SK. Molecular weight of hyaluronic acid crosslinked into biomaterial scaffolds affects angiogenic potential. Acta Biomater 2023; 169:228-242. [PMID: 37572983 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
While hyaluronic acid (HA)-based hydrogels have been used clinically for decades, the mechanisms by which HA exerts molecular weight-dependent bioactivity and how chemical modification and crosslinking may affect molecular weight-dependent bioactivity remain poorly understood. This knowledge gap presents a significant barrier to designing HA hydrogels with predictable bioactivities. As HA has been widely reported to have molecular weight-dependent effects on endothelial cells (ECs), we investigated how the molecular weight of HA in either soluble or crosslinked forms affects angiogenesis and interrogated CD44 clustering on the surface of endothelial cells as a candidate mechanism for these affects. Using soluble HA, our results show high molecular weight (HMW) HA, but not low molecular weight (LMW) HA, increased viability and tube formation in cultured human cerebral microvascular ECs (HCMVECs). No size of HA affected proliferation. When HCMVECs were cultured with crosslinked HA of varying molecular weights in the form of HA-based microporous annealed particle scaffold (HMAPS), the cell response was comparable to when cultured with soluble HA. Similarly, when implanted subcutaneously, HMAPS with HMW HA were more vascularized than those with LMW HA. We also show that antibody-mediated CD44 clustering resulted in HCMVECs with increased viability and tube-like structure formation in a manner comparable to exposure to HMW HA, suggesting that HMW acts through CD44 clustering. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Biomaterials based on hyaluronic acid (HA), a bioactive extracellular matrix polysaccharide, have been used in clinical products for several years. Despite the knowledge that HA molecular weight heavily influences its bioactivity, molecular weight has been largely ignored in the development of HA-based biomaterials. Given the high viscosity of high molecular weight HA typically found in native tissues, lower molecular weight polysaccharides have been used most commonly for biomaterial fabrication. By comparing the ability of injectable, microporous annealed particle scaffolds (MAPS) fabricated from variably sized HA to promote angiogenesis, this study demonstrates that MAPS with high molecular weight HA better support vascularization, likely through an unique ability to induce clustering of CD44 receptors on endothelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josh Karam
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Breahna J Singer
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Hiromi Miwa
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Limin H Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Kajal Maran
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Mahdi Hasani
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Sarahi Garza
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Bianca Onyekwere
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Hsin-Chih Yeh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Texas Materials Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Song Li
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Dino Di Carlo
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Stephanie K Seidlits
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
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27
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Lin MH, Linares I, Ramirez C, Ramirez YC, Sarkar D. Mechanomorphological Guidance of Colloidal Gel Regulates Cell Morphogenesis. Macromol Biosci 2023; 23:e2300122. [PMID: 37143285 PMCID: PMC10524704 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202300122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Microstructural morphology of the extracellular matrix guides the organization of cells in 3D. However, current biomaterials-based matrices cannot provide distinct spatial cues through their microstructural morphology due to design constraints. To address this, colloidal gels are developed as 3D matrices with distinct microstructure by aggregating ionic polyurethane colloids via electrostatic screening. Due to the defined orientation of interconnected particles, positively charged colloids form extended strands resulting in a dense microstructure whereas negatively charged colloids form compact aggregates with localized large voids. Chondrogenesis of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and endothelial morphogenesis of human endothelial cells (ECs) are examined in these colloidal gels. MSCs show enhanced chondrogenic response in dense colloidal gel due to their spatial organization achieved by balancing the cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions compared to porous gels where cells are mainly clustered. ECs tend to form relatively elongated cellular networks in dense colloidal gel compared to porous gels. Additionally, the role of matrix stiffness and viscoelasticity in the morphogenesis of MSCs and ECs are analyzed with respect to microstructural morphology. Overall, these results demonstrate that colloidal gels can provide spatial cues through their microstructural morphology and in correlation with matrix mechanics for cell morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Hsuan Lin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Isabelle Linares
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Cesar Ramirez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Yanni Correa Ramirez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Debanjan Sarkar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
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28
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Lowen JM, Bond GC, Griffin KH, Shimamoto NK, Thai VL, Leach JK. Multisized Photoannealable Microgels Regulate Cell Spreading, Aggregation, and Macrophage Phenotype through Microporous Void Space. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2202239. [PMID: 36719946 PMCID: PMC10198868 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202202239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Microgels are an emerging platform for in vitro models and guiding cell fate due to their inherent porosity and tunability. This work describes a light-based technique for rapidly annealing microgels across a range of diameters. Utilizing 8-arm poly(ethylene) glycol-vinyl sulfone, the number of arms available for crosslinking, functionalization, and annealing is stoichiometrically controlled. Small and large microgels are fabricated to explore how microgel diameter impacts void space and the role of porosity on cell spreading, cell aggregation, and macrophage polarization. Mesenchymal stromal cells spread rapidly in both formulations, yet the smaller microgels permit a higher cell density. When seeded with macrophages, the smaller microgels promote an M1 phenotype, while larger microgels promote an M2 phenotype. As another application, the inherent porosity of annealed microgels is leveraged to induce cell aggregation. Finally, the microgels are implanted to examine how different size microgels influence endogenous cell invasion and macrophage polarization. The use of ultraviolet light allows for microgels to be noninvasively injected into a desired mold or wound defect before annealing, and microgels of different properties combined to create a heterogeneous scaffold. This approach is clinically relevant given its tunability and fast annealing time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy M. Lowen
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UC Davis Health, Sacramento, CA 95817
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616
| | - Gabriella C. Bond
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UC Davis Health, Sacramento, CA 95817
| | - Katherine H. Griffin
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UC Davis Health, Sacramento, CA 95817
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | | | - Victoria L. Thai
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UC Davis Health, Sacramento, CA 95817
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616
| | - J. Kent Leach
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UC Davis Health, Sacramento, CA 95817
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616
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29
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Rütsche D, Nanni M, Rüdisser S, Biedermann T, Zenobi-Wong M. Enzymatically Crosslinked Collagen as a Versatile Matrix for In Vitro and In Vivo Co-Engineering of Blood and Lymphatic Vasculature. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2209476. [PMID: 36724374 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202209476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Adequate vascularization is required for the successful translation of many in vitro engineered tissues. This study presents a novel collagen derivative that harbors multiple recognition peptides for orthogonal enzymatic crosslinking based on sortase A (SrtA) and Factor XIII (FXIII). SrtA-mediated crosslinking enables the rapid co-engineering of human blood and lymphatic microcapillaries and mesoscale capillaries in bulk hydrogels. Whereas tuning of gel stiffness determines the extent of neovascularization, the relative number of blood and lymphatic capillaries recapitulates the ratio of blood and lymphatic endothelial cells originally seeded into the hydrogel. Bioengineered capillaries readily form luminal structures and exhibit typical maturation markers both in vitro and in vivo. The secondary crosslinking enzyme Factor XIII is used for in situ tethering of the VEGF mimetic QK peptide to collagen. This approach supports the formation of blood and lymphatic capillaries in the absence of exogenous VEGF. Orthogonal enzymatic crosslinking is further used to bioengineer hydrogels with spatially defined polymer compositions with pro- and anti-angiogenic properties. Finally, macroporous scaffolds based on secondary crosslinking of microgels enable vascularization independent from supporting fibroblasts. Overall, this work demonstrates for the first time the co-engineering of mature micro- and meso-sized blood and lymphatic capillaries using a highly versatile collagen derivative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic Rütsche
- Tissue Engineering + Biofabrication Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences & Technology, ETH Zurich, Otto-Stern-Weg 7, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
- Tissue Biology Research Unit, Department of Surgery, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, Schlieren, 8952, Switzerland
| | - Monica Nanni
- Tissue Biology Research Unit, Department of Surgery, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, Schlieren, 8952, Switzerland
- Institute for Mechanical Systems, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Leonhardstrasse 21, Zurich, 8092, Switzerland
| | - Simon Rüdisser
- Biomolecular NMR Spectroscopy Platform, Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, Hönggerbergring 64, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Biedermann
- Tissue Biology Research Unit, Department of Surgery, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, Schlieren, 8952, Switzerland
| | - Marcy Zenobi-Wong
- Tissue Engineering + Biofabrication Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences & Technology, ETH Zurich, Otto-Stern-Weg 7, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
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30
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Muir VG, Weintraub S, Dhand AP, Fallahi H, Han L, Burdick JA. Influence of Microgel and Interstitial Matrix Compositions on Granular Hydrogel Composite Properties. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2206117. [PMID: 36717272 PMCID: PMC10074081 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202206117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Granular hydrogels are an emerging class of biomaterials formed by jamming hydrogel microparticles (i.e., microgels). These materials have many advantageous properties that can be tailored through microgel design and extent of packing. To enhance the range of properties, granular composites can be formed with a hydrogel interstitial matrix between the packed microgels, allowing for material flow and then stabilization after crosslinking. This approach allows for distinct compartments (i.e., microgels and interstitial space) with varied properties to engineer complex material behaviors. However, a thorough investigation of how the compositions and ratios of microgels and interstitial matrices influence material properties has not been performed. Herein, granular hydrogel composites are fabricated by combining fragmented hyaluronic acid (HA) microgels with interstitial matrices consisting of photocrosslinkable HA. Microgels of varying compressive moduli (10-70 kPa) are combined with interstitial matrices (0-30 vol.%) with compressive moduli varying from 2-120 kPa. Granular composite structure (confocal imaging), mechanics (local and bulk), flow behavior (rheology), and printability are thoroughly assessed. Lastly, variations in the interstitial matrix chemistry (covalent vs guest-host) and microgel degradability are investigated. Overall, this study describes the influence of granular composite composition on structure and mechanical properties of granular hydrogels towards informed designs for future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria G. Muir
- Department of BioengineeringSchool of Engineering and Applied SciencesUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPA19104USA
| | - Shoshana Weintraub
- Department of BioengineeringSchool of Engineering and Applied SciencesUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPA19104USA
| | - Abhishek P. Dhand
- Department of BioengineeringSchool of Engineering and Applied SciencesUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPA19104USA
| | - Hooman Fallahi
- School of Biomedical EngineeringScience and Health SystemsDrexel UniversityPhiladelphiaPA19104USA
| | - Lin Han
- School of Biomedical EngineeringScience and Health SystemsDrexel UniversityPhiladelphiaPA19104USA
| | - Jason A. Burdick
- Department of BioengineeringSchool of Engineering and Applied SciencesUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPA19104USA
- BioFrontiers InstituteUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderCO80303USA
- Department of Chemical and Biological EngineeringCollege of Engineering and Applied ScienceUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderCO80303USA
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31
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Rai R, Nitin N. Apple-derived 3D scaffold for improving gastrointestinal viability and in-situ growth of probiotics. Food Res Int 2023; 168:112758. [PMID: 37120209 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2023.112758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
This study develops a novel low-cost microbial delivery system by transforming common food materials such as apple tissue into a 3D scaffold. Apple tissue scaffold was constructed by decellularization of intact tissue using a minimal amount of sodium dodecyl sulfate (0.5 % w/v). Vacuum-assisted infusion of model probiotic Lactobacillus cells led to a high encapsulation yield of probiotic cells (1010 CFU/g of scaffold) in 3D scaffolds on a wet basis. The bio-polymer coated 3D scaffolds with infused cells significantly enhanced the survivability of infused probiotic cells during simulated gastric and intestinal digestions. In addition, imaging and plate counting results validate the growth of the infused cells in the 3D scaffold after 1-2 days of fermentation in MRS media, while cells without infusion in the scaffold had limited attachment with the intact apple tissue. Overall, these results highlight the potential of the apple tissue-derived 3D scaffold to deliver probiotic cells and include the biochemical compositions to support the growth of delivered microbial cells in the colon.
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32
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Emiroglu DB, Bekcic A, Dranseikiene D, Zhang X, Zambelli T, deMello AJ, Tibbitt MW. Building block properties govern granular hydrogel mechanics through contact deformations. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eadd8570. [PMID: 36525484 PMCID: PMC9757745 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add8570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Granular hydrogels have been increasingly exploited in biomedical applications, including wound healing and cardiac repair. Despite their utility, design guidelines for engineering their macroscale properties remain limited, as we do not understand how the properties of granular hydrogels emerge from collective interactions of their microgel building blocks. In this work, we related building block features (stiffness and size) to the macroscale properties of granular hydrogels using contact mechanics. We investigated the mechanics of the microgel packings through dynamic oscillatory rheology. In addition, we modeled the system as a collection of two-body interactions and applied the Zwanzig and Mountain formula to calculate the plateau modulus and viscosity of the granular hydrogels. The calculations agreed with the dynamic mechanical measurements and described how microgel properties and contact deformations define the rheology of granular hydrogels. These results support a rational design framework for improved engineering of this fascinating class of materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilara Börte Emiroglu
- Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Aleksandar Bekcic
- Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Dalia Dranseikiene
- Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Xinyu Zhang
- Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, ETHZurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tomaso Zambelli
- Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, ETHZurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andrew J. deMello
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mark W. Tibbitt
- Macromolecular Engineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
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Caracena T, Blomberg R, Hewawasam RS, Fry ZE, Riches DWH, Magin CM. Alveolar epithelial cells and microenvironmental stiffness synergistically drive fibroblast activation in three-dimensional hydrogel lung models. Biomater Sci 2022; 10:7133-7148. [PMID: 36366982 PMCID: PMC9729409 DOI: 10.1039/d2bm00827k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating lung disease that progressively and irreversibly alters the lung parenchyma, eventually leading to respiratory failure. The study of this disease has been historically challenging due to the myriad of complex processes that contribute to fibrogenesis and the inherent difficulty in accurately recreating the human pulmonary environment in vitro. Here, we describe a poly(ethylene glycol) PEG hydrogel-based three-dimensional model for the co-culture of primary murine pulmonary fibroblasts and alveolar epithelial cells that reproduces the micro-architecture, cell placement, and mechanical properties of healthy and fibrotic lung tissue. Co-cultured cells retained normal levels of viability up to at least three weeks and displayed differentiation patterns observed in vivo during IPF progression. Interrogation of protein and gene expression within this model showed that myofibroblast activation required both extracellular mechanical cues and the presence of alveolar epithelial cells. Differences in gene expression indicated that cellular co-culture induced TGF-β signaling and proliferative gene expression, while microenvironmental stiffness upregulated the expression of genes related to cell-ECM interactions. This biomaterial-based cell culture system serves as a significant step forward in the accurate recapitulation of human lung tissue in vitro and highlights the need to incorporate multiple factors that work together synergistically in vivo into models of lung biology of health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Caracena
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado, Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus, USA.
| | - Rachel Blomberg
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado, Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus, USA.
| | - Rukshika S Hewawasam
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado, Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus, USA.
| | - Zoe E Fry
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado, Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus, USA.
| | - David W H Riches
- Program in Cell Biology, Department of Pediatrics, National Jewish Health, USA
- Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, USA
- Department of Research, Veterans Affairs Eastern Colorado Health Care System, USA
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, USA
| | - Chelsea M Magin
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado, Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus, USA.
- Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, USA
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Molley TG, Hung TT, Kilian KA. Cell-Laden Gradient Microgel Suspensions for Spatial Control of Differentiation During Biofabrication. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 11:e2201122. [PMID: 35866537 PMCID: PMC9780160 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202201122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
During tissue development, stem and progenitor cells form functional tissue with high cellular diversity and intricate micro- and macro-architecture. Current approaches have attempted to replicate this process with materials cues or through spontaneous cell self-organization. However, cell-directed and materials-directed organization are required simultaneously to achieve biomimetic structure and function. Here, it is shown how integrating live adipose derived stem cells with gradient microgel suspensions steers divergent differentiation outcomes. Microgel matrices composed of small particles are found to promote adipogenic differentiation, while larger particles fostered increased cell spreading and osteogenic differentiation. Tuning the matrix formulation demonstrates that early cell adhesion and spreading dictate differentiation outcome. Combining small and large microgels into gradients spatially directs proliferation and differentiation over time. After 21 days of culture, osteogenic conditions foster significant mineralization within the individual microgels, thereby providing cell-directed changes in composition and mechanics within the gradient porous scaffold. Freeform printing of high-density cell suspensions is performed across these gradients to demonstrate the potential for hierarchical tissue biofabrication. Interstitial porosity influences cell expansion from the print and microgel size guides spatial differentiation, thereby providing scope to fabricate tissue gradients at multiple scales through integrated and printed cell populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas G Molley
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
- Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Tzong-Tyng Hung
- Biological Resources Imaging Laboratory, Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Kristopher A Kilian
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
- Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
- School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
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Ma Y, Wang X, Su T, Lu F, Chang Q, Gao J. Recent Advances in Macroporous Hydrogels for Cell Behavior and Tissue Engineering. Gels 2022; 8:606. [PMID: 36286107 PMCID: PMC9601978 DOI: 10.3390/gels8100606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydrogels have been extensively used as scaffolds in tissue engineering for cell adhesion, proliferation, migration, and differentiation because of their high-water content and biocompatibility similarity to the extracellular matrix. However, submicron or nanosized pore networks within hydrogels severely limit cell survival and tissue regeneration. In recent years, the application of macroporous hydrogels in tissue engineering has received considerable attention. The macroporous structure not only facilitates nutrient transportation and metabolite discharge but also provides more space for cell behavior and tissue formation. Several strategies for creating and functionalizing macroporous hydrogels have been reported. This review began with an overview of the advantages and challenges of macroporous hydrogels in the regulation of cellular behavior. In addition, advanced methods for the preparation of macroporous hydrogels to modulate cellular behavior were discussed. Finally, future research in related fields was discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Qiang Chang
- Department of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1838 Guangzhou North Road, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jianhua Gao
- Department of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1838 Guangzhou North Road, Guangzhou 510515, China
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Anderson AR, Nicklow E, Segura T. Particle fraction is a bioactive cue in granular scaffolds. Acta Biomater 2022; 150:111-127. [PMID: 35917913 PMCID: PMC10329855 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.07.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Microporous annealed particle (MAP) hydrogels are porous 3D scaffolds generated by interlinking randomly packed microgels (µgels). Particle fraction, hydrogel stiffness, microparticle shape, and crosslinking chemistry are paramount to the microstructure that microgels make within MAP scaffolds. Of these parameters, control over the particle fraction in MAP scaffolds varies greatly by user and drying technique, leading to inconsistent microarchitectures. These inconsistencies have biological ramifications, as the particle fraction of MAP scaffolds determines the void space within the material which strongly impacts cell growth. Here, we describe a method of freeze-drying microgels that leads to consistent and user-defined particle fractions by weighing the dried microgel powder and reconstituting at known volumes. Though freeze-drying hydrogels typically leads to ice crystal and cryogel formation, we report on mediums that result in freeze-dried microgels that retain their original properties when rehydrated. By rehydrating lyophilized microgels to form MAP scaffolds, we demonstrate that particle fraction controls the bulk scaffold stiffness, but not local microgel stiffness. Further, the particle fraction in MAP scaffolds directly affects cell growth and macromolecular diffusion. Using controlled particle fractions in MAP scaffolds, we can now reproducibly assess mechanical properties, diffusion of macromolecules, and cell responses within user-defined microarchitectures. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The porosity of biomaterials is one key characteristic that influences cell infiltration and growth. Granular hydrogels are a class of biomaterials that are comprised of small, building block components that boast a porous architecture in the void space between the particles. Controlling the composition of these granular materials is key to guiding cell responses. In this work, we demonstrate methods for controlling the fraction of the material containing hydrogel versus void space. As a result, we can now reproducibly study the effect of particle fraction on cell responses, mechanical properties, and mass transport in granular hydrogels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexa R Anderson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, 534 Research Drive, Durham NC 27708-0281, United States
| | - Ethan Nicklow
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, 534 Research Drive, Durham NC 27708-0281, United States
| | - Tatiana Segura
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, 534 Research Drive, Durham NC 27708-0281, United States; Clinical Science Departments of Neurology and Dermatology, Duke University, 534 Research Drive, Durham NC 27708-0281, United States.
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Zhu Y, Sun Y, Rui B, Lin J, Shen J, Xiao H, Liu X, Chai Y, Xu J, Yang Y. A Photoannealed Granular Hydrogel Facilitating Hyaline Cartilage Regeneration via Improving Chondrogenic Phenotype. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:40674-40687. [PMID: 36052731 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c11956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogel-based chondrocyte implantation presents a promising tissue engineering strategy for cartilage repair. However, the widely used elastic hydrogels usually restrict cell volume expansion and induce the dedifferentiation of encapsulated chondrocytes. To address this limitation, a photoannealed granular hydrogel (GH) composed of hyaluronic acid, polyethylene glycol, and gelatin was formulated for cartilage regeneration in this study. The unannealed GH prepared by Diels-Alder cross-linked microgels could be mixed with chondrocytes and delivered to cartilage defects by injection, after which light was introduced to anneal the scaffold, leading to the formation of a stable and microporous chondrocyte deploying scaffold. The in vitro studies showed that GH could promote the volume expansion and morphology recovery of chondrocytes and significantly improve their chondrogenic phenotype compared to the nongranular hydrogel (nGH) with similar compositions. Further in vivo studies of subcutaneous culture and the rat full-thickness cartilage defect model proved that chondrocyte loaded GH could significantly stimulate hyaline cartilage matrix deposition and connection, therefore facilitating hyaline-like cartilage regeneration. Finally, the mechanistic study revealed that GH might improve chondrogenic phenotype via activating the AMP-activated protein kinase/glycolysis axis. This study proves the great feasibility of GHs as in situ chondrocyte deploying scaffolds for cartilage regeneration and brings new insights in designing hydrogel scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhu
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, No. 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai 200233, China
- Institute of Microsurgery on Extremities, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, No. 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Yi Sun
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, No. 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Biyu Rui
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, No. 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Junqing Lin
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, No. 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Junjie Shen
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, No. 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Huimin Xiao
- Institute of Microsurgery on Extremities, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, No. 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Xuanzhe Liu
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, No. 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Yimin Chai
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, No. 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai 200233, China
- Institute of Microsurgery on Extremities, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, No. 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Jia Xu
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, No. 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai 200233, China
- Institute of Microsurgery on Extremities, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, No. 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Yunlong Yang
- Institute of Microsurgery on Extremities, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, No. 600 Yishan Road, Shanghai 200233, China
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38
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Muir VG, Qazi TH, Weintraub S, Torres Maldonado BO, Arratia PE, Burdick JA. Sticking Together: Injectable Granular Hydrogels with Increased Functionality via Dynamic Covalent Inter-Particle Crosslinking. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2201115. [PMID: 35315233 PMCID: PMC9463088 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202201115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Granular hydrogels are an exciting class of microporous and injectable biomaterials that are being explored for many biomedical applications, including regenerative medicine, 3D printing, and drug delivery. Granular hydrogels often possess low mechanical moduli and lack structural integrity due to weak physical interactions between microgels. This has been addressed through covalent inter-particle crosslinking; however, covalent crosslinking often occurs through temporal enzymatic methods or photoinitiated reactions, which may limit injectability and material processing. To address this, a hyaluronic acid (HA) granular hydrogel is developed with dynamic covalent (hydrazone) inter-particle crosslinks. Extrusion fragmentation is used to fabricate microgels from photocrosslinkable norbornene-modified HA, additionally modified with either aldehyde or hydrazide groups. Aldehyde and hydrazide-containing microgels are mixed and jammed to form adhesive granular hydrogels. These granular hydrogels possess enhanced mechanical integrity and shape stability over controls due to the covalent inter-particle bonds, while maintaining injectability due to the dynamic hydrazone bonds. The adhesive granular hydrogels are applied to 3D printing, which allows the printing of structures that are stable without any further post-processing. Additionally, the authors demonstrate that adhesive granular hydrogels allow for cell invasion in vitro. Overall, this work demonstrates the use of dynamic covalent inter-particle crosslinking to enhance injectable granular hydrogels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria G Muir
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Taimoor H Qazi
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Shoshana Weintraub
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Bryan O Torres Maldonado
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Paulo E Arratia
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Jason A Burdick
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
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39
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Norris SCP, Kawecki NS, Davis AR, Chen KK, Rowat AC. Emulsion-templated microparticles with tunable stiffness and topology: Applications as edible microcarriers for cultured meat. Biomaterials 2022; 287:121669. [PMID: 35853359 PMCID: PMC9834440 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2021] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Cultured meat has potential to diversify methods for protein production, but innovations in production efficiency will be required to make cultured meat a feasible protein alternative. Microcarriers provide a strategy to culture sufficient volumes of adherent cells in a bioreactor that are required for meat products. However, cell culture on inedible microcarriers involves extra downstream processing to dissociate cells prior to consumption. Here, we present edible microcarriers that can support the expansion and differentiation of myogenic cells in a single bioreactor system. To fabricate edible microcarriers with a scalable process, we used water-in-oil emulsions as templates for gelatin microparticles. We also developed a novel embossing technique to imprint edible microcarriers with grooved topology in order to test if microcarriers with striated surface texture can promote myoblast proliferation and differentiation in suspension culture. In this proof-of-concept demonstration, we showed that edible microcarriers with both smooth and grooved surface topologies supported the proliferation and differentiation of mouse myogenic C2C12 cells in a suspension culture. The grooved edible microcarriers showed a modest increase in the proliferation and alignment of myogenic cells compared to cells cultured on smooth, spherical microcarriers. During the expansion phase, we also observed the formation of cell-microcarrier aggregates or 'microtissues' for cells cultured on both smooth and grooved microcarriers. Myogenic microtissues cultured with smooth and grooved microcarriers showed similar characteristics in terms of myotube length, myotube volume fraction, and expression of myogenic markers. To establish feasibility of edible microcarriers for cultured meat, we showed that edible microcarriers supported the production of myogenic microtissue from C2C12 or bovine satellite muscle cells, which we harvested by centrifugation into a cookable meat patty that maintained its shape and exhibited browning during cooking. These findings demonstrate the potential of edible microcarriers for the scalable production of cultured meat in a single bioreactor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam C P Norris
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - N Stephanie Kawecki
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Ashton R Davis
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Kathleen K Chen
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Amy C Rowat
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Broad Stem Cell Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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40
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Wilson KL, Pérez SCL, Naffaa MM, Kelly SH, Segura T. Stoichiometric Post-Modification of Hydrogel Microparticles Dictates Neural Stem Cell Fate in Microporous Annealed Particle Scaffolds. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2201921. [PMID: 35731241 PMCID: PMC9645378 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202201921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Microporous annealed particle (MAP) scaffolds are generated from assembled hydrogel microparticles (microgels). It has been previously demonstrated that MAP scaffold are porous, biocompatible, and recruit neural progenitor cells (NPCs) to the stroke cavity after injection into the stroke core. Here, the goal is to study NPC fate inside MAP scaffolds in vitro. To create plain microgels that can later be converted to contain different types of bioactivities, the inverse electron-demand Diels-Alder reaction between tetrazine and norbornene is utilized, which allows the post-modification of plain microgels stoichiometrically. As a result of adhesive peptide attachment, NPC spreading leads to contractile force generation which can be recorded by tracking microgel displacement. Alternatively, non-adhesive peptide integration results in neurosphere formation that grows within the void space of MAP scaffolds. Although the formed neurospheres do not impose a contractile force on the scaffolds, they are seen to continuously transverse the scaffolds. It is concluded that MAP scaffolds can be engineered to either promote neurogenesis or enhance stemness depending on the chosen post-modifications of the microgels, which can be key in modulating their phenotypes in various applications in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina L Wilson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708-0281, USA
| | - Sasha Cai Lesher Pérez
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, North Campus Research Complex, Building 28, 2800 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2800, USA
| | - Moawiah M Naffaa
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Sean H Kelly
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708-0281, USA
| | - Tatiana Segura
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708-0281, USA
- Department of Neurology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708-0281, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708-0281, USA
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42
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Zhou C, Wang C, Xu K, Niu Z, Zou S, Zhang D, Qian Z, Liao J, Xie J. Hydrogel platform with tunable stiffness based on magnetic nanoparticles cross-linked GelMA for cartilage regeneration and its intrinsic biomechanism. Bioact Mater 2022; 25:615-628. [PMID: 37056264 PMCID: PMC10087085 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2022.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Cartilage injury affects numerous individuals, but the efficient repair of damaged cartilage is still a problem in clinic. Hydrogel is a potent scaffold candidate for tissue regeneration, but it remains a big challenge to improve its mechanical property and figure out the interaction of chondrocytes and stiffness. Herein, a novel hybrid hydrogel with tunable stiffness was fabricated based on methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) and iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe2O3) through chemical bonding. The stiffness of Fe2O3/GelMA hybrid hydrogel was controlled by adjusting the concentration of magnetic nanoparticles. The hydrogel platform with tunable stiffness modulated its cellular properties including cell morphology, microfilaments and Young's modulus of chondrocytes. Interestingly, Fe2O3/GelMA hybrid hydrogel promoted oxidative phosphorylation of mitochondria and facilitated catabolism of lipids in chondrocytes. As a result, more ATP and metabolic materials generated for cellular physiological activities and organelle component replacements in hybrid hydrogel group compared to pure GelMA hydrogel. Furthermore, implantation of Fe2O3/GelMA hybrid hydrogel in the cartilage defect rat model verified its remodeling potential. This study provides a deep understanding of the bio-mechanism of Fe2O3/GelMA hybrid hydrogel interaction with chondrocytes and indicates the hydrogel platform for further application in tissue engineering.
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Hassani A, Avci ÇB, Kerdar SN, Amini H, Amini M, Ahmadi M, Sakai S, Bagca BG, Ozates NP, Rahbarghazi R, Khoshfetrat AB. Interaction of alginate with nano-hydroxyapatite-collagen using strontium provides suitable osteogenic platform. J Nanobiotechnology 2022; 20:310. [PMID: 35765003 PMCID: PMC9238039 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-022-01511-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hydrogels based on organic/inorganic composites have been at the center of attention for the fabrication of engineered bone constructs. The establishment of a straightforward 3D microenvironment is critical to maintaining cell-to-cell interaction and cellular function, leading to appropriate regeneration. Ionic cross-linkers, Ca2+, Ba2+, and Sr2+, were used for the fabrication of Alginate-Nanohydroxyapatite-Collagen (Alg-nHA-Col) microspheres, and osteogenic properties of human osteoblasts were examined in in vitro and in vivo conditions after 21 days. Results Physicochemical properties of hydrogels illustrated that microspheres cross-linked with Sr2+ had reduced swelling, enhanced stability, and mechanical strength, as compared to the other groups. Human MG-63 osteoblasts inside Sr2+ cross-linked microspheres exhibited enhanced viability and osteogenic capacity indicated by mineralization and the increase of relevant proteins related to bone formation. PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) array analysis of the Wnt (Wingless-related integration site) signaling pathway revealed that Sr2+ cross-linked microspheres appropriately induced various signaling transduction pathways in human osteoblasts leading to osteogenic activity and dynamic growth. Transplantation of Sr2+ cross-linked microspheres with rat osteoblasts into cranium with critical size defect in the rat model accelerated bone formation analyzed with micro-CT and histological examination. Conclusion Sr2+ cross-linked Alg-nHA-Col hydrogel can promote functionality and dynamic growth of osteoblasts. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12951-022-01511-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayla Hassani
- Chemical Engineering Faculty, Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, 51335-1996, Iran.,Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering Research Laboratory, Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, 51335-1996, Iran
| | - Çığır Biray Avci
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Sajed Nazif Kerdar
- Chemical Engineering Faculty, Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, 51335-1996, Iran.,Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering Research Laboratory, Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, 51335-1996, Iran
| | - Hassan Amini
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of General and Vascular Surgery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Meisam Amini
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mahdi Ahmadi
- Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Shinji Sakai
- Division of Chemical Engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Osaka, 560-8531, Japan
| | - Bakiye Goker Bagca
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
| | | | - Reza Rahbarghazi
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. .,Department of Applied Cell Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
| | - Ali Baradar Khoshfetrat
- Chemical Engineering Faculty, Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, 51335-1996, Iran. .,Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering Research Laboratory, Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, 51335-1996, Iran.
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Mohammadi S, Ravanbakhsh H, Taheri S, Bao G, Mongeau L. Immunomodulatory Microgels Support Proregenerative Macrophage Activation and Attenuate Fibroblast Collagen Synthesis. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 11:e2102366. [PMID: 35122412 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202102366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Scars composed of fibrous connective tissues are natural consequences of injury upon incisional wound healing in soft tissues. Hydrogels that feature a sustained presentation of immunomodulatory cytokines are known to modulate wound healing. However, existing immunomodulatory hydrogels lack interconnected micropores to promote cell ingrowth. Other limitations include invasive delivery procedures and harsh synthesis conditions that are incompatible with drug molecules. Here, hybrid nanocomposite microgels containing interleukin-10 (IL-10) are reported to modulate tissue macrophage phenotype during wound healing. The intercalation of laponite nanoparticles in the polymer network yields microgels with tissue-mimetic elasticity (Young's modulus in the range of 2-6 kPa) and allows the sustained release of IL-10 to promote the differentiation of macrophages toward proregenerative phenotypes. The porous interstitial spaces between microgels promote fibroblast proliferation and fast trafficking (an average speed of ≈14.4 µm h-1 ). The incorporation of hyaluronic acid further enhances macrophage infiltration. The coculture of macrophages and fibroblasts treated with transforming growth factor-beta 1 resulted in a twofold reduction in collagen-I production for microgels releasing IL-10 compared to the IL-10 free group. The new microgels show potential toward regenerative healing by harnessing the antifibrotic behavior of host macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sepideh Mohammadi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering McGill University Montreal QC H3A 0C3 Canada
| | - Hossein Ravanbakhsh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering McGill University Montreal QC H3A 0C3 Canada
| | - Sareh Taheri
- Department of Mechanical Engineering McGill University Montreal QC H3A 0C3 Canada
| | - Guangyu Bao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering McGill University Montreal QC H3A 0C3 Canada
| | - Luc Mongeau
- Department of Mechanical Engineering McGill University Montreal QC H3A 0C3 Canada
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Liu S, Wang T, Li S, Wang X. Application Status of Sacrificial Biomaterials in 3D Bioprinting. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:2182. [PMID: 35683853 PMCID: PMC9182955 DOI: 10.3390/polym14112182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Additive manufacturing, also known as three-dimensional (3D) printing, relates to several rapid prototyping (RP) technologies, and has shown great potential in the manufacture of organoids and even complex bioartificial organs. A major challenge for 3D bioprinting complex org unit ans is the competitive requirements with respect to structural biomimeticability, material integrability, and functional manufacturability. Over the past several years, 3D bioprinting based on sacrificial templates has shown its unique advantages in building hierarchical vascular networks in complex organs. Sacrificial biomaterials as supporting structures have been used widely in the construction of tubular tissues. The advent of suspension printing has enabled the precise printing of some soft biomaterials (e.g., collagen and fibrinogen), which were previously considered unprintable singly with cells. In addition, the introduction of sacrificial biomaterials can improve the porosity of biomaterials, making the printed structures more favorable for cell proliferation, migration and connection. In this review, we mainly consider the latest developments and applications of 3D bioprinting based on the strategy of sacrificial biomaterials, discuss the basic principles of sacrificial templates, and look forward to the broad prospects of this approach for complex organ engineering or manufacturing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyu Liu
- Center of 3D Printing & Organ Manufacturing, School of Intelligent Medicine, China Medical University (CMU), No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang 110122, China; (S.L.); (T.W.); (S.L.)
| | - Tianlin Wang
- Center of 3D Printing & Organ Manufacturing, School of Intelligent Medicine, China Medical University (CMU), No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang 110122, China; (S.L.); (T.W.); (S.L.)
| | - Shenglong Li
- Center of 3D Printing & Organ Manufacturing, School of Intelligent Medicine, China Medical University (CMU), No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang 110122, China; (S.L.); (T.W.); (S.L.)
| | - Xiaohong Wang
- Center of 3D Printing & Organ Manufacturing, School of Intelligent Medicine, China Medical University (CMU), No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang 110122, China; (S.L.); (T.W.); (S.L.)
- Center of Organ Manufacturing, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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Flégeau K, Puiggali-Jou A, Zenobi-Wong M. Cartilage tissue engineering by extrusion bioprinting utilizing porous hyaluronic acid microgel bioinks. Biofabrication 2022; 14. [PMID: 35483326 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ac6b58] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
3D bioprinting offers an excellent opportunity to provide tissue-engineered cartilage to microtia patients. However, hydrogel-based bioinks are hindered by their dense and cell-restrictive environment, impairing tissue development and ultimately leading to mechanical failure of large scaffoldsin vivo. Granular hydrogels, made of annealed microgels, offer a superior alternative to conventional bioinks, with their improved porosity and modularity. We have evaluated the ability of enzymatically crosslinked hyaluronic acid (HA) microgel bioinks to form mature cartilagein vivo. Microgel bioinks were formed by mechanically sizing bulk HA-tyramine hydrogels through meshes with aperture diameters of 40, 100 or 500µm. Annealing of the microgels was achieved by crosslinking residual tyramines. Secondary crosslinked scaffolds were stable in solution and showed tunable porosity from 9% to 21%. Bioinks showed excellent rheological properties and were used to print different objects. Printing precision was found to be directly correlated to microgel size. As a proof of concept, freeform reversible embedding of suspended hydrogels printing with gelation triggered directly in the bath was performed to demonstrate the versatility of the method. The granular hydrogels support the homogeneous development of mature cartilage-like tissuesin vitrowith mechanical stiffening up to 200 kPa after 63 d. After 6 weeks ofin vivoimplantation, small-diameter microgels formed stable constructs with low immunogenicity and continuous tissue maturation. Conversely, increasing the microgel size resulted in increased inflammatory response, with limited stabilityin vivo. This study reports the development of new microgel bioinks for cartilage tissue biofabrication and offers insights into the foreign body reaction towards porous scaffolds implantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Killian Flégeau
- Tissue Engineering + Biofabrication Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Anna Puiggali-Jou
- Tissue Engineering + Biofabrication Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Marcy Zenobi-Wong
- Tissue Engineering + Biofabrication Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
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Qazi TH, Muir VG, Burdick JA. Methods to Characterize Granular Hydrogel Rheological Properties, Porosity, and Cell Invasion. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2022; 8:1427-1442. [PMID: 35330993 PMCID: PMC10994272 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.1c01440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Granular hydrogels are formed through the packing of hydrogel microparticles and are emerging for various biomedical applications, including as inks for 3D printing, substrates to study cell-matrix interactions, and injectable scaffolds for tissue repair. Granular hydrogels are suited for these applications because of their unique properties including inherent porosity, shear-thinning and self-healing behavior, and tunable design. The characterization of their material properties and biological response involves technical considerations that are unique to modular systems like granular hydrogels. Here, we describe detailed methods that can be used to quantitatively characterize the rheological behavior and porosity of granular hydrogels using reagents, tools, and equipment that are typically available in biomedical engineering laboratories. In addition, we detail methods for 3D cell invasion assays using multicellular spheroids embedded within granular hydrogels and describe steps to quantify features of cell outgrowth (e.g., endothelial cell sprouting) using standard image processing software. To illustrate these methods, we provide examples where features of granular hydrogels such as the size of hydrogel microparticles and their extent of packing during granular hydrogel formation are modulated. Our intent with this resource is to increase accessibility to granular hydrogel technology and to facilitate the investigation of granular hydrogels for biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taimoor H Qazi
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania19104, United States
| | - Victoria G Muir
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania19104, United States
| | - Jason A Burdick
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania19104, United States
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Rommel D, Mork M, Vedaraman S, Bastard C, Guerzoni LPB, Kittel Y, Vinokur R, Born N, Haraszti T, De Laporte L. Functionalized Microgel Rods Interlinked into Soft Macroporous Structures for 3D Cell Culture. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2103554. [PMID: 35032119 PMCID: PMC8981485 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202103554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
In this work, a two component microgel assembly using soft anisometric microgels that interlink to create a 3D macroporous construct for cell growth is reported. Reactive microgel rods with variable aspect ratio are produced via microfluidics in a continuous plug-flow on-chip gelation method by photoinitiated free-radical polymerization of star-polyethylene glycol-acrylate with glycidyl methacrylate or 2-aminoethyl methacrylate comonomers. The resulting complementary epoxy- and amine-functionalized microgels assemble and interlink with each other via a ring opening reaction, resulting in macroporous constructs with pores up to several hundreds of micrometers. The level of crosslinking depends on the functionalization degree of the microgels, which also affects the stiffness and cell adhesiveness of the microgels when modified with the cell-adhesive GRGDS-PC peptide. Therefore, 3D spreading and growth of cells inside the macroporous structure is influenced not only by the presence of macropores but also by the mechanical and biochemical properties of the individual microgels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Rommel
- DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive MaterialsAachen52074Germany
- Institute for Technical and Macromolecular ChemistryRWTH Aachen UniversityAachen52074Germany
| | - Matthias Mork
- DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive MaterialsAachen52074Germany
- Institute for Technical and Macromolecular ChemistryRWTH Aachen UniversityAachen52074Germany
| | - Sitara Vedaraman
- DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive MaterialsAachen52074Germany
- Institute for Technical and Macromolecular ChemistryRWTH Aachen UniversityAachen52074Germany
| | - Céline Bastard
- DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive MaterialsAachen52074Germany
- Institute for Technical and Macromolecular ChemistryRWTH Aachen UniversityAachen52074Germany
| | - Luis P. B. Guerzoni
- DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive MaterialsAachen52074Germany
- Institute for Technical and Macromolecular ChemistryRWTH Aachen UniversityAachen52074Germany
| | - Yonca Kittel
- DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive MaterialsAachen52074Germany
- Institute for Technical and Macromolecular ChemistryRWTH Aachen UniversityAachen52074Germany
| | | | | | - Tamás Haraszti
- DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive MaterialsAachen52074Germany
- Institute for Technical and Macromolecular ChemistryRWTH Aachen UniversityAachen52074Germany
| | - Laura De Laporte
- DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive MaterialsAachen52074Germany
- Institute for Technical and Macromolecular ChemistryRWTH Aachen UniversityAachen52074Germany
- Institute of Applied Medical EngineeringDepartment of Advanced Materials for BiomedicineRWTH Aachen UniversityAachen52074Germany
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Charlet A, Bono F, Amstad E. Mechanical reinforcement of granular hydrogels. Chem Sci 2022; 13:3082-3093. [PMID: 35414870 PMCID: PMC8926196 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc06231j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Granular hydrogels are composed of hydrogel-based microparticles, so-called microgels, that are densely packed to form an ink that can be 3D printed, injected or cast into macroscopic structures. They are frequently used as tissue engineering scaffolds because microgels can be made biocompatible and the porosity of the granular hydrogels enables a fast exchange of reagents, waste products, and if properly designed even the infiltration of cells. Most of these granular hydrogels can be shaped into appropriate macroscopic structures, yet, these structures are mechanically rather weak. The poor mechanical properties prevent the use of these structures as load-bearing materials and hence, limit their field of applications. The mechanical properties of granular hydrogels depend on the composition of microgels and the interparticle interactions. In this review, we discuss different strategies to assemble microparticles into granular hydrogels and highlight the influence of inter-particle connections on the stiffness and toughness of the resulting materials. Mechanically strong and tough granular hydrogels have the potential to open up new fields of their use and thereby to contribute to fast advances in these fields. In particular, we envisage them to be well-suited as soft actuators and robots, tissue replacements, and adaptive sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Charlet
- Soft Materials Laboratory, Institute of Materials, EPFL Lausanne Lausanne 1015 Switzerland
| | - Francesca Bono
- Soft Materials Laboratory, Institute of Materials, EPFL Lausanne Lausanne 1015 Switzerland
| | - Esther Amstad
- Soft Materials Laboratory, Institute of Materials, EPFL Lausanne Lausanne 1015 Switzerland
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50
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Development of a fibrin-mediated gene delivery system for the treatment of cystinosis via design of experiment. Sci Rep 2022; 12:3752. [PMID: 35260693 PMCID: PMC8904479 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07750-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cystinosis is a rare disease, caused by a mutation in the gene cystinosin and characterised by the accumulation of cystine crystals. Advantages of biomaterial-mediated gene delivery include reduced safety concerns and the possibility to cure organs that are difficult to treat using systemic gene transfer methods. This study developed novel fibrin hydrogels for controlled, localised gene delivery, for the treatment of cystinosis. In the first part, fabrication parameters (i.e., DNA, thrombin, and aprotinin concentrations) were optimised, using a Design of Experiment (DOE) methodology. DOE is a statistical engineering approach to process optimisation, which increases experimental efficiency, reduces the number of experiments, takes into consideration interactions between different parameters, and allows the creation of predictive models. This study demonstrated the utility of DOE to the development of gene delivery constructs. In the second part of the study, primary fibroblasts from a patient with cystinosis were seeded on the biomaterials. Seeded cells expressed the recombinant CTNS and showed a decrease in cystine content. Furthermore, conditioned media contained functional copies of the recombinant CTNS. These were taken up by monolayer cultures of non-transfected cells. This study described a methodology to develop gene delivery constructs by using a DOE approach and ultimately provided new insights into the treatment of cystinosis.
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